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Collection by Kelsey Keith

Surprisingly Sustainable Modern Homes

Here at Dwell, we love a good form, but only in tandem with function. These ultra-green, sustainable homes prove that a light footprint is possible no matter what the architectural style—the most modern approach of all.

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The traditional massing masks a super-performing house, built to last for centuries. Photo by: Eric Hausman Photography
The traditional massing masks a super-performing house, built to last for centuries. Photo by: Eric Hausman Photography
The house clearly displays its Sea Ranch–style touches.
The house clearly displays its Sea Ranch–style touches.
While the proportions of the old brownstone’s facade remain congruous with others on its street, the stone has been replaced with stucco over foam. When knocked, it sounds entirely hollow.
While the proportions of the old brownstone’s facade remain congruous with others on its street, the stone has been replaced with stucco over foam. When knocked, it sounds entirely hollow.
“Things that have the virtue of being simple have become some of the most complicated forms of construction,” Cobb says.
“Things that have the virtue of being simple have become some of the most complicated forms of construction,” Cobb says.
The Casa Cuatro sits above a 180-foot cliff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The locally quarried stone makes the house blend in with the landscape and acts as a thermal-mass wall, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it through the evening.
The Casa Cuatro sits above a 180-foot cliff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The locally quarried stone makes the house blend in with the landscape and acts as a thermal-mass wall, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it through the evening.
Doors and triple-glazed casement windows from Loewen work hard to form a tight thermal envelope.
Doors and triple-glazed casement windows from Loewen work hard to form a tight thermal envelope.
With the roof angled at 43 degrees, the architects lined the southern slant of the house with solar panels to collect as many rays as possible. Karanesheva and Witzmann started with four, but then added 23 more, all by Systaïc; the company gave them a deal since theirs was its first installation in France. The panels now collect far more energy than the home actually needs, a precious resource that the pair sells back to the power company. Photo by: Nicholas Calcott
With the roof angled at 43 degrees, the architects lined the southern slant of the house with solar panels to collect as many rays as possible. Karanesheva and Witzmann started with four, but then added 23 more, all by Systaïc; the company gave them a deal since theirs was its first installation in France. The panels now collect far more energy than the home actually needs, a precious resource that the pair sells back to the power company. Photo by: Nicholas Calcott