Building for the future: Queen of Zero demonstrates what’s possible
When this historic home was destroyed in a fire, the homeowner decided to rebuild an exact replica. This time, however, the home will have a much higher standard of resiliency and durability, thanks to Hardie® products.
Every day, the James Hardie team puts passion and precision into providing solutions for the challenges presented by a changing climate. Through the Queen of Zero project, Symbi Homes and Romero Architects are adapting the Victorian design to a modern standard of efficiency, comfort and resilience, and Hardie® products are a key feature in this historic transformation.
When the original home was destroyed in a fire, the homeowner decided to rebuild an exact replica within the historic neighborhood just outside the nation’s capital. The difference, though, is the new home will have a much higher standard of resiliency and durability.
We are proud to work alongside Nicole Tysvaer of Symbi Homes, Michael Romero of Romero Architects, and The Journal of Light Construction on this rebuild. Together, we are redefining what’s possible.
Nicole Tysvaer, CEO of Symbi Homes, is leading the Queen of Zero construction. She told us, “The Hardie® product is a perfect fit for this kind of project. It has the durability and resilience we look for as a sustainable builder. We were able to match the historic character and at the same time embrace technology and innovation.”
Diversity is a priority for us at James Hardie and it’s been a pleasure to work with a female builder, especially one who is as innovative as Nicole. Diversity of thought and ideas is critical as we think about building homes for the future. Nicole recognizes that James Hardie’s commitment to sustainability is deep, and our team is energized by the sustainable builds Nicole and her team are championing.
A Historic Home becomes Future-Ready
Rebuilding a historic home to be future-ready is the challenge with this project. This home will preserve the history and beauty of the late 19th century, while building resilience for the climate reality of the 21st. Queen of Zero showcases Hardie® Plank, Hardie® Panel, Hardie® Trim, and Hardie® Artisan® V-Groove siding. These products provide a historically accurate look, and at the same time, offer resiliency and durability to help withstand harsh weather and natural disasters.
In preparation for mid-Atlantic winters, the Hardie™ Zone System provides siding designed specifically with this climate zone in mind for optimal performance. The HZ5® product line used on the Queen of Zero is right at home in climates with freezing temperatures, extreme seasonal temperature variations, and snow and ice. Moreover, these products are low maintenance, so the owner can spend more time enjoying this rebuilt home, while having the peace of mind that it will endure.
At James Hardie, our long-term goal is to create lower carbon products that offer the same or better durability and resiliency as our current fiber cement products. We are advancing our Low Carbon Cement Technology Roadmap toward reducing the CO2 impact of cement in our products through an investment in innovation and Research and Development. For builders and homeowners, the benefit will be a reduction in embodied carbon across the lifecycle of building a home.
Three Homes Built to Sustain
James Hardie is working with leading builders who are constructing three resilient homes for the future, including the Queen of Zero restoration project. While each of these homes is in the United States, they are in three diverse geographies and climates - the Midwest, the mountain range, and the mid-Atlantic. Each project is unique, but what they have in common is the incorporation of durable and resilient Hardie® products.
The Queen of Zero home truly reflects our purpose – Building a Better Future for All™.
