Brinkmann's True Value

3D model

Finished Project 

James Bouler, RA, AIA

The BPA team with a happy customer

Aptly named, Brinkmann's True Value Hardware and Paint Store is a recently completed commercial project whose value to the community is clear. At 23,000 square feet, the store is fully powered by 130 KW of photovoltaic panels and a geothermal system, perhaps the largest solar-powered commercial project on Long Island. A family-owned business in Sayville, NY,  BPA is proud to be a part of a project that supports a thriving local business expand in a way that demonstrates that going solar is possible for commercial projects. 

Sandy Cottage: An Eye to the Future

After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, BPA's engagement in rebuilding and elevating homes in low lying, FEMA zones increased overnight.  Many of these modest homes had structural issues even before the storm, and it became clear that many would need to be rebuilt from scratch.  Exploring structural elements that are aesthetically progressive, affordable to build, and FEMA compliant, BPA has designed Sandy Cottage, which uses an efficient and consolidated structural system in order to reduce material and labor costs. With the option for solar panels and water capture, this energy efficient home helps rebuild neighborhoods with an eye towards meeting the needs of the future.

Local and Green: The New Brinkmann Hardware Store

Many years ago, BPA started its practice in Sayville, NY, so we were quite familiar with Brinkmann's local hardware and paint store. In fact, we still own and use the barbecue grill they recommended to us twenty years ago.  Helpful service and high-quality products make it quite easy to support this family-owned business. Combatting an era of impersonal corporate big-box stores, Brinkmann's Hardware Store has grown and is currently working with BPA to create a store that will reflect its values: tradition, community, and environmental responsibility.  The 18,000 square foot space will now house hardware, paint, and office space under one solar roof.  Yes, 120 KW of photovoltaic panels combined with a geo-thermal system will set this building on the path to net-zero energy, creating an efficient building which will serve as a model for both its consumers and other commercial buildings.  With one foot planted in the family tradition and the other in the alternative energy future, it is very exciting for us to chronicle this project from start to finish.  Stay tuned!

Lido Beach

The Lido Beach project is now complete and epitomizes Bouler Pfluger Architects' aesthetic goals.  Buildings should express themselves in a way that connects materials, setting, and structure in a warm and inviting way.  Elements such as light, air, and flow not only serve to make an attractive and comfortable home, but also an efficient one.  This waterfront house, fueled by solar power, incorporates several passive energy features to reduce its carbon footprint without sacrificing beauty or comfort.

West Islip Waterfront

Here are some renderings of a Bouler Pfluger Architects' new project on the water in West Islip.  The gambrel roofline offers great exposure for the solar array that will power this residence.

Lido Beach: Under Construction

Oceanfront Boardwalk Elevation

 3D Model

 3D Model Street Elevation

 Overhead Rendering Kitchen

 Great Room with Ocean Views

 Kitchen Rendering

Master Bathroom Rendering

The Lido Beach project is fully underway with the framing almost completed.  Bouler Pfluger Architects is working on the interiors utilizing these cool 3D models. For energy efficiency and long term performance, the radiant flooring and the countertops will be poured concrete.  This solar powered house should be fully complete in 2013. Please follow the project on Facebook by 'liking' our page.

Bay Shore Site Visit

Net Zero residence doesn't need to be synonymous with discomfort. This project is both efficient and comfortable. In fact, take a close look at the meter. Despite a cool interior temperature inside of 74 degrees in 95 degree weather, this meter reads 2 KW thanks to the 11KW solar array on site. The craftsmanship of construction done by Telemark is top quality, quite a feat considering the complexity of the design and decor. By using a variety of textures and design elements, this new house has a warm flow to it, feeling almost as if it's always been there.

Oak Beach Project in Green Builder Mag

On Friday, USA Today printed a front page story about the mass manufacturing of homes that, by using alternative energy, create more energy than they use. The concept is one that James has been working on for several years now. Green Builder Magazine decided to use Bouler Architecture's Oak Beach project and YouTube video to showcase how a net-zero energy home can be achieved through passive design and photovoltaic and geothermal systems. If we are going to move this country forward, sustainability will be the key to our success.

Bayshore: In the Details

Building trim is a lot like a necktie. By covering joined edges, it gives a building a polished finish. Here, James is looking at the mockup of a bracket design for the exterior trim on this waterfront Bayshore residence. Interior trim is equally important in the aesthetics of a space. Crown moulding and base trim, once intended to protect the fragile edges of paster walls, now give a complete look to a space, a framing detail to a blank wall. As to the efficiency of this building, it took a giant leap forward recently when its ground-mounted array of photovoltaic panels, which will provide solar energy for the geothermal heating system, was approved by the town board.

Lido Beach Update

Lido Beach is moving forward. Despite the glacial pace of local building departments, Bouler Architecture is hopeful that this spring will bring groundbreaking activity for this waterfront home. The mix of design elements, photovoltaic and geothermal systems will create an energy-efficient residence that capitalizes on its oceanfront site. By using computer generated models, roof lines for the home were developed to cut down on solar gain in the summer while allowing heat gain in the winter. I'm looking forward to chronicling the progress of this project in the near future.
By the way, Bouler Architecture now has a fan page on Facebook.

Bay Shore Residence: Progress Continues

The waterfront Bay Shore home is nearing completion. The cedar shingles, dipped in weathering oil, will turn into a silvering grey over time. Stainless steel cable rails are also ready to be installed, with IPE decking on the master bedroom balcony, cabana, and the first floor's wraparound deck. The mechanical systems are up and running, with geothermal, radiant heating on the first floor, and a solar array ready to be in place for spring.

Bouler Architecture: New Sketches

Bouler Architecture is starting a new project in West Islip, on the Great South Bay. We had a successful meeting last night with our new client, and this is the sketch of the rear, water-facing elevation. The lower curve is a covered, exposed structure that covers the water side patio. Above the patio is the master bedroom balcony. Inside the master bedroom, we are proposing a third level mezzanine, with an interior stair that will also serve to seperate the master bedroom's sleeping area from the sitting room.
We also have wonderful south facing roof over the garage, where we will incorporate a 10KW solar panel system. We are also using a geo-thermal heat pump. Our goal, after intstalling spray in insulation, energy-efficient windows, is to be 80% more efficient... or very close to Zero Energy.

Bay Shore Site Visit

The Bay Shore waterfront home is framed up and looking more like the computer-generated images Bouler Architecture's Nicholas Pfluger animated for the client. The home will use a geothermal system with an array of solar panels to offset its carbon footprint.

US Department of Energy

In preparation for our meetings this week, I spent a good part of the day perusing the the Department of Energy website which offers completely up-to-date initiatives adopted by the department under the direction of Secretary Chu. I was pleased to find a variety of initiatives and rebates encouraging citizens to adopt renewable energy products. For example, I had no idea that the rebate for a geothermal system was 30% of the cost with no cap. We received a tax credit for our pellet stoves, and the Oak Beach project was eligible for multiple credits. Making renewable energy a viable option for the average homeowner is truly a change I can believe in.

Green Systems

Being green can be a beautiful thing, both literally and figuratively. With the development of technology, alternative energy systems don't have to compromise the aesthetics of a building. Both residences seen here are designed to capitalize on great sunlight exposure.The Bayshore project now under construction will use a geothermal system coupled with a ground-mounted solar array that will generate 11KW for its energy needs, while the Southampton project seen below, has been using shingle-style photovoltaic panels in addition to its geothermal system. As the demand for clean energy grows, one can only imagine the builiding innovations that will follow.