White modern farmhouse-style house with three-car garage, set on a green lawn with trees and a blue sky with clouds.

The Farmhouse

What does it mean to live in a home that breathes with you, adapts to the seasons, and quietly supports your wellbeing every single day?

We believe that’s what every home should do—and The Farmhouse proves what’s possible when craftsmanship meets performance.

  • From the beginning, we collaborated with a best-in-class project team to blend building science with timeless design. 

    Every decision—from insulation strategy to window placement—was informed by energy modeling and verified through rigorous performance testing. 

    The result? A home that’s airtight, ultra-efficient, and tuned to deliver unmatched year-round comfort.

    • Super-Insulated Exterior:
      R-65 to R-72 in roof assemblies and R-42 in exterior walls, using dense-pack cellulose and continuous air barriers to maintain ideal indoor temperatures and dramatically reduce energy loss.

    • Airtight Construction:
      Tested and verified to 0.06 cfm/ft² at 50 Pa, far exceeding typical standards—this level of airtightness means cleaner air, fewer drafts, and improved durability.

    • High-Performance Windows:
      Triple-pane, high solar gain fiberglass windows from Alpen (U-values of 0.15/0.16), tuned for both comfort and passive solar gain.

    • Continuous Fresh Air Ventilation:
      A dedicated Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system captures 77% of outgoing heat while delivering fresh, filtered air to every room.

    • Cold-Climate Heat Pump System:
      An ultra-efficient, all-electric HVAC system designed for Minnesota’s toughest winters and hottest summers.

    On-Site Solar Energy:
    A 14.4 kW photovoltaic system powers the home with 14,900 kWh/year of clean, renewable energy—moving this home toward net-positive performance.

  • Highly insulated exterior assemblies:

    Roof (existing house) – R-65

    20” over-framing filled with dense-pack cellulose insulation and continuous airtight vapor control layer on top of existing roof sheathing, exterior roof sheathing with integral weather-resistive barrier, ventilated cavity, and metal roof

    Roof (addition) – R-72

    22” parallel chord truss filled with dense-pack cellulose insulation, interior airtight vapor control membrane, roof sheathing with integral weather-resistive barrier, ventilated cavity, and metal roof

    Exterior Walls – R-42

    2x4 framing cavity filled with dense-pack cellulose insulation, wall sheathing with continuous airtight vapor control membrane, 9-1/2” i-joist over-framing filled with continuous dense-pack cellulose insulation, exterior sheathing with integral weather-resistive barrier, ventilated rainscreen cladding

    Foundation Walls – R-39

    Insulated concrete form (ICF) foundation with 4” additional continuous foam placed in the forms for a total of 9-1/4” insulation

    Floor Type – R-24

    Concrete slab over continuous vapor control membrane, 6” EPS foam insulation and compacted granular base

    High performance glazing and windows

    Triple pane, fiberglass, high solar gain windows from Alpen. 

    Whole-window U-value: 0.15/0.16 for fixed/casement

    Airtightness minimizes infiltration of outside air, increasing both energy efficiency and durability of the home. 

    A continuous air barrier enclosure has been tested to achieve the passive house standard requirement of 0.06 cfm/ft2 at 50 Pa via a blower door test. 

    Ventilation

    An Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system passively recovers 77% of heat to provide a continuous supply of healthy, fresh air to the home. Interior air is exhausted from the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry areas to remove contaminants, and fresh, filtered air is continuously supplied to the living spaces and bedrooms.  

    Heating and Cooling

    Energy-efficient heating and cooling is provided by a heat pump system which is specifically designed to work at high efficiency in cold climates. 


    Renewable Energy –PV

    A 14.4 kW on-site Photovoltaic array produces 14,900 kWh/year

This project made history as the first single-family retrofit in Minnesota to achieve Passive House Certification—a gold standard in building performance, energy efficiency, and comfort.

But for us, this wasn’t just about breaking records. It was about creating a healthier, smarter, and more sustainable home for our clients.

