Daisy Bush Employee Housing
Located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the architect worked in conjunction with the Jackson Hole Housing Trust to design eight affordable, deed-restricted townhomes, consisting of four buildings that total 15,400 sf. The project was created for professionals who cannot afford market-rate housing in the resort town but desire contemporary living close to all of the amenities in the town of Jackson. The challenge was to create a design that complemented the existing townhomes in the densely populated neighborhood, use the space efficiently, and find durable building materials at a good price.
Design started with a consolidated floor plan. The two unit types are either 1,292 sf or 1,645 sf with 10-foot ceilings to create a spacious living area. The most affordable, type “A” units, have the utmost efficiency and standard, ground level living. The slightly more expensive, type “B” units, include an upper level with views of the Grand Teton Mountain Range. Both unit types consist of two bedrooms plus an unfinished basement (with plumbing rough-in for an additional future bathroom).
Vertical cedar siding oxidized metal, standing seam metal roofing material and aluminum clad windows anchor the house in the context of its neighborhood. Each home has a ‘shed roof’ with a single, continuous pitch. This helped to keep the construction costs down while ensuring that all snow, ice, and rain will shed away from driveways and walkways.
The homes at Daisy Bush have been Energy Star certified, which emphasizes effective insulation, high-performance window, tight construction to minimize air leakage, Energy Star lighting fixtures and appliances, and efficient heating equipment. Energy testing confirms the homes will be about 42 percent more efficient than a home built in accordance with the town’s minimum construction standards. Computer modeling suggests each homeowner can expect an average savings of $1,000/year, which means the energy-efficient upgrades will pay for themselves in five years.
Despite the current challenging housing economy in Jackson, all eight units were sold by opening day.
Project Team: Kevin Burke, John Carney, Jeff Lawrence & Jamie Farmer
