OXFORD STREET RESIDENCE
On one of the tiniest streets in Fishtown, a nondescript little 1-story auto-mechanic’s garage was transformed, largely by the owner himself into a private residence. Soon after, the adjacent empty lot was acquired and dreams for a garden were planted. Fast forward a few years, the Owner, an active community organizer and volunteer, now goes by ‘husband’ and ‘Dad’. Throw a dog into the mix and the need for new / altered spaces to accommodate their new family life became apparent. A second floor addition grew up and over the original structure and includes new bedrooms, a bathroom and play spaces. The gracious and verdant side-garden runs the full depth of the property and is a veritable urban oasis. The envelope of the new addition utilizes Passive House principles yielding a high-performing thermal enclosure that is air-tight, eliminates thermal bridges, balances ventilation with heat & moisture recovery, and incorporates high-performance glazing while affording some cozy new spaces for family life to unfold.