Gallery: San Francisco’s Solar &...

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Photo by Mike Chino, © Inhabitat

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A rooftop garden planted with tomatoes and herbs tops off the house, while a massive 4kW south-facing solar array soaks up the sun's rays.

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.