Sustainable: Houses with Small Footprints by Rizzoli International Publications

70 0 pa l m s r e s i de n c e Veni ce , c a li f o r n i a , us a eHr l i cH a rcH i t ec t s

Sitting on a narrow 5,676 sq. ft. (527 m2) lot, the 700 Palms Residence resides at the juncture of two streets in Venice, California. Similar in area to its neighboring bungalows, the house is comprised of three floors with one central, double height room. The home employs sustainable techniques, including passive ventilation, to meet the requirements of a net-zero energy building. Natural ventilation is achieved by incorporating openings throughout the home, allowing air to circulate via various paths. On the north side, large sliding glass doors form a two story high opening. Directly across is a pair of pivoting glass doors. When opened, the doors let fresh air to flow through the 16 ft. (5 m) high living space between them. The ground floor plane has few obstructions, enabling air to disperse throughout the rooms and circulate freely around a solid staircase at 98

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the center. Further openings can be found elsewhere in the dwelling. On the west side, a large glass panel slides open to access a lap pool, and on the south side, a door and operable window open up the kitchen. The numerous openings provide alternative ways to ventilate by wind-pressure. For example, a southern breeze may enter from the kitchen door and window, continue into the study, and exit out the western doors. The air might also continue up into the double height living room space, exiting by the front doors. Large openings are much preferred in design due to the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mild climatic conditions. When they are all left open, the house is exposed to the environment and filled with fresh, replenishing air. The rooms on the upper floors are also ventilated naturally. The master bedroom on the top floor has sliding doors, which open up to a balcony, and operable windows at the south that enable cross ventilation. In the washroom, a large window allows fresh air to enter, while the sunshades on the west faĂ§ade provide privacy. In addition to bringing in light, the high windows and glass doors of the house prevent moist and warm air from becoming trapped at the top of the rooms. The home is designed with several methods intended to minimize heat gain and eliminate the need for air conditioning. Strong orange and red colored fabrics held by a large steel frame on the west side can be rolled both vertically and horizontally to protect from the

southwest sun, also creating privacy. Highly efficient lighting and appliances minimize heat loss and reduce energy usage. A long pool beneath the steel frame provides moisture to the air and heat storage during the winter. Three large trees surrounding the home, as well as the extended eave above the master bedroom, provide additional shade. Due to its environmental objectives, the home includes number of sustainable features. The small amount of power used by the home is supplied by solar energy. The thermal mass of the concrete floors also retains heat during the winter. Indigenous plant species are used in the landscaping of the courtyard, diminishing the need for excessive irrigation. Maintenancefree materials were used on the exterior, such as Cor-ten steel, and TREX, a material made with used plastic bags and sawdust. Weathering with age, these materials complement the rough textures of the neighboring structures. The design of the home uses a flexible approach to enable various options for airflow, creating a fresh environment for the residents. The house illustrates how, in milder climates, simple design can provide natural ventilation.

(opposite) rear view

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(opposite) natural ventilation was achieved by incorporating openings through the faĂ§ade (far left, top to bottom) site plan; ground floor plan; Plan of the mezzanine; first floor plan (left, top to bottom) north elevation; longitudinal section; south elevation; west elevation; east elevation

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(above, left) colored fabrics that can be rolled down to protect the house from the southwest sun (above, right) the side pool contributes to a cooling effect on the house (opposite) the extended eaves above the master bedroom provide additional shade 102

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(above, left) the open plan facilitates cross ventilation (above, right) a: several side trees cast shadows over the structure(opposite) the house is located near an intersection of two streets in Venice, california

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m a i so n pro du c t i V e Ho use ( m pH ) m o nt re a l , q u e b ec , ca na da pro d uk t i f st u di o de d es i g n

Located near Montreal’s downtown core, the Maison Productive House (MpH) has an ecofriendly concept catering to sustainable urban living. Distributed into a four-story residential complex, the building incorporates condos and townhouses into nine units, each varying in area from approximately 700 to 1,200 sq. ft. (65 to 110 m2). The residence incorporates various sustainable features, including sustainable energy techniques and ample green space. The design of the MpH residence is intriguing due to its evaluation and reinterpretation of urban living, as well as its many sustainable initiatives. One way in which the residence pursues these initiatives is through the integration of permaculture — sustainable agricultural systems. On the roof, a greenhouse produces various fruits and vegetables, supplying food year-round and helping to ensure local food security. Additional plants 260

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are found just outside the greenhouse, maximizing green space. By absorbing carbon dioxide, the plants replenish the environment with oxygen, counteract urban heat retention and mitigate the city’s air pollution. The garden is one of the many spaces shared by the residents, enforcing a communal living style, and a community of self-sufficient residents. Curving out from the façade, the greenhouse integrates into the design, enforcing the link between food, people and the built environment. Along with the roof greenhouse, the home includes additional space to supplement the residents’ alimentary needs. Each unit has its own private garden, where residents can grow and tend to the fruits and vegetables of their liking. The owners also have access to a fruit orchard and herbal garden. By involving the inhabitants in the cultivation process, they are able to learn how to make food grow, thereby enhancing the educational aspect of the project. To minimize waste and resource usage related to such expanses of green space, the home employs sustainable methods of recuperation. Rainwater entrapment and grey water filtration systems supply water for irrigation, reducing total water consumption, while a composting system in the building minimizes food waste and maintains a natural regenerative cycle. Located only a few minutes from Montreal’s public Atwater Market and containing an artisanal bakery in the basement, the residents are

