Fells Point Passive House

The Fells Point Passive House fulfills the aspirations of a couple dedicated to urban living, resilient design, and environmental stewardship. The development repurposes an underutilized urban lot in Baltimore’s historic Fells Point neighborhood into a home built to the Passive House standard and a separate office unified by a new private garden, as well as two income-generating rental units.

Client

Location

Baltimore, MD

Size

2200 sf Main House

915 sf Garden

750 sf Office

Completed

2017

STATUS

Built

The design solution removes the roof of the former garage and warehouse and inserts a two-story ultra high-performance building into the historic shell. A deep “stoop” provides a threshold between the urban street and the private living space. The interior is organized around a core of stairwell, bathroom, and systems which further separates the private living space from the public.

Monumental high efficiency triple-pane doors connect the open living space to the new courtyard garden on both levels. The super-insulated, air-tight building enclosure, together with a high efficiency mechanical system and a photovoltaic array, result in a near net-zero home. Plentiful light, natural and reclaimed materials, and outdoor connections support the owner’s conscious lifestyle.