Rise | We've Done the Research
A Photographer Builds Her Passive-House Inspired Dream Home in Maine
"It's 2021," exclaims photographer, new mom, and homeowner Sidney Bensimon. "If you are not trying your hardest to create in a sustainable way, you are missing the point!" We certainly can't argue with that. Nor could anyone find fault with Bensimon's sustainable dream home, which she built on two acres on an ocean inlet in Maine.
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Design Within Reach
A large double-height living room facing south connects to an open kitchen and living quarters above. To the south, a window wall spans the structure's width and opens the main level to trees and the bay. On the west, a large window cantilevers out of the wall, resulting in a reading nook with a view.
The main stairs lead to a lofted area that serves as a room for relaxing, meditation, or yoga. "To bring more light into this space," Ronfini says, "we put a circular window directly above the window wall. The window is like a lens, a camera lens, to view the ever-changing light and shadows on the landscape."
Passive House Inspired
Ronfini and Bensimon decided to build the house to Passive House principles. "Sidney's desire to build a home sustainably and create a healthy and comfortable interior was crucial in the project," Ronfini says.
"Sidney was very excited by the idea of building a Passive House," he continues. "But, we quickly realized that, because of the small size of the building, it would have been very hard and not economically wise to hit the tight energy requirements necessary for full certification. So, we decided to follow the principles of Passive House but not to achieve certification."
How Were Passive Solar Principles Used to Help Heat and Cool the Stella House?
A porch on the south side shades the interiors in the summer, while the sun can flow in and heat the space in the winter. "I love when the sun comes in to warm up the main room in the winter but only beams through in the morning in the bedrooms through the summer, keeping the house cool in the afternoons," Bensimon says.
How Much Insulation Was Used in the Stella House?
The concrete slab on grade has six inches of EPS insulation to reach R-30. The walls are super-insulated with one-and-a-half inches of foil-faced Polyiso rigid board insulation (exterior) and six inches of mineral wool insulation (R-9.3 + R-22 = R-31.3). The roof insulation includes one-and-a-half inches of Polyiso (exterior) and seven inches of closed-cell spray foam insulation (R-9.3+ R-46.2 = R-55.5).
The insulation creates a warm blanket that keeps the house at a constant temperature year-round.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Ronfini and his firm are currently designing two Passive Houses in the Hudson Valley and just completed his first certified Passive House in the area. The Stella House, however, helped set the designer on this path.
"Sidney was a great client," he says. "She trusted our expertise and knowledge and created a team that was able to work smoothly and complete the project on time and successfully." The team also included Hatchet Mountain Builders (Hope, Maine), energy and envelope consultants BLDGTYP, and Albert Putnam Associates engineering.
As for Bensimon, she credits Ronfini for "knowing little but important things, like how the light changes throughout the day." View the house from every angle, she says, "and you can see how every element had that attention to detail. I see everything, and being in a home that pleases me aesthetically soothes me. Being here is good for my nervous system."
Looking back, she wouldn't change a thing. "Not with my budget," she adds. "My home feels perfect for me and for what I could afford. But, I can't wait to build the guest house."
Camille LeFevre
Camille LeFevre is an architecture and design writer based in the Twin Cities.
