VICTORIAN PREFAB PASSIV
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2018 | Cambridge, Massachusetts
5,150 SF | 4 Bedrooms | 4-½ Bathrooms
PHIUS ZERO | LEED Platinum | HERS -13Victorian Prefab Passiv is a certified Passive House and LEED Platinum single family residence in Cambridge designed to be all-electric and net positive, delivered using panelized prefab construction in collaboration with EcoCor.
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The primary complexity was not the site, but the social and regulatory environment. The project underwent a 14-month process with neighbors and Cambridge Historic review. Early iterations with more expressive Victorian detailing were refined into a more modest, restrained interpretation aligned with working-class Victorian precedents.
The final design preserves proportion, rhythm, and materiality appropriate to the neighborhood while integrating high-performance assemblies and solar strategy. description
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Item descriptionA hybrid roof form resolves the tension between historic street presence and solar orientation. A south-facing gable is optimized for photovoltaic production, while a steep 14:12 street-facing cross-gable maintains a Victorian silhouette.
To preserve clean roof planes for solar and minimize visible technology, a traditional brick chimney was repurposed as a service spine. ERV exhaust and plumbing were routed internally, avoiding roof penetrations that would compromise either aesthetics or array layout.
The result is a historically legible form that quietly supports advanced energy performance.
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Item descriptionThe panelized shell was installed and made airtight within seven days. The project achieved certified Passive House standards and LEED Platinum, operating fully electric and net positive. An ICF foundation provides durability and creates a bright, watertight lower level.
The house was constructed during COVID and prior to the Cambridge gas ban, reinforcing the client’s early commitment to full electrification.
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Item descriptionThe project functions as a single-family residence with a clear path to future duplex conversion. A steel carport supports additional photovoltaic capacity, EV charging, and on-site water retention and groundwater recharge.
Victorian Prefab Passiv demonstrates that prefab, Passive House rigor, and historic architectural character can be aligned through careful integration. The project delivers certified performance while maintaining contextual continuity — without allowing visible technology to dominate the architecture.
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There aren’t enough superlatives to use to describe our experience with GDB. Tagore truly embodies a commitment to design/build. In designing our project, he listened intently to our overall goals and the details that made the house both stunningly beautiful and specific to our needs. Tagore’s special sauce is his long-term relationship with his subcontractors and installers. It was truly a pleasure to visit the site during the build and see the subs so motivated to perform at the highest level of craftsmanship.
Betsy Harper
PROJECT PHOTOS
