Rooftop photovoltaics and windows that automatically open and close are among the sustainable features in a small Harvard building, which Snøhetta, Skanska and university researchers have retrofitted.
The project involved an extensive overhaul of a pre-1940s home that serves as the headquarters for the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities (CGBC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Situated on a residential street, the three-storey building has timber framing, cedar cladding and a pitched roof.

The renovated 4,600-square-foot (427 square metres) building is meant to serve as both a comfortable workspace and a living laboratory. Architecture firm Snøhetta was the lead architect on the project, with Skanska Teknikk Norway serving as the energy engineer. "Paving the way for ultra-efficient retrofit strategies, HouseZero creates a blueprint for reducing energy demands and increasing cost savings for property owners," the team said in a project statement.

A primary goal of the project was to create a "highly configurable, data-driven infrastructure" that will allow the centre to conduct research and demonstrate what is possible, according to the centre's website.
A detailed description of the renovation was unveiled in 2017. Modifications made to the home include better insulation, a radiant heating system, and new windows – many of which are surrounded by protruding "shrouds" that provide shade.

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