Gallery: San Francisco’s Solar &...

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Photo by Mike Chino, © Inhabitat

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A bamboo garden in the back yard provides a place for rainwater runoff to infiltrate, and a spiraling staircase leads up to the living room.

Designed as a test lab for innovative building strategies, the Mission: House showcases a wide range of experimental materials, systems, and construction techniques. The home’s entrance is emblazoned with a “greenskin” made up of recycled glazed windows assembled together into a multifaceted façade. The units were sourced from local reclamation yards and are layered to create striking visual effect.

The rear of the building is capped with a two-story translucent facade made of thermal plastics similar to those used in greenhouses. Although the translucent polycarbonate panels offer little insulation value, their south-facing orientation mitigates this heat loss while providing tons of daylighting throughout the day.