able to supply most of their diet with fresh, homegrown foods with little difficulty. This is advantageous as it encourages local markets and sustainable food distribution. It also minimizes carbon emissions released during the transportation of alimentary goods. The home approaches urban sustainability issues through the integration of various passive and active design features. Geothermal technologies and photovoltaic panels angled on the roof provide the home with reusable sources of energy. Wide window areas combined with a self-shading design allow for passive solar heating and natural lighting. Through these techniques, the home supplies 60% to 80% of its energy requirements, and eliminates the need for mechanical air conditioning. Striving for carbon neutrality, the residence is a Zero-Emission Development building (ZED) with a LEED platinum certification and little environmental impact. The Maison Productive House (MpH) is a highly sustainable residential building demonstrating a new approach to urban housing. Largely self-sufficient, the residence incorporates indoor means of food production to promote low-impact city living, and connect inhabitants with their roots.

(opposite) the project is made-up of condos and townhouses of various sizes

(far right, top) second floor plan (far right, center) third floor plan (far right, bottom) longitudinal section

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(opposite, left bottom) additional plants maximize the project’s green area

(opposite, left top) each unit has its own private garden

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(opposite, right) Produce grown on the project’s façade F

15 x 9 1/2" = 9'-5 3/4"

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15 x 9 1/2" = 9'-5 3/4"

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15 x 9 1/2" = 9'-5 3/4"

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15 x 9 1/2" = 9'-5 3/4"

(right, center) ground floor showing a garden (right, bottom) first floor plan

(right, top) Basement plan

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(below, left) the design is an interpretation of urban living as the faÁade shows (below, right top) the project’s faÁade (below, right bottom) a kitchen in one of the dwelling units (opposite) the project includes permaculture-sustainable agricultural system

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ea r t H Ho u s e seo ul , s o u t H ko r e a b cH o arcH i t ec t s as so ci at e s

Located in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, the Earth House is inserted into a mountainous landscape in the northern part of the country. The house that was constructed with earth maintains the neutral palette of soil. Enclosed by the landscape, the home was conceived to enhance functionality as well as the proximity between the inhabitants and their natural environment. The most predominant feature of the house is its ground insertion. Constructed in a plateaued area of the mountainous plot, the 46 ft. by 56 ft. (14 by 17 m) concrete residence sits in a rectangular void in the earth. To resist lateral earth pressure, thick concrete retaining walls line the rectangular depression, and a flat roof and base plate run between the walls. A steel column concealed within the central wall provides additional reinforcement to the concrete plates. The 300

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embedded design was chosen for its structural advantages. Embraced by the earth, the home is provided with insulation and protected from exterior damage. The earth mitigates temperature variations by slowing the transfer of heat, reducing the need for internal conditioning and energy costs. The interior partitions were created using a soil mixture of excavated earth compressed with formwork. Like earth, these walls have an innate ability to insulate. By providing the structure, the finished surface and insulation, the rammed earth walls minimize construction materials and waste, as well as transportation and related carbon emissions. The final embedded design is efficient, reducing resource consumption and, consequently, its environmental impact. The earth-bound nature of the house also has conceptual benefits. Constructed in honour of the Korean poet Yoon Dong-joo, who wrote of the sky, the earth and the stars, the home speaks to these three elements, as well as the fundamental relationship between humans and nature. This relationship can be described through the home’s features. Descending a staircase along the side, the residents enter an interior courtyard within the earth. This courtyard is created from the leftover space of the rectangular void left by the house. From this space, and through the windows, one’s view is directed through the opening, grasping the sky and the rising landscape. To fit through the entrance, people must bend slightly,

making them feel as though they are squeezing into the earth. These aforementioned features articulate the relationship to the land and sky, and enhance the connection between the inhabitants and nature. One of the most intriguing features of the home is its lack of an observable façade. Since the structure is receded into the ground, passers-by cannot see the home but are graced with an undisturbed view of the surrounding trees and landscape. At night, light seeps out from the courtyard and through a second gap, illuminating nearby trees and hinting at the home’s presence. The home includes several other interesting and environmentally conscious features. Supplemented with minimal cement and lime, the rammed earth walls of the home can return to the soil, minimizing waste and maintaining the natural life cycle of the soil. Geothermal tubes and a passive design combine to keep the home cool, and recycled wood was used for all furniture and closets, minimizing the overall impact of the residence. Fully embedded in the ground, the Earth House’s unique design enhances its relationship to the environment. Conserving the landscape both visually and literally, the design has a strong conceptual basis, demonstrating the advantages of ground inserted dwellings.

(opposite) the dwelling does not obstruct the landscape

(below, left) site plan (below, right, top to bottom) sketch showing the unit section; ground floor plan; section (opposite, left) excavated earth was used to create the walls (opposite, right top) View of the rooms (opposite, right bottom) Internal view

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(above, left) typical wall (above, right) a portion of a tree trunk was placed in the wall (opposite) earth material was included in the construction of the house

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