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The AIA Washington D.C. Chapter named the GRASS House Project as a recipient of the 2019 Washingtonian Residential Design Award. SWA provided sustainability consulting services to the project team and served as the Green Rater for this highly efficient, nature-inspired building. The owners, Andrew Linn and Jack Becker, are utilizing the building as an office space for their architecture design company, bld.us. They hope that this exemplary space will inspire their clients to explore sustainable building as well. The super-efficient structure is a timber bamboo product, BamCore, which is stronger and more sustainable than other building materials. Because this product is so strong, the house could be better insulated, resulting in a more efficient thermal envelope – less need for central heating and cooling.

Renewable and locally sourced materials and products were selected and incorporated throughout the building. Sheep’s wool was used for insulation, the stairs were made from the wood of a tree harvested in the owner’s neighborhood, a feature wall was crafted from willow branches derived from a farmer in Ohio, and the light fixtures were made from mushroom roots grown by a designer in Brooklyn. The exterior siding of the Grass House consists of cypress and was charred using a traditional Japanese method called shou sugi ban, which helps waterproof and preserve the wood.

The building reflects the elements that would be found in nature, and SWA is proud to have worked on this unique project.

Learn more about The Grass House project here.

Read about the 2019 Washingtonian Residential Design Award here.