Modern House Designs

Sustainable

November 18, 2008

Sustainable Modern Cottage on Georgian Bay, Canada

Nestled on the rocky Canadian Shield in Pointe Au Baril, three hours north of Toronto, this sustainable 3-season modern cottage quietly overlooks the shimmering waters of Georgian Bay with a design that blends with nature, but remains a focal point on its 2.8-acre island property. Designed by architects Agathom Co., the goal of this modern design was to deliver creature comforts – with a little class – while treading lightly on the land. The result is a cool, contemporary profile that’s balanced by the rustic look of its reclaimed wood-clad facade and topped by a green asphalt roof. Inside, the 1,000-sq.-ft. cabin boasts a bedroom, a living room with a library, a kitchen and dining room, and a loft. Solar panels power a pump that supplies water to the house. At the center of the cottage is a Rumford fireplace built of locally sourced stone. Agathom Co.
via World Architecture News

18 Nov 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

November 4, 2008

Ultra-modern House in Nicosia, Cyprus Combines Modern Luxury and Sustainability

Italian architect Massimo Iosa Ghini has brought his ultra-modern brand of architecture to the residential stage with his design for Cyprus House – a futuristic interpretation of the traditional home. Designed for an up-and-coming community along the Pedieos River near Nicosia, Cyprus, this single-family home will be part of a four-home complex, designed with organic-inspired shapes and an overall easy flow. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows are framed by clean, white concrete exterior walls. The home’s two levels and various volumes offer a sense of privacy. Aside from looking cool, the home is sensitive to the environment. Designed with a number of eco-friendly features, Cyprus House boasts low-E windows, adjustable solar panels, rainwater recycling, and a storage heating system to see residents through the winter months. Iosa Ghini
via Contemporist

4 Nov 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

October 30, 2008

Modern Beach House in Malibu Features Sustainable Design

This modern, 3,500-sq.-ft. house set in a swanky Malibu neighborhood not only looks like a million bucks – it’s sustainable design makes it a true treasure. Dubbed “Malibu 5,” this luxurious contemporary home designed by architect Stephen H. Kanner faces the Pacific Ocean, offering breathtaking views that rival the spectacular vision that is the home. Kanner’s eco-conscious perspective on design has resulted in a Green design featuring recycled materials; reduced energy consumption; passive heating and lighting via the sun; and air conditioning courtesy of the cool California breeze. Photovoltaic and solar rooftop panels provide hot water and off-the-grid power. Malibu 5 features an innovative double-C design that makes up the home’s two main volumes – the main two-storey C, and a smaller, single-storey C above the garage, which are separated by a courtyard. Inside, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and living spaces open on at least two sides to facilitate cross-ventilation. The home is largely enclosed in low-E argon-filled windows to reduce heat loss and gain, while flooding interiors with natural light. Kanner Architects
via Best House Design

30 Oct 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

October 29, 2008

Contemporary California iT House – Sustainable Prefab Design

This house is cool; it’s contemporary; simply put, it is iT! Designed by Taalman Koch Architects, iT House, located in Pioneertown, California, is a modern prefab house design, factory-made and assembled on site to control construction waste, environmental impact, labor and quality, according to the architect. “The simplicity and elegance of the design is alert to the essentials; the house creates a focused environment for maintaining harmony and deep connections with the natural world.” Taalman Koch has accomplished this through sustainable building practices and materials, and through the emphasis on indoor/outdoor spaces. The single-storey design is enclosed in glass walls and features an open-concept interior with rustic, raw woods and simple design elements. This eco-friendly house is heated, cooled and powered using passive methods – cross-ventilation, radiant floor heating, solar and thermal panels and energy-efficient appliances. Taalman Koch Architects
via Contemporist

29 Oct 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

October 16, 2008

UK First Net-Zero Carbon Self-Built Home - Stepping Stone to Sustainability

Touted as the UK first net-zero carbon house to meet the highest code for sustainable building, the Lighthouse by Potton was designed with thoughts toward a sustainable future. Almost a decade before zero-net carbon homes are code, this innovative eco-friendly design is meant to “encourage a way of living that is inherently ‘light’ on the world’s resources whilst combining the practicalities of today’s average homeowner,” according to Potton. From the ground up, all building methods and materials have been thoughtfully chosen to maximize the eco-friendly factor. The house itself sits on screw piled foundations, raising it off the ground to minimize impact. The house is clad in a rapid-growth chestnut wood cladding, with a sloping 40-degree roof that’s topped by a glass device designed to “catch” wind for passive cooling and ventilation and off-the-grid lighting. The large windows are triple glazed to reduce heat loss and gain, and the home features biomass boiler, photovoltaics and rainwater recycling. That said, the Lighthouse looks very cool too. Potton.

