Open Architecture Network

Open Architecture Network | Helping communities sustainably improve living conditions through innovative design and construction.

A great big idea: architecture that actually considers people's real needs. This site describes hundreds of projects large and small going on all over the world. This is a fascinating place to explore what some of the world's most talented architects are doing.

Porchdog Project Biloxi MS

Here's just one project from Biloxi Missisippi. A disaster-proof house designed for this hurricane-prone area.

Many projects are from disaster areas like Haiti. Kits of vernacular materials and methods.

Green Masterpiece

I urge everyone who ia interested in green architecture to take a look at this article in The New York Times. Tom that means you! You can also just go directly to the slideshow. This house, built on a lot in Racine Wisconsin with a stunning view of Lake Michigan has many great features including a well-designed small kitchen (notice the 27" Sub-Zero on the right) built of sustainable materials. Some other highlights:

• This is a small house (that's a compliment incidentally), large sections of the cube are occupied by garage and decks. the living space is comparable to a typical suburban ranch.
• The geothermal heating system reportedly cost more than 100K. I love geothermal, but it is not for the faint of heart!
• Innovative cement-board exterior. Cement board (typically used as tile-backer or underlayment) is a very durable, inexpensive and accessible material. It can be used as weatherproof exterior shell. The challenge is to use it in a visually appealing way. Here the architects have succeeded admirably.

Apart from the technological solutions, this house evokes some of the best  principles of "naturally" green design:

• Site specific design
• Well-planned inside-outside transitions
• Not-So-Big (thanks Sarah)
• Extensive use of natural light
• Extensive use of natural ventilation