CASE STUDY
Sunlight Community
Portland, Oregon
Sunlight Community
Portland, Oregon
PR OJEC T NAME
Sunlight Community
LOC ATION
6500-6516 SW Barnes Road, Portland, OR
BUILDING T YPE
New construction, 1979
USE
Single family, detached; cohousing
DESIGNER/AR CHITEC T
William Church, John Maslen
BUILDER
Prinz/Masterson Contractor
DESIGN FEATURES
•P
assive solar sunspace heating
• E nergy efficient appliances
•D
aylighting with clerestories
•N
atural venitlation
•C
ommon space for cohousing
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This community was built on previously undeveloped land in the
Sylvan heights neighborhood, between Forest Park and the West
Hills. The area offers a secluded, quiet and park-like atmosphere
with car free pedestrian areas, grocery stores, and restaurants close
by.
The fifteen homes in the community were designed to make use
of passive solar heat with an attached solarium. The homes are
located on a south facing hillside with large clerestories that provide
natural venitilation. Each building steps up the hill towards the north,
adjusting well to the sloped land. Despite being one of Oregon’s
oldest solar projects, they continue to remain energy efficient
today.
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CASE STUDY
BUILDING DE TAILS
Sunlight Community
Portland, Oregon
SITE
Floor Area Heated: 1,000 to 2,500 sq. ft.
Overview and Land Use: The homes are clustered closely
Floor Area Cooled: 1,000 to 2,500 sq. ft.
together on a south-facing site, allowing for a large portion of
Number of Stories: 1.5
the landscape and creek to remain undeveloped.
New or Remodeled: New
Site Strategies: A community building with a meeting
space, art studio and apartments completes this cohousing
INTERIOR ENVIR ONMENT
community.
Overview: Excellent indoor air quality is maintained as natural
WATER
ventilation is used wherever possible. High efficiency gas
water heaters and heat exchangers were installed and natural
light is provided by the clerestories. Tile flooring in most of the
homes store heat. Interior finishes include natural linoleum.
Strategies: Interior materials were selected with the goal
of using non-toxic paints and floor finishes, limiting carpet
wherever possible.
ENER GY
Strategies
•N
one
WASTE
•R
ecycled and salvaged demolition materials
•R
euse of old ceramic soap dishes and existing siding
•R
euse of old fixtures and framing materials
•P
ortland Recycling & Composting
• Wood flooring salvaged from a gym
Overview: These houses use high efficiency gas water heaters
and heat exchangers to provide hot water to wall heaters as a
back up to solar heat. Appliances are energy eficient.
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PUBLIC ATIONS
• s olaroregon.org
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CASE STUDY
Resource developed by
Sunlight Community
Portland, Oregon
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