In face of the Global environmental challenges, more than ever before has consumerism become a moral issue. In the realm of furniture, environmentally conscious designers and consumers usually stress the materials with which the furniture is built and its sustainability (how long the piece will be in use). To be sure, these are important considerations, but another aspect that is as equally important is the sustainability of the design. There are some designers that have achieved timeless designs that transcend the cycles of fashion.  Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Lounge chair is an example of such an achievement. It is a piece that is equally as attractive today as it was in 1929 when first released for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona Exposition. It is not easy to identify what it is that gives some pieces their timeless universality. But rather than enter a deep contemplation of the matter in this space, let us cherish such achievements and recognize the environmental and moral aspect of timeless designs.

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But their aesthetic was influenced by her playful paintings that evoke biotic forms. She wanted a white house that is sensitive to the somewhat offbeat palette of her paintings: oranges, yellows, olives…and white. Lots of it.

“We wanted a house with some levity,” she told the New York Times.

The Architectural firm Johnsen Schmaling Architects was considered by the AIA for the 2010 awards for this house. The jury noted: “The skillful design of this house is well detailed and precise. The street-side elevation and massing are very clear and well done. Its structure is very thoughtfully done where you can see through the building to the water. An infill site, the house is respectful of the scale of the neighborhood. There are some very nice moments in this one. It’s nice to see the color.”

At a just-right size – under 1,900 square feet, their home is neither as huge as most new houses built in the US, nor impossibly tiny for a family including a couple of ten-year-olds. This area of the lake is an industrial warehouse city, where what homes there are tend to built by Habitat for Humanity.  Other artists live nearby.

The home goes far beyond LEED with two solar systems, both traditional PV and the newer thin-film, that needs more space to make the same electricity, were used. An on-grid solar home, the excess power their system produces goes to the grid.

Their utility pays them nearly twice as much for the energy they produce as it charges for the energy they use. And then there is solar hot water heating, as well, reducing their use of gas, in addition.

The pair, who are both architecture school grads, were pioneers, in building this eco home – that is only the second to be LEED certified in Wisconsin. Robert wanted to test a ground heat exchange system, by tracking their savings, and  getting some hard data that others can put to use.

Surprisingly little is known about the efficacy of ground heat exchange systems that are still uncommon in the US. Sometimes they’re called geothermal power but should not be confused with the far deeper wells drilled for real geothermal power for utility-scale energy. IKEA and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are working on developing this data too.

Antifreeze is pumped through the walls from deep underground to heat or cool the house. Their 200 foot deep piping seems extreme , and at $100,000, (offset by a 30% tax credit, currently) this was a huge investment, but in a house built for longevity, should have real payback in reduced energy use.

Inside, maintaining comfortable temperatures year round requires virtually no energy. As part of meeting LEED, it was evaluated for air tightness. A local building inspector was astonished at the air-tightness of the home, after doing the air-blower test.

Robert recounted that his response was “If it were any tighter, when you open the doors, the toilets would flush.”

Photos: Kevin Miyazaki for The New York Times
Source: New York Times

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Artist’s Light-Filled House Wins LEED

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Rather than shoulder that giant mortgage, why not try something completely different. A tiny house that you could pay for and be done with.

Could you squeeze into a shed? I think I could. I’d rather enjoy living in this beautifully made cottage from Susanne, Sven and Frederick Asa of add-a-room.

Well, maybe that is a bit tiny! But the whole idea of the add-a-room is that you can simply add a room as you need it.

The family-owned company makes these exquisite cottages to be used as adjustable second homes by vacationing Swedes.

You just insert a 7 foot wide by 10 foot connector unit between the two. The connecting area can be configured for any variety of plumbing, bathroom/kitchen, outdoor shower/outdoor kitchen – gardening supplies… however you want it.

The connecting area can be open to the elements, as shown here – with an outdoor gardening sink supplying water for plant seedlings, and an outdoor shower, or it can be fully enclosed as part of the house, as a bathroom/kitchen with full sliding doors as the entry.

The tiny size (about 10 feet by 16 feet) keeps the small house (at least the first unit) well within the building permit purview in many jurisdictions, as a “shed” making it easy to get started. Yet each unit is completely  insulated to withstand Swedish-level winters.

The wood is a stained black core from Southern pine, a Danish invention of Super Wood that is finished to be future-proof without heavy metals and solvents.

