What’s Inside the Big Platinum Box Behind the Kirby Collection?

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

On the market as of 2 weeks ago: the home-slash-power-plant on the corner of Virginia and Colquitt streets, a block west of the now-rising Kirby Collection.  The listing claims the building is Houston’s first LEED-Platinum certified home (though others have since followed suit), and by Houston standards, Adams Architects took extreme measures to reduce the 1,900-sq.-ft. house’s dependence on city utilities networks.

Rooftop solar panels send excess energy to the power grid during the day, and a back-up battery system is in place in case the grid ever goes down. Tucked out of sight below the 3-bedroom structure are geothermal conduits which circulate water down to hotter strata 300 ft. deep, collecting energy to heat and cool the house. A 7,000-gallon cistern beneath the recycled-plastic deck also collects rainwater for use in the space.

Ready to peek inside?

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3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

The rainwater cistern lies beneath the Virginia-facing front patio:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

Bamboo stairs lead up to the main living area on the second floor:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

A long, narrow kitchen runs along the Colquitt side of the house:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

The central living space is partitioned up beneath the angled solar panel array. Here’s the dining area, adjacent to a glassed-in upstairs patio:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

The master suite also has patio access:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

Natural light is used throughout the house, including some interior closets:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

 

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

The first floor consists of an elevator-accessible apartment, a glassy garage, and several patio spaces:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

A kitchenette sits next to the apartment’s bathroom:

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

3319 Virginia St., Upper Kirby, Houston, 77098

Photos: HAR

Green Machine in Upper Kirby

3 Comment

  • If they had bought an old frame house in 1st Ward and restored it, they would have consumed much less materials. Emissions would have been much lower than whatever machinery it took to dig 300 ft. into the ground or excavate that giant cistern. Electric usage would be only a fraction of this thing, and if you don’t put air-conditioning in, even less (yes, it is possible to live without a/c). That is what should get LEED Platinum.

    Simplify, simplify, simplify.

  • This lovely home is the residence of former Judge Adele Hedges and her equally well connected husband, Dan , a republican attorney. Great home. Like the use of energy efficient features.

  • Wow. That’s an amazing house in a great location (well, not sure after that Kirby Collection is finished).