The House that One Man Can Lift. Sanctuary Magazine Showcases This and More.

by Warren McLaren

Magnetic Island house exterior Photo: Robin Gauld for Sanctuary magazine issue 12
When it came time for our architecture writer, Lloyd, to select the Best Shelter Magazine for TreeHugger's 2010 Best of Green Awards in Design and Architecture he quickly made his choice: Sanctuary Magazine, from Australia's Alternative Technology Association (ATA). Indeed he gushed, "so much beautiful stuff -- stunningly photographed and presented I just want to pack up and move to Australia. [...] The magazine's website is full of excerpts and info, but the magazine is a joy to hold."
And it is no accident that Lloyd is so enamoured. For TreeHugger was conceived as a vehicle to make green design and sustainable lifestyles attractive to a mainstream audience. Sanctuary magazine does that so effectively for eco-architecture. It's twelveth issue recently hit the news stands, continuing the thread of lush photography and green residential design. We look at some of the highlights below.

Images: Sanctuary magazine
Six houses are profiled, with sumptuous imagery, informative descriptions and backed up with a simple list of their 'sustainable features' such as the material used, the type of glazing, rainwater harvesting systems, lighting, landscaping, etc.
But probably the nub of info that most intrigues me is that the respective home owners have, in most cases, been trusting enough to provide Sanctuary magazine with project costings. I think this is an important consideration, for it is very easy to throw a barrowload of money at a home, and say "there, look it's 'green.'" It's another matter entirely to achieve sound environmental results on a tight budget. Thus Sanctuary's published costings keep the eye candy honest.

Photo: Christopher Federick Jones for Sanctuary magazine issue 11
Similarly, new houses tend to get the lion's share of attention when it comes for green housing media coverage. But Sanctuary consistently has a collection of renovations to show what clever eco thinking can impart to existing dwellings.
And the most recent issues of the magazine have also stepped outside of the pure green house reviews and covered related information. In the current edition you can get up to speed on energy ratings, reupholstering furniture, thermal window blinds, ceiling fans and landscaping. In the previous issue, the focus was on how to make a cool pantry that would give a fridge a run for its money, along with discussions of greener concrete, lawns, how to buy recycled kitchens and understanding housing ventilation.
But all this wonderful information is really just the backdrop to the reviewed houses.
Issue 12 showcases half a dozen homes, but the one that most captured my imagination was a Magnetic Island residence, with corrugated iron cladding, a material so ubiquitous in early Australian buildings. Here it is used in a tropic dwelling that has won a bunch of awards, including from the Australian Institute of Architects. In fact, the team behind its design, Troppo Architects, were this year, the first Australian firm to win the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture.

Magnetic Island house interior Photo: Robin Gauld for Sanctuary magazine issue 12
Although sited in the humid tropics, the house avoids need of any air conditioning, through the judicious placement of three separate buildings connected by passive venting outdoor breezeways and backed up with insect screened adjustable louvre windows, and ceiling fans. Large eaves help keep direct sun at bay, while a lap pool also adds a cooling feature.
There is almost as much outside deck area as there is enclosed house, allowing the dwelling to appear larger than its 107 square metres (1,151 sq ft) suggest.
This three bedroom, two bathroom house was constructed by one man. All the materials are therefore relatively lightweight and easily transportable and managed. The exposed steel frame was bolted together rather than welded, so it can all be disassembled at the end of a useful life. The house itself is raised off the ground to minimise site disturbance (although we're not sure how this design feature applies to the lap pool). The builder used leftover construction materials to create furniture for the house.
The lighting is LED and this is powered via a grid connected 3kW Kyocera polycrystalline photovoltaic solar array. (See more pix on the Troppo Architect's website.)
The other homes highlighted in the twelveth issue of Sanctuary magazine each have their own unique green design features. Like sliding walls that convert otherwise private rooms into expansive open space. An idea similarly explored by another house whose entire eastern wall swings open like a massive door to turn a room into an open air pavilion. Or the house whose internal thermal mass uses rammed earth construction, with the twist of employing recycled concrete aggregate.
Sanctuary magazine is a print magazine, not available online, although excerpts of articles from back issues do appear on the magazine's website.

