Incorporating green architecture into an existing home - Introduction
People who are interested in living a greener lifestyle, but who don’t have the resources to build a new sustainable house, can improve the sustainability of an existing home.
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Richard Meier (1934 – Present)
Architect of the Getty Center, a common theme runs through Richard Meier’s striking, white designs. The sleek porcelain-enameled cladding and stark glass forms have been described as “purist,” “sculptural,” and “Neo-Corbusian.”
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Gangster House (Archangelsk, Russia)
Though incomplete, the “Gangster House” is believed to be the world’s tallest wooden house, soaring thirteen floors to reach 144 feet (about half the size of London’s Big Ben). The homeowner or gangster, Nikolai Sutyagin, had all intentions of finishing the construction but his dream went on hold when he got locked up behind bars. Now out of jail and out of money, the ex-convict lives at the bottom of this precarious tower of wood.
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Kettle House, Texas
Made of steel sometime in the 1950s, the ‘Kettle House’ in Texas has attracted many a curious tourist. The unusual choice in materials and shape was probably influenced by the owner’s previous occupation – building storage tanks for oil companies.
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Conch Shell House (Isla Mujeres, Mexico)
Located just 20 minutes away from Cancun, this Carribbean Ocean-surrounded oasis, crafted by Octavio Ocampo, certainly leaves a distinctive impression with its 180 degree ocean views and seashell inspired design. The 5500 square foot dwelling, incorporating concrete as well as structural materials plucked straight from the beach and surrounding region, has no angles…just smooth flowing lines that mirror real seashells.
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Lustron Homes (1948 – 1950s)
At the end of World War II, the United States didn’t have enough housing for the 12-million soldiers returning home. President Harry Truman pressured builders and suppliers to construct affordable housing. One of the most promising ventures was the Lustron Home by businessman and inventor Carl Strandlund. Vowing to mass-produce steel houses at the rate of 100 a day, Strandlund landed $37 million in government loans.
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Eichler Houses (1949 – 1974)
An Eichler House is essentially a one-story Ranch, but real estate developer Joseph Eichler brought a fresh, new modernist approach to affordable tract housing. Eichler Homes, constructed about 11,000 houses in California. Many other builders across the United States imitated the design ideas.
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Geodesic Dome (1954 – Present)
Developed by Buckminster Fuller in 1954, the Geodesic Dome was promoted as the world’s strongest, most economical, lightweight structure. The ingenious engineering of the geodesic dome allows it to cover a wide stretch of space without using internal supports. The geodesic dome design was patented in 1965.
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Ortner Design Newsletter - Issue 13 - January 10, 2011 (310)592-5566 - ortnerdesign@gmail.com |