The sleek and solidly built windows and sliding doors from the Danish company Velfac, are in black powder-coated aluminum on the outside and with a wood interior, for minimal maintenance and durability.

Bathroom and kitchen fixtures are similarly practical and well thought out. These are built in their “facilities in Tyresö of talented Swedish craftsmen with long experience.”

This is the greenest way to build. Factory construction really reduces construction waste that fills landfills.

The entire house can be delivered fully ready to live in at your site by crane and on a lorry.

Definitely not just a shed!

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This is Not Just a Shed

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The 40 affordable residential units and 2,800 square feet of commercial and community space, an underground garage, and 14,000 square feet of open space are designed to bring an infusion of energy and foot traffic for the many locally-owned businesses along this stretch of Massachusetts Avenue.

Originally the roof was not designed for solar, because funding came late. It had no parapet, which put some constraints on construction. Consequently,  Lighthouse Electrical Contracting had to install the 43 KW solar system so it could withstand 120 mile per hour winds.

Walking is encouraged by an internal raised garden that is planted above the garage roof, forming a central plaza. Entrances are raised above the courtyards, and are personal and individual, suggesting the townhouses in the area.

Eco benefits:
Photovoltaic array installed on the roof provides solar energy
Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
Common area lights use occupancy and daylight sensors and timers
High efficiency boilers, thermostats and variable speed fans
Cellulose insulation in walls exceeds code by 30 percent
Windows are insulated with argon-filled glazing and low-E coating
Low flow showers and dual-flush toilets
Storm water retention tanks slow the flow of storm water
Drought-tolerant native plants on the grounds get rain harvested irrigation
No asphalt/parking lots: underground garage is under a central planted courtyard
Low-VOC paints and sealants throughout

Source: DesignAdvisor

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Solar Powered Townhouses Open in Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Every detail you see has been created by Jain’s artisanal team. Even the brass door hinges are handcrafted.

Brass and teak throughout soften and contrast to the silky smooth concrete, hand-polished to an deep, purplish, greenish, iridescent luster that defies a color name.

Silky smooth concrete forms floors and walls both inside and out.

Attention to detailing creates a smooth radius at every 90º junction, forming a seamless surface that is both beautiful and, in the tropics, practical.

As with the gorgeous Palmyra House – Studio Mumbai uses a lot of teak louvres. ‘Most of the houses I do are built for the rain,’ says Jain. ‘The monsoon is stunning. There is no noise from the rain, but there is a certain sound; a sort of silence in the rains. There is something lyrical about it.’

Jain likens to the tone of this concrete to the shadows cast between mango tree leaves that surround the house.

Louvres play a big part in Jain’s work, forming a contrast with the concrete.

Stone is used outside, tying the building to ancient structures in the region.


A delight.

Source: architectural-review

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Studio Mumbai Wows Me Again

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Comfortable green desktop with built-in seat.

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Sited far away from everything in the jungle – it is of necessity, entirely off the grid. Local jobs are few and the natural environment must be protected. This structure is intended as a teaching opportunity for sustainable tropical design.

Power comes from a solar system on the roof. It is perfectly oriented to have the optimum conditions to generate 10,800 kWh a year of electricity. The house is sited far from power lines, so all the electricity is stored on-site. Some additional electricity is fed in from two micro-hydroelectric turbines in the nearby river.

Giant polycarbonate skylights bring in diffused cool daylight: the deep overhangs keep out most direct sunlight.

Part of the roof is used for a solar hot water heater that provides hot water, warming the pool and heating the water for washing dishes and taking showers. The house is so far from civilization, there is also no public water supply, so the water is brought in from the forest.

The exoskeleton design is informed by the climate. The region is extremely humid, but at an almost perfect year round temperature, and so the house is designed to be open and airy to maximize the movement of air to offset the humidity, including above the ceiling.

Centria‘s Versawall and Versapanel SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) were chosen for construction, normally a commercial construction material.

Because the interior and the exterior face of a SIP is already sealed into single units, they could be used both for the roof/ceiling, and for the walls. Chosen for their ease of installation, light weight,  low maintenance and resistance to humidity, they brought the construction cost down to $63 per square foot.

Bright LED lighting uses a tiny fraction of the energy of incandescent lights, and gives off no heat.

Around the exterior, TREX louvres, that are constructed of recycled plastics modulate temperatures and resist rot. Any off-gassing does not endanger indoor air quality.