House-in-a-Can Recycles Grain Silos Into Housing

by Lloyd Alter

All images via Austin-Mergold
Grain silos, made from corrugated and galvanized steel, are among the cheapest and most efficient enclosures one can buy; that's why Bucky Fuller played with them during World War II, with his Dymaxion Deployment Units.
Updating the idea, Geoff Manaugh of BLDGBLOG brings us Austin + Mergold's House-In-A-Can, recycling these grain silos into housing, from single family to condo.

The architects describe them with some marketing flair:

36-foot in diameter American grain dryer with 2000 SF single family starter home inside. Instantly assembled off-the-shelf 14 GA galvanized corrugated steel exterior a 2000 SF developer house inside. Optional greenhouse. Buy 5 get one free!!!

They can be arranged in a number of configurations.

Manaugh calls the models "delightfully absurd and inspiring" and suggests further iterations:

A thesis presentation performed as a series of metal cans extruded outward into models of inhabitable architecture... Cinema-In-A-Can. Library-In-A-Can. Gym-In-A-Can. Dome-In-A-Can Republic.

More at House-in-a-can via BLDGBLOG

Bürstner Trailer Has Lessons For Living In Smaller Spaces

by Lloyd Alter

Those designing for small spaces can learn a lot from boats and travel trailers, particularly from European designs. Caravanning is a high-end luxury activity in Europe and some of the models put luxury yachts to shame. This Bürstner Averso Plus is pretty luxe, and has is advertised as the first ever with a drop-down bed. The image above is set up for dining, with the bed pulled up to the ceiling and the "chic starry sky" of LEDs visible.

Here is is dropped down over the table, which is also on a telescoping base.

A lot of boats and travel trailers have drop-down tables where the cushions from the back of the seating are put on the table, becoming a bed, but this looks a lot more comfortable and faster, too.

it is all rather nicely fitted out with lots of storage;

There are lessons in the bathroom as well, where the entire room becomes the shower stall, saving a lot of space. No idea what the thing costs, but it's on Born Rich, so it is probably expensive. More at Bürstner

Sustainable Bowen Mountain House by CplusC Architecture

The Bowen Mountain House located in New South Wales, designed by Sidney architecture practice CplusC Architecture. The structure seems to almost hover over the site and indoor and outdoor spaces merge seamlessly. Conceived as a simple weekender, this pavilion house grew into something a lot more substantial. Landscaping, a pool, pool house and sauna were added to the original brief, with spectacular results. The house has a steel frame that was welded on-site prior to being shot-blasted and finished with a two-part epoxy paint system. This is one of the longest lasting corrosion protection systems available today. – [CplusC Architecture]




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"Traditional" Design Meets Passive House Efficiency

"Traditional" Design Meets Passive House Efficiency In Oregon

by Lloyd Alter

Images via owners' website
Most Passivhaus or Passive House designs we have shown on TreeHugger have tended to be modern, but Sarah Evans and Stuart Rue tell Green Building Advisor that "We wanted our house to fit in with the surrounding neighbourhood." At Jetson Green, a commenter makes the point that "It is nice to see more traditional styling reaching higher levels of performance. Many people aren't up for the boxiness of the modern design and the trend in green homes has been so modern that many folks think that is all that can be green."

But I will point out that it is hard to do good traditional design to Passive House standards, because the engineering drives so much of the design. That's why none of the blogs covering this house show the straight-on front elevation; it becomes obvious that the windows on the east side are way too small and out of proportion. Traditional design has rules, as does Passive design, and it is obvious from this photograph that the rules are different.

