MODERN HOUSE DESIGNS

Elegant Eco Home with Fireman's Pole rocks!

Check out this elegant eco home located in Stanwood, Washington. This sustainable house by Designs Northwest Architects is a lesson in minimalist living - a sleek and simple hillside home boasting views of surrounding forest, Mt. Rainier and the city of Everett to the South, which are maximized by the home's towering four-storey layout. This high-efficiency, low-maintenance home features insulated concrete form that reduces required heating energy by 44% and cooling energy by 33%, compared to a traditional wood frame house. A geothermal heat pump and hydronic heating system enhance heating and cooling efficiency. Add to this passive solar features, like the expansive south-facing glass wall, lots of glazing to maximize natural daylight, concrete floors that retain heat to warm interiors, and a central "tunnel" stairway that provides passive ventilation, topped by a glass dome with operable windows that pull hot air up and out to further cool the house. And that's right, your eyes aren't fooling - this house has a second "tunnel" featuring a fireman's pole. Finished with native vegetation and a rainwater irrigation system, this house "green" in every sense of the word. Designs Northwest Architects

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9 Feb 2012 | Sustainable Homes |

Passive Solar Stone House, A Beachfront Dream!

This passive solar stone house is a dream for architecture- and enviro-lovers alike! Designed by Foster Bernal Arquitectos, this beachfront home is ideally located, perched atop a 180-ft. cliff overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean. This out-of-the Chile villa maximizes a less-is-more philosophy, complete with photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine, a gravity-fed well, and passive heating and cooling strategies, showcasing sustainability as its trendiest feature. The home is constructed using local stone and wood, and clearly embraces all things native – including the breathtaking beach view, enjoyed from this hillside home’s staggered outdoor decks and patios. Style and sustainability – this home has it all! Foster Bernal Arquitectos
via Dwell
photo credit: Crisobal Palma

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29 Nov 2011 | Sustainable Homes |

Contemporary Eclectic Home in Los Angeles

This contemporary eclectic home designed by Los Angeles-based architects Techentin Buckingham Architecture has its own unique brand of style that caught our attention. The main floor of the house sits level with the surrounding treetops, surrounded by the lush landscaping that becomes an integral part of this design. But because of the nearby neighbors, living areas were arranged as individual boxes with strategically placed windows, offering light and views without sacrificing privacy. This cool California house in Los Feliz has its quirks – we love the whimsical, lime green-framed windows, which pop against the dramatic black facade. But that’s not the only stand-out “green” feature you’ll find here. This eco house design features natural cooling and ventilation. The eclectic interior design matches the unusual exterior, where minimalist interiors meet fun, funky decor pieces that make this house design truly unique. Techentin Buckingham Architecture
via Freshome

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20 Nov 2011 | Sustainable Homes |

Smart Eco Homes in Russia

This smart Eco home is Russia is a must-see. This timber house designed by Russian architects Alexander Leonov and Svetlana Vasileva of Polygon Lab, is all about integration of energy efficiency, environment, health and comfort – a collaboration between engineers and energy specialists – and everything a home should be! Developed by one of Moscow’s leading developers, the Zagorodny Proekt company, and the Velux Group, the house takes the shape of traditional architecture with a modern twist. The simple wood-clad facade extends to the walls and roof of the house. Minimalist interiors feature a white backdrop, high ceilings and "snapshots" of nature through its many windows and skylights, creating a sun-soaked, bright and airy atmosphere indoors. Behind its walls, careful consideration for construction creates an eco sustainable home with thermal massing, natural lighting, solar thermal collectors, a photovoltaic solar cell system to generate electricity, and a highly effective heat pump. For more information visit Active House or Polygon Lab.
via ArchDaily
photo credit: Alexander Leonov, Torben Eskerod

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25 Oct 2011 | Sustainable Homes |

Eco Chic Home Design: Amazing Finland Cabin!

Finnish architects Avanto Architects got back to their roots when designing this eco chic home design right in their own backyard. Dubbed the “4 Corners House,” it features four views, each through a floor to ceiling glass wall. In the true tradition of Nordic architecture, this small house design is simplicity at its finest. A straightforward facade, dark and dramatic, is a stunning contrast to both the home’s snowy surroundings and to its bright-white minimalist interiors, clad in wood with a cool but distinctly “warm” aesthetic. Hot, in fact, thanks to the charming fireplace features in the living room and of course, the bedroom. Another great eco feature, this passive solar home operates off the grid and, further strengthening its connection of nature and reinforcing its principles of minimalism, it makes minimal impact on its environment. Avanto Architects
See more images at Plataforma Arquitectura.
photo credit: Kuvio / Anders Portman & Martin Sommerschield

(from the Editor: for nature lovers, this design is a killer, with its gorgeous simplicity and amazing views from every angle ...)

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13 Oct 2011 | Sustainable Homes |

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