Let’s be honest for a moment. You’re here because you care. You want to build a home that doesn’t just shelter your family, but also aligns with your values. You want to do right by the planet, create a healthy living space, and leave a positive impact. But as you start your research, you’re hit … Read more
A few conversations we’ve had from the Ice Box Challenge. The Ice Box Challenge at the Cincinnati Homearama has been an incredible experience. We set up two small structures in the sweltering sun: one built to standard building code, and one built to rigorous Passive House standards. Inside each, we placed a large block of … Read more
Cincinnati’s summer heat is no joke, and as climate change brings warmer temperatures, finding sustainable and effective ways to keep our homes cool is more important than ever. That’s why Trilobite Design is thrilled to announce our collaboration with AIA Cincinnati for this year’s Ice Box Challenge at Cincinnati Homearama! This isn’t your typical home … Read more
When people hear the term “passive house,” (or passivhaus) they often think of passive solar design, which uses the sun to naturally heat a home. While harnessing the sun’s energy for free heat is a core principle, it’s not as simple as just letting all the sunlight in. In fact, a well-insulated, airtight home can … Read more
Finding the perfect plot of land to build your new home is a thrilling and sometimes stressful journey. Like buying an existing house, you’re limited to what’s currently available. In today’s fast-paced real estate market, that inventory changes daily. In the Cincinnati area alone, there are hundreds of options, from publicly listed parcels to private … Read more
Nearly every project that includes architectural acoustics has its own set of unique design elements. But we use a whole host of “standard” acoustic principles and finishes. It’s a common request to see the typical details we use. And while those details are usually copied/pasted/edited between different drawings and applications, they seldom translate well into … Read more
The Mt Airy Passive House has been an enourmously rewarding project. We’ve taken a tricky site and designed a site-specific, modern house that will be one of the most sustainable residences in the region. Since the site is a steep hill, we found the perfect spot to orient the tallest roof due south. The foundation … Read more
This project under construction looks like a modest residential renovation – finishing a mid-century basement with a few new rooms. But behind the new drywall is an extra level of detail and coordination specific to Triobite Design’s architectural acoustic specicialty. We worked with the owner to plan a new recording studio: a live recording room, … Read more
One of the key tenets of a highly sustainable building is ventilation. We have begun diving into the detailing for several different projects regarding the heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, and the math keeps coming back to Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs). An ERV provides continuous fresh air to a building or space, but transfers the … Read more