Robles Arquitectos aims to not only minimize the impact of structures on the environment – but also, to minimize the impact of the surrounding environment, the humidity, invasive insects, and potential for mold growth on the building.

The result?  An emergent tropical architecture prototype for a sustainably constructed, low maintenance building vernacular. The 10 important elements evaluated: Site, Climate, Energy, Water, Materials, environment, atmosphere, cost, innovation in passive strategies, and in construction technologies.

The region requires earthquake-proof architecture, but the thermal-panels themselves have such high structural capabilities that they reduce the amount of steel structure reinforcement needed.

Because the SIPs are just one unit, there is no empty spaces between interior and exterior as between traditionally built walls that can grow mold in muggy weather.

Because the house is put together using prefabricated panels, most of it could be put together in a factory off-site and thus minimize the waste of materials on site. This made for speedy construction and finishing on site.

SIPs are normally a low cost, green (no waste) option for commercial building.

They make for an interesting and practical choice for constructing a luxurious and yet simple and affordable exo-skeleton style building for a comfortable life in a tropical climate.

Source: Arch Daily

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Off-Grid in Costa Rica: ISEAMI Teaches Eco Architecture

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The Brittany Groundhouse is available for rentals from owner-builders Daren Howarth and Adi Nortje at certain times of the year. Simultaneously ancient and modern, the house takes from the past and suggests a more sustainable future.

Step outside to see the sun drum up the power to run the electrical needs of the dwelling – including handcrafted LED light fixtures that use only a tiny fraction of the energy of CFLs. The surplus is sold to the grid.

Using traditional Earthship building technologies, and with the help of a team, the pair hand-built their earth-sheltered eco home from stones and earth they found on a site that has been lived in continuously for thousands of years.

In the 1700′s there was a castle in the area surrounded by smaller stone cottages. With a team, the pair spent two years on the new incarnation of the areas buildings, gathering stones that were strewn about the property, that had been used centuries ago in the previous dwellings.


For their eco home, they recycled bottles into the walls, reused shipwrecked wood for tabletops, and incorporated car tires into gigantic thick walls on three sides for insulation. Tires have an R-value far higher than most commercially used insulation. The entire front is all glass for maximum solar gain.

The result is an ancient and charming eco home off a quiet country road on 6 acres of land rich in wildlife, with deer, woodpeckers, buzzards, otters, salamanders, owls, and even horses.

Source: Groundhouse

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The Brittany Groundhouse: a Sophisticated Earthship

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For most of it, in the areas of the peninsula that are prone to flooding, it is above ground. The elevation preserves the natural habitats beneath it.

The beautiful, subtle sheen of stainless steel cladding picks up the tints of the surrounding woodlands, and it is a very cost-effective building material.

Inside, the building houses space for research, training, recreation and business facilities for professional athletes, while underneath, the raised elevation has the effect of preserving the habitat for local flora and fauna to continue with their lives too.

Within the ecologically benign space are sleeping quarters, physiological laboratories, a business center and cafe.

For athletes taking an evening walk, LEDs flood the ground beneath the structure that barely impacts the ground – and making the building look like a gently hovering flying saucer about to land.

Images by Roland Halbe Architectural Photography

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For Athletes in Training: A Raised Ring Has No Impact on its Site

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But most of the roof is a green roof.

The house is suspended above ground, designed for a humid part of Brazil.

It is designed on a grid. Some of the grid’s modules are closed environments, and other ones are totally empty frames… for now.

Because of the empty spaces, the trees from the garden below are able grow up through the structure.

These trees will then seem to sprout from an extension of the hilltop grass that forms the green roof that you can traverse like a garden by walking on the green roof, which extends the land on each side.

But you can also walk across the bridge structure through the house suspended in the middle, or by walking underneath on a ground floor, that is literally the “ground” floor, which supplies a growing area for vegetable gardening that is partly sheltered from the brutal sun.

There, under the house, gardening is possible, for ferns and plants but also for vegetable production. With the grass roof on top of the house, and the basement garden on this ground floor, the area’s flora has been almost doubled, while a pocket of humanity can survive, sandwiched in the middle between two layers of green.

For such a rustic exterior, the interior spaces are urbane and civilized.

Even tranquil, sandwiched between two green spaces, the green roof and the green gardens underneath.

If there is a way for humans to live the civilized life that we humans like, while not obliterating too much of nature in the process, this is how to do it.

Source: Space Invading

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Grid House Suspended Between Green Roof + Green “Ground Floor”

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