--- title: Koser II | Neumann Monson Architects description: Koser II, a residential renovation in Iowa City, mixes energy efficiency with an airy, cedar-clad design. Learn more about the project. --- [Skip to main content](https://neumannmonson.com/koser2#maincontent) # Koser II Pragmatic building strategies and an expressive palette bring zero-energy building performance to a walkable Iowa City neighborhood. A darkened exterior shell emphasizes the house’s introversion. Spaced boards veil outdoor spaces and selective windows guard slivered glimpses inside. The brooding demeanor is belied by a welcoming overhang that bridges the entry and an intimate outdoor dining nook. Both share smooth cedar siding with a delicate grain that relieves the surrounding rough shakes with inviting, tactile vulnerability. The textural contrast foreshadows the experiential core of the house, a bright courtyard carved from the house’s crusty perimeter. The design bears the mark of the 1960’s home that came before it. Removing the existing house’s superstructure and incorporating its slab-on-grade foundation into the new construction makes the most of the predecessor’s limited potential. Additional foundations and a concrete collar support exterior walls of nine- and ten-foot pre-cut studs. Their height differential provides adequate slope to the 14-inch truss-joists spanning the 20-foot width. Operable windows extend to the ceiling plane, maximizing daylight penetration and encouraging cross-ventilation. Foamed-in-place insulation and a continuous rigid insulation shell provides R-24 at the walls and R-40 at the roof. An insulated radiant topping slab, poured and polished before interior walls were framed, serves as a climate-controlling finish floor. Supplementing the radiant floor is a highly efficient, geothermal climate control system coupled to a horizontally-bored loop beneath the parcel. When cooling the home, heat is rejected into the pool via a heat exchanger, further maximizing efficiency. Perched atop the roof, a 10.08kW photovoltaic array powers the mechanical system, car charging station, LED lighting, and EnergyStar appliances. The property absorbs roof and deck runoff through a sunken raingarden in the rear yard. The garden’s leafy vegetation and soft edges counterpoint the clean, crisply executed pool around which the airy, cedar-clad house wraps. **Project Type: **[Residential](https://neumannmonson.com/?page_id=1978) **Location: **Iowa City, Iowa **Size: **2,850 SF **Completed: **2017 **Awards: **2018 AIA Central States Design Award (Merit) ## Start Your Architectural Journey You deserve a space where your organization reaches its potential. Let’s help you get there. Schedule a 30-minute call with an expert architect to discuss your project and goals. We typically respond within 2-3 business days. [Meet with Us](https://neumannmonson.com/meet-with-us) [Explore our Services](https://neumannmonson.com/services)