16 Oct 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

October 9, 2008

Sustainable House Design of the Future - Canada Contemporary Canuhome

Shaped like a canoe and indicative of what "u can do" for the environment, the Canuhome prefabricated house design offers peek into the future of sustainable home building. The 850-sq.-ft. traveling exhibit includes a kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and bedroom, all designed and built with eco-friendly features for urban living. The futuristic design is brought to you by a partnership between Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), George Brown College's Institute Without Boundaries (IwB) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), among others. Architecture by IwB incorporates eco initiatives like CMHC’s Equilibrium, HealthyHousing and Flexhousing initiatives; Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products; and adheres to stringent LEED standards. The result is a feasible housing option that’s adaptable and cost-efficient, with improved indoor air and environment quality, and reduced consumption of energy, water and resources. The model aims to illustrate that sustainable living doesn’t have to compromise on fashion or function. Canuhome.

9 Oct 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

October 3, 2008

Modern Sustainable Home in UK - Repurposing and Revitalizing the 1890s Railway Carriage

Like an animal adapts to its environment, so too does this modern repurposed rail carriage on Dungeness Beach in Kent, UK. Designed by architect Simon Conder, El Ray is a modern home designed to both blend into its sandy surroundings and weather their storms. The two-bedroom house is a restoration and reformation of a railway carriage circa 1890 sits at the heart of the home, now transformed into the home’s main hub – the kitchen. A sloping roof invites visitors to revel in the breathtaking view that is the sea. One elevation takes on a semi-circular form, while facing south is a fully-glazed facade overlooks the Channel. The architect used FSC-certified wood where possible, making it a sustainable choice. Adding to the eco-friendly appeal, this modern house design also incorporates passive solar power, cross ventilation and wind turbines as a source of natural heating, cooling and off-the-grid power. Simon Conder.
Read the full article by Graham Bizley for Building Design magazine.

3 Oct 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

September 26, 2008

Sustainable Tree House Actually Hugs Trees

From the pages of building and architecture website BD, London, this modern residential design is a tree house by all accounts – built from trees, built among trees. With an £800,000 grant to construct in a conservation area of west Beaminster, Dorset UK, Western Design Architects have planned this sustainable home with recycled timber, a Green roof and a ground-source heat pump. The contemporary 3,875-sq.-ft. house is comprised of three pods, each approximately five ft. off the ground. And while these pods are not actually secured to the trees that dot the surrounding landscape, the magnificent oaks will pierce through the terraces of the home. "While not physically bolted to the surrounding oak trees which are protected by a tree preservation order, the oaks will penetrate each terrace so 'you can hug a tree if you want to,'" according to the architect, reports BD. Inside, the main pod houses the kitchen, dining and living areas, and is connected to the neighboring two pods which accommodate the bedrooms. The start for construction is slated for spring 2009. Western Design Architects
Read more on BD - Building Design, London
photo credit: BD

26 Sep 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

September 17, 2008

Repurposed Water Tower, Now a Modern House in Belgium

This converted water tower house is recycling at its best. Designed by architect Jo Crepain of Crepain Binst Architecture, Moereels House represents a wonderful use of the existing to create something new, unique and totally modern. Located in Brasschaat, Belgium, the original concrete tower lends this conversion an authentic, industrial look. Surrounding the tower are U-shaped glass panels on three sides, and shallow balconies on the fourth. Around the tower’s base is a 20-ft.-high entrance level, which welcomes residents and visitors into the contemporary interiors housed within the tower itself. A series of steel staircases connect the various levels within the tower, which is lit up by out-of-this-world fluorescent lamps visible through the forest at dark. Crepain Binst Architecture
via Cool Boom via Materialicious

This modern house in Belgium used to be a water tower

17 Sep 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

September 16, 2008

Futuristic Vision of Sustainable Living – Easy Domes Becoming an Easy Choice

The brainchild of Danish Architect Kari Thomsen and Engineer Ole Vanggaard, Easy Domes are a contemporary prefab home design with two ambitions – easy assembly and low energy. One short day can yield this totally functional and ultimately unique house. Originally built in 1992 for the Greenland Society of The Faroah Islands, Easy Domes are now available in a variety of configurations that include the 160-ft. Nature Dome, the 250-ft. Tuft Dome (pictured), the Duo Dome and Family Houses ranging from 500 to 2,200 ft., and the Cultural Dome at 1,000 ft. Composed of a single dome or a series, Easy Domes are all founded on the “icosahedron” shape, a collection hexagonal panels arranged to offer a layout maximizing interior living space. This futuristic design offers does not compromise the comforts of home, offering a two-storey layout complete with a living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. Another modern twist on the traditional is that these homes are built using eco-friendly materials and methods. The design is vented on the exterior, and insulated with wood and flax. A green roof tops off these homes, complemented by solar roof panels, a wind turbine and other methods to harvest alternative forms of energy. Easy Domes

