A LANDHOUSE can be customized with as many green features as the homeowner wants. The basic structure is very well insulated, but sustainability can be improved upon by installing ground source energy, heat exchangers, solar panels and more. In addition to eco-friendly add-ons, a Landhouse has all of the benefits inherent to a prefabricated home – lower costs and higher efficiency due to much of the handling and construction being completed at the fabricator’s facilities instead of at the site. Once the components reach the build site, the basic waterproof structure can be constructed in a matter of days.

A particularly beautiful example of a completed Landhouse, the Swinomish housing project (pictured in most of the photos shown in this article) began when a Mr. and Mrs. Pennock visited Mr. Merer and saw an opportunity to connect the artist with an architect friend who had been working with Ray Williams of the Swinomish Tribal People of Fidalgo Island Washington State. The tribe’s houses were designed with no regard for the landscape, and it became the goal of all of those working on the project to construct an environmentally sensitive scheme for the site – thus Landhouse was born.

Landhouse is currently looking for partners to set up a US wide Art-Architecture Research program for developing designs with tribal communities. If you are interested, please contact MarkMerer@LANDHOUSE.co.uk or AndrewPennock@LANDHOUSE.co.uk.

+ Mark Merer

+ LANDHOUSE

3  print email thisemail