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
The wonderful folks at Sabbath Recording have been planning a new studio build for years. They finally found the perfect spot to set up shop in the Mt Airy neighborhood of Cincinnati, nestled deep on a tree-lined residential street. While the studio itself is rather straighforward and functional, it’s a part of a bigger concept … Read more
I’ve talked with a number of different contractors this week, and the theme has been Understanding The Details. There are some folks that are stellar at their trades, but are great only because they do the same thing and have honed their techniques and methods. There are other contractors that you hire to do new … Read more
One of the best things about Cincinnati is the fantastic stock of older buildings. There are lovely old buildings getting new life as businesses expand and start. And there are thousands of old houses getting projects big and small to make room for a new residents. It may not be obvious, but find your expert … Read more