One might also point out that this house is no less boxy than the modern passive house designs we have shown; it is in fact a perfect box. Every jog and corner is a problem in passive house design as it creates an opportunity for a thermal bridge. The only place that the talented architect Nathan Good could have any jogging fun was with the garages.
But once one gets past the issue of style, Stuart Rue and Sarah Evans have built a great demonstration of how Passive House design really can work to make a comfortable, healthy home that runs virtually on body heat.

The walls are double-stud with almost a foot of Greenfiber cellulose insulation (made from recycled newspaper, you can still read bits of it). Windows are our favourite Serious Windows, with a U value of .105 (R 9.52, which is why even with the best windows in the country you have to be careful of how big they are and where you put them.) Serious Windows has posted a video of the builder, explaining the house.
The only mechanical heating and cooling in the house is a mini-spit heat pump with 12,000 BTU of heat and 9,000 of cooling. Some houses use that much energy for their bedroom.

Inside, they have used natural materials (wool carpets, wood floors) and minimized the use of products with VOCs. The owners have been writing a terrific and thorough blog about the process, while the builder, Bilyeu Homes, did a thorough presentation about it for the Passive House Northwest Regional Meeting in April.
Nice work, even if I have trouble calling it "Traditional."

Zero Energy Casita

Zero Energy Casita in Texas Opens to the Public!

by Bridgette Meinhold

Green building is making big strides in Texas as evidenced by this cute little zero-energy home in Fort Worth, which opens for public tours today. The Zero Energy Casita, erected by the award winning green builder, Don Ferrier, is a two bedroom, 1,051 square foot home packed with sustainable features. A residential wind turbine supplies power for the energy efficient home built from reclaimed materials. If you’re in the area, definitely take the time to check it out and see all of the green building techniques first hand.

 

The Zero Energy Casita, designed by Bundy, Young, Sims & Potter of Wichita Falls, Texas, is built on the shores of Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth and oriented on the lot to take advantage of the sun with a large oak tree and bushes nearby to provide shade and protection from the wind. Super tight insulation from SIP construction along with a reflective roof and Weathershield ZoE5 windows create a well sealed envelope. Ductwork for the highly efficient HVAC system runs through the conditioned attic space. Reclaimed barn wood is used for the facade, floors and wood beams.
A 3.7 kW SkyStream wind generator is installed on the property to take advantage of the category 2-3 wind zone and provides enough power for the home, which is also grid tied for when the wind is not blowing for an overall net-zeroenergy demand. Other green features include rainwater catchment for irrigation, xeriscaping, a tankless water heater, on site construction debris recycling, Energy Star appliances, a programmable thermostat, dual-flush toilets, water-conserving showers & faucets, low-VOC and formaldehyde-free finishes, adhesives, and counter top materials.

Dwell’s Super Minimalist Prefabs Make Small Living Swell

Dwelle’s Super Minimalist Prefabs Make Small Living Swell

by Yuka Yoneda

UK-based Dwelle has unveiled a brilliant set of prefabs that illustrate how small living is the new way to live big. With a tiny footprint (the bigger of the two is 253 sq. feet), understated modern design, and sustainable features like insulation made from 100% recycled newspapers, double glazed windows and the ability to achieve zero-carbon status, these sophisticated houses definitely are overcompensating for their small size — and we like it!

Recently, we were flabbergasted when a reader commented on Facebook that 700 square feet hardly seemed like enough room to live. True, some people might need more space, but there are plenty of perfectly livable tiny abodes – like Dwelle’s beautiful line of modern prefabs. Called the Big Dwelle.ing, the larger of the two models measures 6.7 meters by 3.5 meters (22×11.5 feet or 253 square feet) and costs around £35,000-£50,000 ($52,000-$75,000).
One thing we love about this prefab is that it can be clad in almost any material from timber to rubber, and it even has the option of being fully planted with foliage that will cover the whole structure in about 12 months. 253 sq. feet may not seem like a lot of room at all but look at how cavernous the interior feels! In a smart move Dwelle doubled the ceiling height over the main living area, giving the illusion of a much roomier space. The external timber louvres add spiffy detail to the exterior of the house while letting you control daylighting and shading