16 Sep 2008 | Prefab | Comments (0)

September 15, 2008

Passive Cooling and Local Building Materials for the Palmyra Palm House in India

With more than 800 uses for the Palmyra Palm tree, Indian-born architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai has come up with number 801, making it the centerpiece of his contemporary, eco-friendly and fashionably functional modern house design. The Palmyra House rests on a coconut plantation in eastern India’s coastal town of Alibaug, on the outskirts of Mumbai. A short drive to the city puts this resort-inspired beach house within easy reach of urban amenities, but just far enough to enjoy peace and privacy. This waterfront home’s exotic location lends a distinct flavor to its luxurious look and authentic feel. Built of locally sourced Palmyra wood, the innovative louvered design is naturally ventilated and shaded, making it a sound sustainable choice for this tropical climate. The house encompasses 3,000 sq. ft. within a pair of structures that are separated by a 25-ft. wide courtyard. Studio Mumbai
via Architectural Record

15 Sep 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

August 27, 2008

Inspired Eco-friendly House in the Blue Mountains of Sydney, Australia

The Leura House, designed by celebrated Australian architect James Stockwell, is a modern home inspired by the age-old geology of Sydney’s Blue Mountain area; celebrating sleek modernism and simple minimalism in its form and functions. This meeting of opposite eras has ushered in a new age of architecture – one that has won Stockwell the 2008 Wilkinson Award, the prestigious architectural award presented by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. The open-concept design is devoid of thresholds and boundaries, both between rooms and separating indoors form out. Doors are hidden from view. “Walls aren't wholly devoted to enclosing space but to create pauses in a larger journey.” Fashion aside, this contemporary house main focus is definitely function – designed to accommodate the owners, their children and 12 grandchildren. Eco-friendly design was also a key consideration for Stockwell, who incorporated smart and sustainable features like "rammed earth" walls for insulation; passive heating and cooling methods backed up by hydronic heating and cooling; as well as the home’s ability to product its own energy and function off the grid. James Stockwell
via Inhabitat

27 Aug 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

August 22, 2008

The Grass is Greener at the Sustainable Whitten House in Oregon

They say the grass is Greener on the other side of the fence – for the neighbors of this sustainable house the same can be said for the house itself. Created by Pique Architects, Whitten House in central Oregon is a modern, sustainable beacon sitting on a rustic 10-acre site peppered with sage and juniper. Taking into consideration the home’s two functions – sleeping and living – the architect created two separate cubes to define these distinct areas. The grounded lower cube houses the sleeping quarters, warmly nestled into the earth. Balanced atop the lower cube, a living area overlooks the treetops and presents an endless view through the gallery-style windows and from the balcony just outside. The surrounding forest was more influential on this design beyond just the views. The house is constructed using fire-proof materials, and the rainwater harvesting system holds a reserve of water stored for landscaping or fighting wildfires. Accompanying beauty and durability on the list, the third magic element of this awesome design is its Green innovations. The smart plan was designed to eventually take this house off the power grid through passive solar utilization, in-floor radiant heat flooring, extensive glazing and passive home cooling technologies. Pique Architects.

22 Aug 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

Sustainable Boomerang House Design comes to Costa Rica

At 1,000 sq. ft., the Boomerang House in Tilaran, Costa Rica, may be small, but it sure is sweet. Aside from its aesthetically appealing architecture and the wonderful, warm, yellow light radiating from its curved, glass entrance, this modern home’s most notable appeal is actually Green. The house is the sustainable creation of innovative designer Jean Paul Cazedessus of Be Green – Sustainable Housing in Costa Rica. This boomerang-shaped house design incorporates a copper standing seam with a grass-covered roof and walls, lending a look of rustic, raw modernism to the structure. The house is actually custom-created with a waste-not-want-not philosophy, “built to human scale, considering wants and needs of occupants.” Be Green
via World Architecture News

22 Aug 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

August 14, 2008

Modern, Sustainable House Goes for the Platinum - Marigardo House by Plumbob in Northern California

Like a phoenix, this magnificent sustainable house rose from the ashes of an area in Northern California previously ravaged by wildfire. Spanning 4,635 sq. ft. across two levels, the Marigardo House in Oakland boasts a unique facade finished with intricate design details hidden among the pair of overhanging roofs, warm wood paneling and a solid concrete base that holds it all together. In contrast, this home’s sleek, modern interiors are bright, white and stretch to no end through the sliding gallery-style windows. What truly makes this beautiful house shine is its energy efficiency. This environmentally conscious design by the architects at Plumbob LLC is now in the running to receive the highest rating from the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System – the Marigardo House could soon be known as Northern California’s first LEED-H Platinum custom home. Solar collectors ensure that this home operates its five bedrooms, five bathrooms and in-law suite off the power grid. This eco-friendly house design also incorporates a green roof, a rainwater collection system, a passive geothermal system as well as passive solar heat gained through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and rooftop solar panels. Plumbob LLC.