The one story, 60 square-meter house draws a lot of inspiration from traditional Japanese tea houses, but attempts to overcome past efficiency problems by using vacuum insulated wall, ceiling and window
The lattice work on the outer shell is created from bamboo, a traditional Chinese material that is more sustainable than timber due to its rapid regrowth. By using mortise and tendon joints it adds to the
Designed for a couple without children, Counter Entropy is almost completely open save for the bathroom, which is slightly set apart on the northern side. A large cantilevering roof made of seven prefab
The final design submitted to competition will link four different modules to the central patio which is enclosed in glass and a faux-vine effect. This is designed to give a natural feel while creating
Photovoltaic panels are integrated into the building's facade and rooftop and passive design was executed so well that during the winter, it will be unnecessary to use the air-to-water heat pump that
Of the numerous projects we have already reviewed ahead of the Solar Decathlon's official opening next week, the Astonyshine has been the easiest to navigate so far. Their website is super clear and
Landes Maritime Pine is the main material that was used for the construction of the Sumbiosi prefab by Team ABC. Not only is it readily available, but it also has excellent thermal qualities that help to
The primary material consists of relatively low-cost and lightweight EPS foam that allows unique interior and exterior designs to be created. The blocks are pre-cut prior to arrival at the construction
The latticework outer body interlocks using designs based on ancient stonework found in Egypts classical structures and slides apart in a matchbox fashion. The main building material used is a reinforced
This is the first time that Romania will compete in the Solar Decathlon competition, so it's exciting that they were bold enough to go for a low-impact approach. Their building materials consist of
Constructed out of pre-stressed wood panels, the Ekó House from Brazil has a modular veranda system that not only respects the Brazilian tradition of having both private and open spaces, but also
Even though ECOLAR is a veritable solar powerhouse, that hasn't prevented the team from Germany from maximizing the home's energy efficiency. Why waste energy, even if it is renewable, right? Enriched
Calling All Europe-Based Photographers! Are you a shutter bug with a passion for architecture located in or around Madrid, Spain? Inhabitat is looking for a couple of on-scene photographers to snap
CEM provides a wonderful solution for the 21st century's energy crisis in an attractive, compact design. In addition to being modular and therefore easily adapted as the family grows, it is completely
The completely self-sustaining home uses passive building techniques and automatic controls to produce its energy needs. As the sun rises, shades are automatically raised to let daylight into the space.
In October, WaterShed took top honors at the 2011 Solar Decathlon, a bi-annual design competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy. The design was largely inspired by the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem
The U.S. Department of Energy has just announced the location of the 2013 Solar Decathlon - as well as the 20 lucky teams who will be competing for green design glory! After being kicked off the National
Here at Inhabitat we're suckers for the Solar Decathlon -- the biennial design/build competition in which university design teams from all around the globe battle it out on the National Mall in Washington
If you're anything like us, you've been having Solar Decathlon withdrawal since the biennial design-build competition ended at the beginning of the month. We're still buzzing with excitement from the
The FLeX House is a carefully considered design for hot, humid climates that creates a comfortable, efficient interior environment through the use of photovoltaics, passive design, and shading techniques.
Tonji University is no stranger to the Decathlon -- their Bambu House turned a lot of heads last year in Barcelona with an aggressive bamboo façade and structure. This year the team is using common
![Florida International’s perFORM[D]ance Solar Decathlon House Responds to Its Environment](http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/09/Team-Florida-International-140x120.jpg)
The moving perFORM[D]ance House has a futuristic design, inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Cocoon House. Floor to ceiling windows line the perimeter of the home, which bring natural lighting into every room.
Through their various decisions, the 40-member team from Ghent University constantly stressed affordability and efficiency. The house begins with a starter unit that, and according to the buyer’s time
This year, a strong focus was placed on affordability and Team Illinois worked hard to minimize costs where possible through the use of materials. They estimate the final cost of the Re_home, which
The results of the 2011 Solar Decathlon have just been announced, and the winner is University of Maryland WaterShed house! The beautiful water-conservation themed house has been leading the competition
We're thrilled to announce that this weekend Team Purdue took second place in the 2011 Solar Decathlon! Purdue's sensible, suburban-style INhome received top marks throughout the competition due to its
The 4D Home beautifully blends traditional architecture with modern building techniques to create an exceptionally efficient off-grid home that can produce more energy than it consumes. The heart of the
The WaterShed Solar Decathlon house, built by students from the University of Maryland, has taken first place in the design-build competition's architecture category! And we are not surprised. Ever since
The 2011 Solar Decathlon is heating up as 20 teams of students from around the world construct stunning, energy-efficient homes at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. The
