: : c . e . d . g : : JAHNKE RESIDENCE

JAHNKE RESIDENCE - claremont, california

- completed. october, 2005 -

   Vern and Deb Jahnke lost their home in the Grand Prix wildfire of 2003. If they were to rebuild on the site where so much was taken, the new home must embody their environmental values, their lifestyle and survive future fires.
   Their property is located in a Coastal Sage Scrub plant community on a steep hillside with views of the adjacent hills to the east and west, inland valley to the south and the San Gabriel Mountains to the north.
   Building on the steep slope required a small footprint. The combination of a small footprint and the Jahnke’s spatial needs resulted in a three story residence. Each level enjoys views of the surrounding hills with patios and/or decks serving each level. The home is passively cooled in the warm months by taking advantage of the cool night air that sinks down from the mountains above. During the winter the home is primarily heated by allowing the sun to penetrate deep into the home. The second level roof is oriented to solar south to best take advantage of the sun’s energy to both preheat domestic water and produce electricity.
   The home's shell is designed to increase fire safety with walls of RASTRA, a material made of recycled styrofoam beads mixed with a cementitious binder formed into 12” thick blocks. Walls constructed of this material create a 4 hour fire wall as opposed to a 1 hour wall created with 2x4 studs with stucco on the outside and 5/8” drywall on the inside. Rastra walls provide an R33 insulation value as opposed to a the standard R13 typically placed in wood stud walls. Rastra also provides the thermal mass required to minimize diurnal temperature swings. The roof is finished with concrete tiles with zero eaves. The home itself has no exposed wood. Only the decks incorporate heavy timber construction. Heavy timber wood construction provides a one hour fire resistance rating.
   The interior of the home features countertops made of recycled paper, corn based carpeting, bamboo flooring, energy star appliances, low flow water fixtures and low VOC paints.
   The landscape is divided in to two zones: the low slope front yard and the steeply sloped back yard. The front yard utilizes drought tolerant plantings along the borders and an artificial lawn made of 70% recycled materials minimizing water usage and maintenance. The backyard is native coastal sage scrub that has been thinned to reduce fuel load. The backyard is partially irrigated with water from the home’s clothes washer, tub and shower. Within this landscape the Jahnke’s have constructed a series of paths that lead to stone patios located at different elevations as the paths move down the hillside.