Many high-performance homes begin with a set of design goals– airtightness targets, insulation levels, and mechanical strategies– then choose materials to satisfy those objectives. This job reverses that process.Under construction
just outside Topeka, Kansas, the Haberman house started with decades of restored products: steel trusses from industrial buildings, recovered glulam beams, and even a wind turbine tower repurposed as a storm shelter and wine rack. Instead of working from a blank slate, the design evolved around what was already on hand.At the same time, the property owners set enthusiastic performance objectives, targeting an incredibly airtight, extremely insulated enclosure. That raises an essential question: How do you incorporate irregular, undocumented products into assemblies that depend on precision?This series follows that procedure– from structure to enclosure to mechanical systems– taking a look at the tradeoffs between reuse and efficiency, and the truths of executing both.The last installment will look at how the house performs as soon as those decisions are put to the test.Salvage First, Design Later A lot of custom-made homes start with a blank sheet of paper.
This one began with storage facilities
full of restored building materials.That starting point– materials instead of illustrations– shaped not simply the style however the construction process itself. Now well past the framing stage, with windows installed and exterior work underway, the project offers a view into how those early decisions are playing out in the field.
Restored materials are the heart of this custom-made home. Image: Wolfgang Clapper
Your home incorporates restored steel trusses, recovered glulam beams, a roofing deck made from a century-old storage facility floor, 6 containers of reclaimed rigid insulation, and an underground wine rack built from a wind turbine tower.Just outside Topeka, Kansas, property owners Brandon and Ashley Haberman are constructing a house shaped as much by decades of salvaged products as by …
Weekly Newsletter
Get structure science and energy performance guidance, plus special deals, in your inbox.
Register for a complimentary trial and get instantaneous access to this post in addition to GBA’s total library of premium short articles and building information.
Start Free Trial
Currently a member? Visit