Focus Week 1 - Inivative Eco Homes (12-16th October 2009)

Rustic Modern: Earth, Wood & Steel High-Desert Home

 For my focus project I have chosen to look at a collection of existing and conceptual design proposals in the areas of architecture and landscape architecture. I've discovered many interesting proposals which catch my eye and give me inspiration for my designs. These design proposals are important to me because I'm especially interested in sustainable architecture, sub-urban and urban landscape projects.

 












My own thoughts: I can see myself living in a house like that. I picticualry like the bold horizontal and virtical lines because as well as being positioned to capture and maximize the potential of the building, they are also made from rammed earth from the surounding environment. I think this design looks mordern yet with a natural asthetic chractoristic resulting in a master peace of  architecture.  I'm impressed with idea of bringing the outside in i.e, the natural colours, textures and materials and epecially how they are exhibited by the broad horizontal and virtical lines of this building.

More over:

Weathering steel shows intentional rust to blend the house with the surrounding hues of the natural landscape, while rammed earth bricks add to the effect while also making use of local Eco-friendly materials – the color of the clay naturally matching the surrounding dirt from which it came. Wood accents add another layer, cut in simple patterns so their variation speaks for itself. The interior design exhibits similarly variegated colors and textures but is likewise Modernist in shape and form.There is something about the high-desert prairie lands that indeed seems to invite the long lines and simple naturalistic materials that date back to Frank Lloyd Wright and the so-called Prairie Style approach to designing and building homes. In this case, however, novel techniques and new materials make this modern desert residence a kind of bridge between the stylistic past and a more sustainable future. The interplay of void and solid, spaces and planes, that define this structure (designed by Pique) are more then merely modernist affectations in section and plan – they are a means of blocking out excess solar energy while capturing natural light, leading it all the way to the basement of the building. These more contemporary, rational and linear moves are also balanced by rustic colors and rusted materials. Find out more at www.dornob.com

‘Invisible’ Set of Green Homes to be Hidden Underground

Going green does not just mean eco-friendly building systems and sustainable construction materials. It can also imply a blending with the landscape – an implied recognition that our structures come second to nature. That, at least, is the idea behind this set of remarkable modern underground home designs commissioned by Michael Hill.

 The design concept revolves around privacy but also around maintaining natural beauty and the seclusion that comes with being in a truly natural setting. While small outdoor fireplaces and courtyards will be permitted much of the design of these homes is interior-focused, including libraries and wine cellars.

My own thoughts:

I like the idea of literally having a house hidden within the landscape because not only does it remain minimal in its overall impact, it uses its location to its advantage with the use of geo-thermal hot water pipes and earth insulted walls and celing to keep the building warm in winter and cool in summer. Electricty would be anouther factor in this design because it may be the case where electricity is remote so incorperating solar panals could be an option.













 Rock the House: Bizarre Rural Boulder & Stone Home Design

It seems too strange to be real – a home emerging from a set of giant stones, seemingly cut out of the rock itself. Yet there it stands in rural Portgual with the pictures and video to prove it. No, it is not an optical illusion nor a fancy photo-editing job … this is the real deal. As the television interview illustrates, the home is truly bordered by two boulders that inform the interior spaces – but it is also filled in with smaller stones to finish the effect. Crooked windows complete the curious picture on the outside while rough-cut log furniture, stairs and railings add to the organic feel of the interior spaces. Of course, this design is naturally eco-friendly as it incorporates local materials and more natural elements requiring less energy to turn into structural supports, finishes or cladding.

Inspired by none other than the Flintstones, this is not a work of installation art nor a themed hotel – it is simply the private residence of one person who saw a unique design opportunity and creatively integrated the natural environment while constructing his custom home on hill with a view (images via Jsome).

 Floating Sustainable Ocean Cities

The Lilypad Project may be one of the most complex and forward-thinking green design projects ever conceived. Each individual ‘pad’ is structured to be a self-sustaining city that can travel the world’s oceans and rescue refugees due to disasters and rising sea levels. They would be powered by a combination of thermal, tidal, solar and wind energy and each would have a huge capacity – housing up to a half-million people a piece. The three-dimensionally complex design creates hills and valleys as well as recreational, commercial and residential spaces, giving them an organic complexity that makes them somehow believable as places where humans could live out entire lifetimes. (Source)

My Own Words:  From looking at other similar designs, this concept stands out to me. I think is a fasinating concept for a future community developtment. Im blown away by the ambitious nature of the proposal. The idea of living out at sea on a floating eco island is an amazing vision. As the worlds population inevitably increases, the need to move out to the oceans will become ever more important. I can already see this design taking off especially in somewhere like Dubai because there are houndreds of ambitius concepts like this one. Looking at the first image of the concept, you see the structure continues under water providing underwater views for the occupants! I would imagine this to be a truly awsome view .Getting on and off of the floating island would require a vast boat port for all its occupants. Going by the images these eco islands would be situated offshore not to far from land due to the limits of submersible equiptment (needed to secure the floating island to the floor)