October 1, 2014

Earth-Sheltered Home Uses Surroundings to Save on Energy

We’ve featured plenty of beautiful sustainable homes here on 6sqft, many of which include some pretty hi-tech gadgets from geothermal wells to highly reflective roofing materials. But John Grzibowski decided to just use what’s available in nature. He built an Earth-sheltered home in Newburgh, New York that strategically uses the surrounding landscape to insulate itself. The […]

July 30, 2014

Paolo Venturella’s Flex Tower Twists to Soak Up Sunlight

It's 2040 in New York City, and the metropolis' population has doubled over, thereby drastically increasing energy consumption. How do architects alter their designs to deal with this new landscape? Italian architect Paolo Venturella thinks he's come up with the answer to this (currently hypothetical) conundrum. The Flex Tower concept combines the need for housing with a sustainable energy system that uses a new typology for photovoltaic panels. At ground level the structure is in keeping with the traditional street grid, but as it rises it rotates toward the sun to position the panels correctly.
More about the curving creation this way
July 25, 2014

Grzywinski + Pons’ Dutchess House No. 1 is an Aluminum-Clad Country Retreat

There are no cedar shakes or white picket fences at this country abode in Millerton, New York. At Dutchess House No. 1, the architectural firm Grzywinski + Pons met their client's needs for an upstate retreat with a strikingly modern yet traditionally functional design, incorporating sustainable elements, rustic details, and clever security features. The most unexpected element of the home is its aluminum-clad façade, playfully sculpted to resemble the surface of bricks. Contrasting the shimmery panels are Ipe wood screens and bright yellow doors, both of which connect to the surrounding landscape.
There are a lot more surprises in this home that you won't want to miss

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