Modern House Designs

Sustainable Urban Design for Green Living and Learning

Eco sustainable homes and sustainable urban architectural design are at the forefront of the Batimat show in Paris. The aptly named Be-Green Houses prove it really is easy being Green, and it can be done in total comfort and style. This pair of contemporary house plans incorporates all the essentials into a colorful, bright design. Some spaces, such as the laundry and terrace, are designed as shared spaces, while others are conventional by all accounts – apart from their amazing eco-friendly appeal. These eco house designs incorporate passive solar technologies, and use natural and recycled materials such as the hardwood flooring with VOC-free finishes. Photovoltaic roof panels and a thermal hot water system allow these sustainable houses to function off the grid, while the green roof and a living wall do their part keep the environment while adding an organic ambience to the urban houses. And because learning is the key to enlightenment and, in the long run, change, this home features a monitoring system that tells residents exactly how much energy they’re using and when, allowing them to adjust their consumption. For more information, click here.
photo credit: Paul Kozlowski

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5 Nov 2009 | Sustainable Homes | Comments (0)

Underground House Design in the Greek Isles

What a cool example of creative architecture designed for fashion and function! This gorgeous underground house design by Deca Architecture is built right into the idyllic landscape of the Cycladic Islands in Greece. The hill house was designed to withstand the windy climate off the Aegean Sea. It was carved into the earth with just the second storey visible above ground. Clad in stone, the house really gets down to earth with natural materials and a warm, homey aesthetic that’s still modern. This natural house design features spacious outdoor entertaining areas divided from the indoors by expansive sliding-glass doors. An infinity-edge lap pool outside frames panoramic views and seems to spill out into the sea. Deca Architecture
via Digs Digs

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3 Nov 2009 | Underground Homes | Comments (0)

Hill House , Lap Pool House , Natural House Design , Stone House , Underground Home Designs

Desert House Design hides luxury in Arizona

Architect Rick Joy put some juice in Sonoran Desert with this amazing desert house design. The prominent rough red roof of this Arizona house draws attention from miles around, but it is the home’s livable, relaxing characteristics that invite you to stay. The steel house's humble exterior makes way for modern interiors, with stainless steel, maple and glass against a white palette. At the heart of the design, the courtyard brings fresh greenery to the hillside home’s minimalist interiors. Built into the sloping property and partially below the ground level, this hill house plan puts outdoor living rooms privately out of view. An infinity pool points toward a west-facing view and the mountain range beyond the desert. Rick Joy
via Digs Digs

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3 Nov 2009 | Desert Homes | Comments (0)

Arizona House Design , Courtyard House Designs , Desert Home , Minimalist Interiors , Outdoor Living Rooms , Steel Houses

Wood Country Home with a Centrifugal Layout in New York

OBRA Architects had some circular logic for their stunning wood country home design in Southampton, New York. Among the grass and trees of this five-acre property, this wonderful wood clad house features an unusual floor plan with a hollow center, “as if the heart of the house had somehow fallen outside its body,” according to OBRA Architects. But that’s not to say this country home doesn’t have heart! A linear layout of living spaces leads you from one part of the home to the next, creating a sense of whole throughout the separate spaces. Adding interest to minimalist interiors, constantly shifting vanishing points create large openings in the roof for centrifugal views of the surrounding country. Inside, this unusual home’s shape creates atypical angles and architectural features that add an element of surprise around every corner. A minimalist loft area overlooks the main floor, further enhancing the already-striking sense of light and space. Beyond its unique architectural design, this eco house design also incorporates a number of sustainable technologies like geothermal heating, passive ventilation and natural lighting. OBRA Architects
via Contemporist

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3 Nov 2009 | Wood Homes | Comments (0)

Countryside Homes , Eco House Designs , Minimalist Interiors , New York Homes , Unusual Homes , Wood Clad House

California Luxury House - Cool Eco Sustainable Design for Sale

This stunning luxury house for sale in California will make one lucky buyer very happy. Designed by architect Thomas Robertson of Ripple Design, this Los Angeles, CA, house includes many layers of living space: indoor and outdoor living rooms, and even a rooftop deck that’ll wow with its amazing views and thoughtful design. Measuring over 2,800 sq. ft. on a 6,316-sq.-ft. lot, this courtyard home plan welcomes you with its colorful entrance to a vibrant, modern design. Custom tiles and contemporary features meet natural elements like wood and natural views through expansive windows. But, there’s more to this three-bedroom three-and-half-bathroom house than meets the eye. Featuring a number of Green technologies, you can add “eco sustainable home” to your list of must-haves. Equipped with solar panels, photovoltaic cells, high-R insulation, low-E windows, and lots of natural light, this California eco design has it all. This luxury house design is listed for sale through Jan Horn.
via Contemporist