Nowadays, most architects and builders see building a building with a low CO2 footprint as part of their building culture responsibility. Not an easy task, because if you want to build sustainably, you have to take a lot of things into account. A construction made from reusable or recycled materials, an ecologically sensible energy system and rainwater storage are absolute musts.
In 2017, the architects from 5G Studio Collaborative managed to build a single-family home that conserves resources and is in harmony with nature. You have combined your experience with modern construction methods and thewishes of the buildersconverted into a climate-neutral house. The modern architecture was awarded the Design Prize 2017. We present to you a project from the USA that is characterized by clever energy and water-saving solutions.
Build sustainably: Good insulation saves energy
The single-family home is located near a nature reserve in Texas. The clients were inspired by the idyllic location and commissioned the architects with the task of designing a house and planning a garden that would fit harmoniously into the landscape. This resulted in a one-story building with a flat roof that offers the best conditions for saving energy and water.
1. Instead of laying a concrete garden path, the builders opted for gravel, for example. The material allows rainwater to pass through and is particularly suitable fordry areasideally suited.
2. Multiple rainwater storage tanks on the roof ensure efficient garden irrigation. Thanks to the tank system, drinking water consumption is kept to a minimum, even in the summer months.
3. The southern facade of the house was planted with climbing plants. They provide cooling in summer and can improve indoor air quality.
4. The house facade was covered with reusable materials.
5. The builders deliberately chose not to use outdoor lighting.
The garden was designed to be as natural as possible. The front garden was includednative grasses, perennials and trees and the residents have created a vegetable garden with a glass house in the backyard. All plants are easy to care for, can get by with little water and thrive in heat and frost without any problems. They also ensure a good indoor climate. In summer, the tall trees cast cooling shade on the house, and in winter, the tall bushes provide protection from the wind.
It's not just the facade that was designed with reusable materials. Recycled materials were also used inside. In order to save energy and reduce heat loss in the winter months, the house was renovated inside and outinsulated outside. Many floor-level windows and sliding glass doors ensure a better indoor climate. This means that even the spacious living area can be well ventilated in the summer months. The large glass fronts and skylights also allow plenty of sunlight into the interior during the day. Energy-saving ceiling lights and dimmable pendant lights ensure well-lit rooms in the evening.
Functional and stylish furnishings
The house facade may look simple, but inside the house turns out to be a modern minimalist beauty with an exotic touch. The white walls and dark wooden floors provide the perfect backdrop for the chic furniture, many of which are second-hand. The living area was divided into several zones depending on the function. A spacious kitchen with a cooking island, a comfortable seating area in front of the television and aLounge areadirectly next to the window complete the living program. The terrace is seamlessly connected to the living room. There, a modular sofa and a dining table with chairs invite you to linger outside. All other rooms such as a home office, two bedrooms and two guest rooms have a beautiful view of the garden.
A comfortable day bed and aFloor lampform a cozy seating area in front of the window
The kitchen is made of wood and has a marble worktop
Many floor-level windows and a skylight allow plenty of sunlight into the living area
The terrace is equipped with everything you need
A guest room with a terrace looks out onto the nearby nature reserve
Large flower pots with an architectural look
The bedrooms are comfortably furnished
The four-poster bed in the bedroom gives the interior an exotic touch
Home office with a beautiful view of the garden
Two rocking chairs on the patio
Vertical garden in minimalist planters
Native succulents and ground cover plants with similar water and soil requirements
The cube-shaped dog house is also a minimalist work of art
Sliding glass doors seamlessly connect inside and outside
The entrance to the house: The front door is covered
The facade is simply black
The garden is lit very sparingly to save electricity
The House in the Evening: A minimalist work of art
The modern house facade and the adjacent garden
The house is made up of several building volumes
Below you will find all the building plans for the award-winning home
Project by5G Studio
