Passive solar
An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about passive solar
Project • By Ward | Blake Architects • Private Houses
Freedom Residence
Perched on a natural mesa in a remote, high-altitude landscape straddling the Wyoming-Idaho border, the Freedom Residence exemplifies context-driven design that prioritizes environmental stewardship, material performance, and human comfort. This biophilic residence is composed of two minimalist rectangular volumes joined by a glazed central pavilion that serves as both entry and passage, framing views of the nearby creek and distant mountains.
Gabe Border
Gabe Border
Gabe Border
Gabe Border
The orientation and placement of the home align closely with the site's natural contours and solar path. Positioned along an east-west axis, the house parallels the creek, anchoring the architecture within the surrounding ecosystem.... More
News • News • 12 Nov 2024
'Life Cycle' by Steffen Welsch Architects is a passive solar approach to suburban home design
Located on a quiet suburban street in Melbourne, Australia, Life Cycle is a thoughtful extension to an existing weatherboard house that integrates sustainability with a family-focused design. The project by Steffen Welsch Architects is conceived to enhance the existing home’s functionality while strengthening its connection to the surrounding community. By prioritizing passive solar strategies and sustainable design principles, the project is designed to minimize both embodied and operational carbon footprints.
Tatjana Plitt
Tatjana Plitt
The layout is structured to create clearly identifiable zones within the home. The original section now serves as a home office, parents' quarters, and other essential spaces, whil... More
Project • By Bent Architecture • Private Houses
North Balwyn Multi-Gen Housing
The owners of BENT Pavilion felt it was time to down-size, but were adamant that downsizing shouldn't mean down-grading (and we whole-heartedly agreed)! At home in Balwyn North and wanting to remain close to friends and family, they hatched a plan to keep their parents close by and continue to enjoy the space and lifestyle they love by joining forces to build a home ... together.
Tatjana Plitt
Far from moving back in with the olds or building a granny flat out back, this multi-generational development is designed to give everyone the privacy and autonomy they need. North Balwyn Multi-Gen Housing follows the traditional suburban subdivision with a home at the front and one at the back of the block. Of course a subdivi... More
Project • By Fantech • Housing
32 Mill Street Net-Zero Energy Retrofit
Kitchener, Ontario, originally known as Berlin, is a city in the Waterloo Region of Southern Ontario, Canada. Founded by German Mennonite settlers in the early 19th century, it was named Berlin in 1833, reflecting its strong German heritage. The city thrived as an industrial and manufacturing hub throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was later renamed Kitchener and has since grown into a vibrant, urban center.
Photos courtesy of Patrick Wey
Today, Kitchener is renowned for its diverse cultural scene, highlighted by the annual Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside Germany. The city is also part of Canada's Technology Triangle, hosting numerous tech companies and startups, which co... More
Project • By Matt Fajkus Architecture • Private Houses
Mount Sharp Residence
After years of weekend visits and time spent getting to intimately know their site, the clients’ main charge was to realize a house which would allow them to use and enjoy the land to its fullest. Located in the rolling landscape of Wimberley, Texas, it was only natural to take advantage of the miniature plateaus contained within the 22-acre lot. These “land shelves” span across the site in the east-west direction making them an ideal platform for a house which takes advantage of both solar and wind orientation.
Leonid Furmansky
Leonid Furmansky
Leonid Furmansky
Leonid Furmansky
The house is organized in a linear fashion along a primary narrow land shelf between a beautifully tree covered hillside and... More