Project Scope

Renovation and addition to 100-year old farmhouse

Year Completed

2025

Our Partners

Builder | HAUS Builders/ Mike Allen Homes Architect | Everybody Workshop
Interior Design | Design Studio B
Passive House Consultant (CPHC) | Cause
Mechanical Systems Design | Energy Vanguard
Phius Certified Passive House Rater | XRG Concepts

Photography | Dean Riggot Photography

Read more about our Phius Certification for The Farmhouse here>>

A white two-story house with black window frames and a metal roof, situated on a grassy lawn with a large leafy tree in the foreground and a blue sky.
A modern white house with black window frames and a metal roof, surrounded by green grass and tall trees.
A black and white chicken standing on green grass in front of a modern white house with a metal roof and large windows, surrounded by tall pine trees under a clear blue sky.
A white multi-story house on a grassy hill surrounded by tall trees with a blue sky overhead.
White modern house with metal roof, multiple windows, two-car garage, surrounded by grass and trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
Modern front door with glass panel, flanked by two wall-mounted lanterns, with potted plants on steps leading to the entrance, white siding on house exterior.
Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a large window, a central island with beige chairs, pendant lights, and a view of greenery outside.
Bright kitchen with large island, white cabinets, brass hardware, and two large hanging pendant lights.
Bright kitchen with cream cabinets, a large island, and a view of a backyard through a window.
A kitchen with a white island counter, woven bar chairs, white cabinetry, a wood accent wall, and a large window showing green trees outside.
View of a kitchen through a doorway with white walls, a white range hood, and a wooden island with two beige upholstered barstools.
View from a kitchen into a dining room with a round table, four chairs, a gold chandelier, and a large green plant in the background.
View of a cozy dining nook with a round wooden table, chairs, and a built-in bench with cushions, set against a wooden wall with decorative round mirrors and a distinctive hanging light fixture.
Living room with green velvet sofa, two orange armchairs, a white pouf, a wooden coffee table, and various decorative items, windows with floral curtains, and houseplants.
Interior view of a home showing a wooden staircase with black accents, a chair, a doorway leading to a kitchen with bar stools, and framed photos on the wall.
Interior view of a staircase with worn, chipping black and white paint, leading upward next to a white wall with picture frames. A window and a built-in bookshelf filled with decorative items and books are visible in the background.
Bright bathroom with white vanity, round black handle drawer pulls, wall mirror, small potted cactus, and white sink. Shower area with glass partition, beige tile walls, small window, green potted plant on wicker stand, and beige hexagonal tiled floo
Bright home office with three large windows, a dark desk with decorative plants and framed artwork, a wooden bookshelf with decor items, and a side table with books and a lamp.
A cozy living room with a rustic wooden wall, a window with a view of trees, a round wooden table, a rocking chair, and floating shelves filled with books and decorative items.
Bedroom with a bed with colorful bedding and pillows, a white armchair with a yellow pillow, a wooden desk with stacked books, a window showing greenery outside, and a rustic wooden accent wall.
Bright bathroom with a large window showing trees outside, a white freestanding bathtub with gold fixtures, a walk-in shower with white herringbone and subway tile, a towel hanging on a rack, and minimal decor including a chandelier and wall art.
A bathroom with a freestanding bathtub, a large window showing a view of trees, a wooden stool with a white bowl, a framed artwork on the wall, and a decorative chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
A bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, a chandelier, a window showing greenery outside, a bed with pillows and a blanket, a wooden bench at the foot of the bed, a beige armchair with pillows, and framed artwork on the wall.
A rural landscape with a white house, a barn with solar panels, and a silo surrounded by trees and fields under a clear blue sky.

The Farmhouse isn’t just a beautiful place to live—it’s a case study in what’s possible when homeowners, designers, and builders align around a shared vision of sustainability, health, and innovation.

It’s proof that homes can be both traditionally inspired and future-ready.