The Solar House Design Suggestion is the recipient of the Angelo Donghia Foundation Grant for building a small house that utilizes solar energy with efficiency through a design that controls excess heating and cooling with many modifications in the plan of the house. The project covers crucial aspects to keeping a house at a comfortable temperature such as daylight control/thermal massing, active/passive solar power factors, alternative/passive cooling techniques, micro-climate creation and cross ventilation.
The model of the “Solar House” project would essentially seem like a “box inside another box” as the plan follows the architectural pattern of commercial structures and the conventional curtain-wall that contains the central structure that houses all the elements of a house – making the house eco friendly and a step towards the concept of sustainable living.
Various modifications have been made in order to control the temperature of the home effectively. Extruded louvers or planters that contain active moss line the southern wall of the home and they automatically operate to adjust the levels of heat and light entering the home – acting as thermal regulators. Hence, the harsh summer sun is prevented from entering the home with the help of these louvers whereas the soothing heat of the winter sun is allowed to efficiently cozy up the home during the cold season.
The ground floor of the home is efficiently utilized with a bedroom loft making an 850 sq.ft. home into a more spacious one. The interiors of the house is also planned in a way that it makes the most of area present in the home with the help of concealed panels and customized furniture, the kitchen is also a box-like structure with a sliding door. A micro-climate sofa provides the much-needed cooling or heating based upon the weather conditions. The overall exterior of the home in itself is extremely stylish and is truly a modern ‘green’ way of living!
Via: Behance