The smaller of the homes, named the Little Dwelle.ing is 4.9 meters by 2.65 meters (16×9.5 feet or 152 square feet) and costs around £20,000-£35,000 ($30,000-$52,000). Unlike its big sib, it’s meant to be more of a retreat, office or storage area than a main home, but it has almost all of the awesome features mentioned before. Just like in the Big Dwelle.ing, there is enough room for a bed that is lofted about the kitchen and main living area.
In addition to using FSC-certified timber, every Dwelle.ing has the ability to be fitted with renewable energy options that allow them to operate off-grid. The walls, floor and roof are insulated with cellulose fiber that is extracted from 100% recycled newspaper. The prefabs are heated by electric underfloor heating, and the windows are double glazed to further boost thermal performance. Plus, if you suffer from allergies or just want to live a healthier life in general, you’ll be pleased to know that all of the interior fittings and finishes are designed to improve air quality, health and general safety.

 

Small Space Living: Tiny House Trend Grows Bigger

by Lea Bogdan

An increasing number of Americans are expressing interest in smaller space living, with some even owning homes under 100sq ft! One indicator of the trend is that instead of saying that tiny house owners are “downsizing”, those writing and speaking about little homes have coined the euphemism “rightsizing,” which more aptly describes how many view their choice to go small. Rising costs of energy, the recent mortgage crisis, and the troubled economy have all contributed to the tiny house trend, but the tiny house owners don’t describe a sense of loss with the space change. Instead, they feel they have traded in square footage for an increase in the richness of their life. Dee Williams, who has gained national attention for her 84sq ft Tumbleweed home, says that that her small house made her realize that “the more intentional you are in your choices, the more every change makes room for more changes.”

The National Association of Home Builders reports that the average size of newly constructed homes was 2438 sq ft in 2009, but sizes have been decreasing since 2007, where they peaked at over 2500sq ft. The NAHB chief economist, David Crowe, believes that the “decline is related to phenomena such as an increased share of first-time home buyers, a desire to keep energy costs down, smaller amounts of equity in existing homes to roll into the next home, tighter credit standards and less focus on the investment component of buying a home.” Census studies show that new houses are being constructed with fewer bedrooms, and the percentage of homes with three or more bathrooms has also dropped.
Many would argue that the recent trend has been heavily influenced by American architectural history. Specifically pointing to times when there was a need for affordable, quickly constructed homes, Levittown homes, built in the 1950’s, were an extremely successful small house style built for returning veterans of World War II that could be bought with a down payment as little as $100. Other historians point further back to the efficient design of row homes, like those in Philadelphia and Boston.

Prefabricated homes are another style of small, affordable housing. They are often built in large sections before being assembled on site, and they have been widely covered on Inhabitat. North American retailers are noticing the need for prefabs, and they have introduced a wide range of reasonably priced, well-designed models. The Katrina Cottages that were designed in the aftermath of the hurricane disaster are now available from Lowes. Another US-based retailer, Design Within Reach, was until recently selling their ultra-stylish kitHAUS. Shipping container prefabs are also available in the US from companies like Phoenix-based Upcycle Living. Builders have answered the call too, offering modules or cottages like the Eco-Cottages from Nationwide.
There are many web-based resources available for those interested in tiny houses, including a list generated by the Small House Society of design firms that specialize in small spaces. The Tiny House blog will show you examples from around the world, and if you want to build your own, Tumbleweed House Company and PAD(Portland Alternative Dwellings) have plans and workshops to show you how.
You may be interested, but not sure that the tight quarters would work with your lifestyle. To get a feel for life in a tiny home, google and check out the video of Dee Williams in her 84 sq ft home in Washington. Living off the grid in a home you built yourself sounds like it could be really cozy and liberating at the same time!