Residential

Rinconada Residence

  • Year

    2014

  • Area

    4,900 sqft

  • Architect

    FGY Architects

Radiant Ceiling
Radiant Ceiling
Heat Pump
Heat Pump

In 2014, Palo Alto saw the rise of a 4,900 sqft residence seamlessly fusing Spanish Colonial aesthetics with modern sustainability. Designed by FGY Architects, this masterpiece illustrates how timeless design can harmonize with cutting-edge technology to create a truly comfortable living space.

The Spanish Colonial-style façade authentically blends with the neighborhood, while reducing heating and cooling loads. Its simple forms and courtyard design exude quiet sophistication, offering flexibility for client-hosted gatherings. The home’s commitment to aesthetics without compromising sustainability is evident through modern materials, techniques, and systems, creating an exceptionally energy-efficient and healthy living space.

Certified as LEED Platinum and a Passive House, it challenges the notion that sustainable building sacrifices speed or comes at a premium. The Messana Ray Magic® radiant cooling and heating ceiling system, coupled with Messana Controls and an air-to-water heat pump, ensures optimal comfort, year-round. This blend ensures precise temperature management and minimal energy consumption, showcasing how advanced HVAC systems can seamlessly integrate into architectural excellence, creating a sustainable and inviting living environment.

 

Exterior photo of home that utilizes a Messana Ray Magic® radiant ceiling panel system.
Dining and living room conditioned with a radiant ceiling. Bedroom that utilizes radiant heating and cooling ceiling panels. Hallway in home with Messana Radiant Ceiling System. Staircase in home with a Messana Ray Magic radiant ceiling system.
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What is a Radiant Floor?

A radiant floor is a type of heating and cooling system that uses the surface area of the floor to transfer thermal energy to or from the objects in a room through radiation. Radiant floors can be electric (heating only) or hydronic (heating and cooling). mControls can manage both types of radiant floors to maximize occupant comfort.
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What is a Hydronic Fan Coil?

A hydronic fan coil is a type of heating and cooling system that uses hot or chilled water to control the temperature of a room. It consists of a heat exchanger, a fan, and a coil, and is typically installed within the wall, ceiling, or floor. The heat exchanger is connected to a water source, which can be an air-to-water heat pump, boiler, or a chiller, and circulates the water through the coil to provide heating or cooling to the room. The fan within the unit distributes the air that passes over the coil, introducing either warm or cool air to the room.
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What is Radiant Heating?

Radiant heating is an energy-efficient heating technology that, unlike traditional forced-air systems that heat the air, employs warm radiant surfaces like ceilings or floors to deliver infrared heat directly to objects and people within a space. Radiant heating creates a comfortable, even distribution of warmth, without the need for visible and noisy equipment.

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What is Condensation?

Condensation forms on cold surfaces when the air surrounding the surface is humid and the surface temperature drops below the dew point temperature of the air. mSense room comfort sensors continuously monitor the dew point in each room and Messana Controls ensure that the radiant ceiling or floor surface temperature never falls below the dew point to avoid condensation.

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What is Radiant Cooling?

Radiant cooling is an energy-efficient cooling technology that, unlike traditional forced-air systems that cool the air, employs chilled radiant surfaces like ceilings or floors to directly absorb the heat radiated by objects and people within a space. Radiant cooling creates a comfortable, even distribution of coolness, without the need for visible and noisy equipment.

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What is a Radiant Ceiling?

A radiant ceiling is a type of heating and cooling hydronic terminal that uses the large unobstructed surface area of the ceiling to transfer thermal energy to or from the objects in a room through thermal radiation. Radiant ceilings can be used as a standalone terminal or in conjunction with other heating and cooling systems to provide an energy-efficient and effective indoor climate solution.

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