Merge Architects Inc.

Voting is open for MassCEC's Triple Decker Design Challenge! Check out the link in our bio and vote for our entry, ‘The Back Stack’!
One of the enduring values of the Triple Decker is the housing typology’s spatial efficiency; three identical floor plans stacked atop one another allow maximum living space on a minimum land area. Our design proposal envisions a deep energy retrofit and the addition of a compact rear unit as a model for how these iconic New England dwellings can also become energy efficient.
This ‘back stack’, along with the upgrades to the existing units, balances occupant health and comfort; embodied carbon and energy dissipation; upfront costs and long term returns, via replicable and scalable strategies. Beyond its active systems, the new rear unit employs passive strategies including daylighting and natural ventilation. The fully electric Triple Decker’s carbon footprint will be further minimized as grid sources become more renewable.
Our proposal encourages owners to undertake the investment at the time that aging building systems are being upgraded. In addition, existing tenants will benefit from improved outdoor space while new rear unit tenants are offered a novel way of inhabiting this iconic building type.

Designed in collaboration with The Green Engineer and Thoughtforms.