Green House Affection
WIRED Magazine teamed up with
Los Angeles-based architecture firm Living Homes to create the
WIRED LivingHome
that opened its doors to the public this past week. The cutting-edge publication that focuses on forward-thinking
technology went beyond only predicting of what a future home may look like - they simply built it. Designed
by SCI-Arc founder Ray Kappe and built on an exclusive hillside location in Brentwood, the 4,057 square
foot prefab merges the best of green technology and modernist design. The house is described as appealing
to the technophile with taste, who cares immensely about their house having a low impact on the environment.
With a four million dollar price tag, this ambitious project might not be affordable for everybody,
but it still offers abundant examples of a more sustainable way to build.
With
its simple, cubic structure, the use of wood panels and numerous windows fronts that allow for lots
of natural light to come into the house, the exterior design definitely takes cues from its mid-century,
modern neighboring houses. Entrance area, guest rooms and bedrooms all situated on the lower level,
the second floor provides a large undivided space to eat, relax, cook, enjoy spectacular views, and
spend time with family and friends.
The designers went to great lengths
to use materials that are reclaimed, such as the windows and doors constructed with recycled glass and
aluminum. Solar panels on the roof, an intelligent ventilation and heating system and extremely energy-efficient
appliances will reduce kilowatt usage by an estimated 36% compared to a house of similar size. As a
matter of fact, residents can actually track their real-time energy use on dashboards throughout the
house.
Even though the list of high-end gadgets and technology at work
makes your head swirl, a lot of the equipment is just smart, simple and focused on longevity, such as
LED lights, or stylish children’s furniture that is stackable so you do not need to replace it when
the child’s needs change.
With Los Angeles as the building site, the
WIRED LivingHome is one more example that validates the West Coast’s longstanding reputation for being
very receptive to eco-friendly developments and innovations.
Link:http://www.wired.com/promo/wiredlivinghome
