This house in the high Mesa desert of Southwestern Utah is sustainable. It is built with non-combustible fire-resistant materials of steel, concrete, copper and stucco. Water-recapturing, passive heating and passive cooling are used for a low impact on the environment and energy efficiency. Large overhanging eaves provide essential shade in the summer, solid concrete floors release the heat absorbed from the low winter sun. A skylight provides natural light to the kitchen, which is away from windows and in the center of the plan. The skylight also doubles as a solar chimney.

Elegant exterior home photo in Portland Maine

Inspiration for a timeless brown three-story wood exterior home remodel in New York

The great room opens to the lake through black-framed glazing under a vaulted ceiling with stained timber beams. A full-height stone chimney anchors the far wall. Glazing throughout the home was specified at U-1.20 with a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.60 — chosen to pull free heat off the southwest exposure rather than only to resist heat loss. The energy model credits roughly 51,000 MJ of usable solar gain a year, close to half the home's annual heating load. Certified to Step 5 of the BC Energy Step Code.

Patio - traditional patio idea in Portland Maine

Ciro Coelho Photography
Contemporary beige one-story exterior home idea in Santa Barbara with a metal roof

Inspiration for a timeless patio remodel in Portland Maine

This custom gable style patio cover had to be built in a off set manor to accommodate the craftsman style of home. the panels are solar cool white and the aluminum frame was powder coated a custom color to match the exterior trim color of the house. Photo by Doug Woodside, Decks and Patio Covers

Photo Credit: Jim Bartsch
Example of a mid-sized country white two-story concrete fiberboard gable roof design in Santa Barbara

Gorgeous country retreat features a blend of Buechel stone with stucco and cedar accents. Marvin Windows & Doors. Copper roof, flashing, valleys and guttering. GAF Grand Slate Roofing Shingles in Aged Oak. Limestone window and door sills. Hand laid slate patio and walk. Home design by Kil Architecture Planning; general contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc; photo by Dave Hubler.

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States This sunny, simple, contemporary Prairie-style home achieves HERS 45 with no renewables. Silver Mesa Ranch blends quietly into the surrounding hills, and takes full advantage of the stunning views, carefully shielding out neighboring development and capturing foothill and plains panoramas. It includes passive solar design, an off-the-shelf mechanical systems, HRV, high performance windows, and a uniquely camouflaged rooftop Colorado evaporative cooler (in the chimney). To view other projects by Rodwin Architecture visit www.rodwinarch.com.

This house in the high Mesa desert of Southwestern Utah is sustainable. It is built with non-combustible fire-resistant materials of steel, concrete, copper and stucco. Water-recapturing, passive heating and passive cooling are used for a low impact on the environment and energy efficiency. Large overhanging eaves provide essential shade in the summer, solid concrete floors release the heat absorbed from the low winter sun. A skylight provides natural light to the kitchen, which is away from windows and in the center of the plan. The skylight also doubles as a solar chimney.

The house was sited to use the topography to its benefit and improve its design and function. Privacy between different spaces was enhanced with a slight vertical separation between the master wing and the main level and with a greater separation between the main level and the guest suites below. The two main stories are not only connected internally but also on the exterior through winding landscape steps. Photographer: Emily Minton Redfield

Our clients requested an energy-efficient escape home on a 16-acre site in rural Elgin that would be maintenance friendly, age-in-place adaptable, and whose sculptural quality could harbor for their expressive family. With its dominant east-west axis, the maximizes control of solar gain control; its placement was carefully adjusted to allow all of the nearby trees to thrive. The standing seam roof’s pitch and azimuth provide optimal solar PV and fills a 20,000-gallon rainwater cistern. The age-in-place, step-less interior provides an expansive view at the south terrace. The cantilever of the board-formed foundation is a structurally expressive solution resolving an otherwise imposing mass. The curved prow of the north-pointing entry is a nod to local Elgin brick. A bowed and formally jubilant thermal chimney faces south for efficient passive ventilation. Photo credit: Chris Diaz General Contractor: Native (buildnative.com)

Originating as a concept for a model home of modern living, the coNEXT home is a fully-connected, right-sized residence that embraces the promise of technology while helping to balance its role in the lives of the family within. Visualization: ZOA 3D Studio

Home design - 1950s home design idea in San Francisco

Photograph by Neil Alexander
Large traditional white two-story wood gable roof idea in Boston

This contemporary farmhouse is located on a scenic acreage in Greendale, BC. It features an open floor plan with room for hosting a large crowd, a large kitchen with double wall ovens, tons of counter space, a custom range hood and was designed to maximize natural light. Shed dormers with windows up high flood the living areas with daylight. The stairwells feature more windows to give them an open, airy feel, and custom black iron railings designed and crafted by a talented local blacksmith. The home is very energy efficient, featuring R32 ICF construction throughout, R60 spray foam in the roof, window coatings that minimize solar heat gain, an HRV system to ensure good air quality, and LED lighting throughout. A large covered patio with a wood burning fireplace provides warmth and shelter in the shoulder seasons. Carsten Arnold Photography

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain