Tidewater Virginia’s Unit 6 Unplugged Solar Decathlon House Embraces History and Tradition

While not as edgy as some of its competitors, the <a href="http://teamtidewatervirginia.com/">Unit 6 Unplugged</a> Solar Decathlon House designed by students from <a href="http://www.odu.edu/">Old Dominion University</a> and <a href="http://www.hamptonu.edu/">Hampton University</a> took a very different approach. The <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.gov/team_tidewater_virginia.html">Tidewater Virginia</a> team decided to stick to the historic ties of the <a href="http://www.norfolk.gov/">Norfolk</a> neighborhood and drew influence from the Arts and Crafts aesthetic. Student project manager John Whitelaw took Inhabitat on a tour of the quarters - read on for an exclusive first look!

Greenery surrounds the house, and the roof is generously topped off with solar panels.

A classic design lends to the flexibility of the home, making it suited for just about any architectural environment.

An open patio area encourages spending time outdoors.

The profile of the home harks back to the Arts and Crafts movement.

The furniture in the Unit 6 Unplugged house also reflect the influence of the <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/acam/hd_acam.htm">Arts and Crafts movement</a>. Details reflect the characteristics which originated in England in the late 19th century and was spread worldwide by architects and designers like <a href="http://www.morrissociety.org/">William Morris</a> and <a href="http://www.franklloydwright.org/">Frank Lloyd Wright</a>.

The home's sloped roof and deep porch draw upon Southern porch culture, offering a place to hang out on hot days.

Several pieces in the house were designed by <a href="http://www.crmsociety.com/">Charles Rennie Mackintosh</a>, 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 porch can even be enjoyed during colder weather, as it can be easily converted into an enclosed space thanks to a <a href="http://www.henselstone.com/">Henselstone</a> window and door system.

The layout was designed for a family living in <a href="http://teamtidewatervirginia.com/6pack/6pack.html">multifamily housing</a> in a historic neighborhood setting, and it serves this purpose quite well.

A unique feature inside the house is a moveable wall that serves as both a bookcase and a secret door to the bedroom located off the living room.

When not open, the bedroom remains completely concealed. This feature also helps with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/5-devices-that-help-you-save-energy/">temperature control</a> by creating more localized environments which can be efficiently heated or cooled when in use.

The layout effectively offers a divide between social and private life while incorporating a circular flow that encourages dwellers to move through and use all the rooms.

One of Tidewater Virginia's architectural drawings for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011

Tidewater Virginia's floorplan for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011.