The Cantilever House in Utah is a Solar-Powered Home for Burning Man Regulars

The Cantilever House in Holliday, Utah is a bold example of how architectural volumes can be used to direct attention and provide respite. Designed by Salt Lake-based <a href="http://www.imbuedesign.com/" target="_blank">Imbue Design</a>, this home was built for a family of regular visitors to Black Rock City for Burning Man. They wanted a home that could serve needs ranging from entertaining to quiet relaxation and enjoyment of nature - all while limiting their environmental impact. A rooftop solar system and a high-performance envelope work in cooperation to reduce energy consumption in an expression of the principles of the Burn.

Burning Man has <a href="http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/about_burningman/principles.html" target="_blank">10 principles</a> which attendees embrace wholeheartedly, many of which lie at the heart of sustainability.

The Cantilever House by <a href="http://www.imbuedesign.com/" target="_blank">Imbue Design</a> was created for a family Black Rock City inhabitants for their primary residence in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, UT.

Like its owners, the home also embraces Burning Man's principles, minimizing it's impact, working towards self-sufficiency and allowing for celebration of life and nature.

The two-story, 3,200 sq ft home is composed of two rectangular volumes mounted perpendicular on top of each other.

The bottom floor features the garage, a guest bedroom, the public living, dining and kitchen area with access to an outdoor living area.

The top floor holds the private bedrooms and shades the outdoor patio below.

The home's main views are to the east towards the Wasatch Mountains and the home is shielded to the west and the afternoon sun.

Sliding glass walls open the interior up to the exterior in order to take the party outdoors.

A tight building envelope, clad in four inches of expanded polystyrene brings the house beyond double the standard insulation values, while a geothermal system, radiant floors and a Heat Recovery Ventilator provide efficient heating and cooling.

Operable windows take advantage of moderate temperatures and natural breezes, but their triple and even quad panes diminish sound and summer solar gain. Finally a solar system on the roof provides electricity to reduce reliance on the grid.

Ground floor plan.

Upper floor plan.