Harmony House

Architect of Record: TFH Architects
Project Architect: Christopher Briley, RA, LEED-AP
Builder: Symphony Construction
Developer: Green Quality Homes, Inc.
Photography: Brian Vandenbrink
Photo Far Left: Jim Millay

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This popular home was designed as a spec house, meaning it had no particular owner in mind. Josh Fedorka of Symphony Construction and Mony Hang of Kellar Williams Realty believed that they could build and sell a house on the open market that was energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and healthy for its occupants. They came to Christopher Briley, then at TFH Architects, to design a house that was high in quality, innovative, beautiful, and could be priced very reasonably.

This home is founded on principles of efficiency of form, space, and energy. The house is no bigger than it needs to be with spaces that are fully functional, open, and well-positioned that create wonderful flow through the home. The home is a passive solar design that features a solarium that is outside the primary thermal envelope, designed to act as a heat engine in the winter and a shading device in the summer.

The home also features a superior, balloon-framed exterior envelope that outperforms those constructed using traditional methods. The home is equipped with a high-efficiency gas boiler that is supported by a solar hot water system. It also features an ERV (energy recovery ventilator) that provides the most efficient and effective means to supply fresh air to this super-tight house.

The house incorporates, many other features such as high thermal mass, radiant floor slabs, ICF (insulated concrete form) foundation walls, modern cellulose insulation, local materials, gasketed electrical outlets, bamboo floors, dual flush toilets, high efficiency appliances, Paperstone countertops and vanities (made from recycled paper), and low VOC (volatile organic compound) emitting adhesives, coatings, and products.

This home has been well published. click here to download a PDF of the Fine Homebuilding article 'A High Performance Spec-House' from the annual 'Houses' issue. Click here to download a PDF of the Portland Magazine article 'The Green House Effect'. Click here to download a PDF of the Builder/Architect article 'Green Quality Homes Inc'.