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
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
Stunning FabLab Passive House at Europe’s Solar Decathlon Chalkboard-Skinned Belgian Passivhaus is a Playground for Kids JustK PassivHaus In Germany Is a Fab Prefab Wooden Tower Awe-Inspiring
One of our favorite events in the world of sustainable innovation, the Solar Decathlon, is again being kicked off the National Mall. In January of this year, the National Park Service temporarily banned
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.
![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
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
A limited budget has made adaptability a top theme this year and The Solar Homestead exemplifies this facet of sustainable design better than most. A half-bath, outdoor shower and outdoor kitchen can be
One of the most common arguments against building energy-efficient homes is that the upfront costs are just too high, but this year's Solar Decathlon competition is telling another story. For the first
The DOE & the Solar Decathlon are also running their own People's Choice Award for the first time ever, so you should definitely go check it out and vote! Read on for a look at each of these amazing
Building on the importance of family and community gathering, the open plan TRTL house features a flexible dining and living area that fosters family relationships. The two bedroom home can be assembled
We've been sitting on the edges of our seats all day, anxiously awaiting today's Engineering Contest results at the 2011 Solar Decathlon. The results were just announced, and we're happy to report that
Before one even enters the Watershed house the lush green native landscaping and natural siding stand out. The University of Maryland architecture students made a conscious effort to source local plants
The furniture in the Unit 6 Unplugged house reflects the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement, which originated in England in the late 19th century and was spread worldwide by architects and
Several unique features set the house apart from the rest. Inspired by the traditional New Zealand holiday home, the “Kiwi bach”, socializing and a relationship with nature were of prime importance in
Sixteen of the teams are from American colleges and universities, with the other four teams coming from China, Canada, New Zealand, and Belgium. The InhabitatNYC team is particularly excited because three
