Exteriors

This 1920s four-story brick home in the Rock Creek neighborhood of Washington, D.C., fits into the neighborhood with a row of conservative homes, but the back presents a more unique facet—a line of windows, and a series of glass boxes jutting out from the main house. Inside is equally unique with unconventional forms in wall panels, deep window frames, and built-in shelving, all made from plywood.

The client's were motivated by sustainability as well. As the Aixopluc writes, "They'd rather spend money on the climatic qualities of their home than on enriching the big companies that control the energy business" by paying large gas or electric bills. The two firms cite the openness of the Case Study homes as an inspiration for the lower floor; the upper floor draws from Le Corbusier’s 1954-56 béton brut Maison Jaoul.

The clients, a family, did not want to spend their vacations traveling: in summer, they wanted their home to open to the outdoors. In winter, they wanted shelter from the cold. In short, as Fake Industries Architectural Agonism puts it, they "wanted a double house, so they could move from one half to the other" as they desired.

The folding doors leave the lower level totally exposed. A light steel frame structure kept construction simple and economical.

This home keeps cool underneath a steel shading structure and a concrete foundation. Photo by David Harrison

In Palm Springs, Sander Architects created an energy-efficient hybrid prefab home that’s designed to stay naturally cool in the desert heat, which often climbs to triple digits in the summer.

Jim Olson's #cabin at Longbranch Washington #olsonkundig