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Current Work
Private Residence

Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, USA

Superinsulated Prairie School style
view from the east

This house revisits the Prairie School style of archtecture, and updates it into energy efficient and low-toxin 'green' architecture. Design Coalition worked with Lou's firm Host-Jablonski Architects.

Long, restful rooflines are visible from the north entrance drive, partially buried into a rise in the land, and surrounded by a prairie that is being restored by the owners. The log which supports the roof of the east-facing screen porch and stone patio is an Oak from the site. And all the interior wood trim was milled from storm-felled Cherry trees also from the site.

Click here for a recent article in M Magazine featuring this 'not-so-big' house...

east elevation blueprint

hearth room

Hearth Room

'Green' design

A few of the 'green' design and energy-efficiency features are:

  • passive solar heating
  • Larsen-truss walls with recycled cellulose insulation to achieve superinsulated construction without using petrochemical foam insulation
  • passive cooling (no mechanical air conditioning needed)
  • hydronic in-floor heating, via a high-efficiency boiler that also heats the domestic hot water
  • use of many natural, local and recycled materials
  • durable, low-maintenance and non-toxic interior and exterior
exterior view from the north

blueprint of north elevation


Construction is complete. This Spring the owners will complete the prairie restoration and stone patios.

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