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 designers like William Morris and Frank Lloyd Wright. Several pieces in the house were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a well-known architect and designer from that period. These pieces are on temporary loan from a faculty member for the duration of the competition.
The home’s sloped roof and deep porch draw upon Southern porch culture, offering a place to hang out on hot days. The porch can even be enjoyed during colder weather, as it can be easily converted into an enclosed space thanks to a Henselstone window and door system. The hurricane-rated windows are another important design feature, given the weather patterns of the area. They boast a thermal resistance value (R-value) of 7 on the north, west and east sides and 5.5 on the south side of the house.
Like this house very much. Very practical and simple.
Why do you see so many European windows and doors at the Solar Decathlon exhibit? This is a question asked by many visitors. The answer is quite simple: The major American window manufacturers spend millions of lobbying dollars to prevent tighter energy regulations instead of re-designing their 1 3/4 inch sashes to accommodate energy efficient glazing. Sad but true, companies such as Henselstone Window and Door Systems have to come here and help America get energy independent.