Amazing Homes Thread - Page 13

Austinlee · #**241** Posted **Oct 21, 2011, 4:23 AM**

Compared to the amazing houses Amor is posting, this may seem trivial but this is my dream for my lifetime; To own an energy net zero house. NO UTILITY BILLS. There are new townhouse developments in Pittsburgh that are net zero but here is an example of taking a cheap old 110 yr old 3 story brick energy hog, renovating it and having a net zero house that creates more energy than it uses.

The 3 keys to success: Photovoltaic cells on the roof; Collection and re-use of rain water for bathrooms as well as hot water radiant floor heating. Voila! For $300,000 never pay a utility bill again. It's not the future. It's here now.

Quote:

The floor now is fitted underneath with a radiant heat system made by Uponor. Warm water runs through PEX tubing clipped to the underside and insulated with rigid board insulation. The second and third floors have baseboard radiators....

Walls are super-insulated (R-22 to R-50) and dotted with new thermal vinyl windows by American Craftsman. Natura paint by Benjamin Moore emits few volatile organic compounds, making for a healthier indoor environment. A Lennox Heat Recovery Ventilator hidden in a second-floor closet does its part, recovering heat from outgoing air as it brings in fresh air.

Also, low-flow toilets by Glacier Bay use only 1.28 gallons per flush, and two rain barrels from Nine Mile Run Watershed divert rainwater from storm sewers. Eventually, they will water a rain garden.

But the biggest difference between this house and its neighbors is on the roof -- 18 235-watt photovoltaic panels and two flat-panel collectors for solar thermal water heating. They are the keys to creating more energy than is used.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11197/1160794-30-0.stm

Imagine the implications of NO utility bills: Saving several hundred dollars each month on gas, elec & water means you could literally take a small vacation to the carribbean or wherever each month for the rest of your life with the savings.
Also, I would like to install an electric charger in a garage and get a tesla all electric car which would run free if you had enough photovoltaics on your roof.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...ked-photos.php

Tesla Model S all electric 4 door car. American designed and made and with a base price of $57,400 before government tax credits.

Don098 · #**242** Posted **Oct 21, 2011, 6:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dac150

Yet if you were handed the title and keys to the front door you'd probably be all over it . . . . I don't disagree with what you're saying, however I've seen tackier homes.

No way in hell. I'd never live there. Ever.

Don098 · #**243** Posted **Oct 21, 2011, 7:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PA Pride

How can you say $20 million is McMansion

A McMansion is any home, regardless of its size or cost, that is general built from cheap materials that is designed to harken back to a different architectural era (as the one you posted) or is simply gaudy and tacky. If you can't see how outrageous this home is (as well as the picture of that second home you posted) then I think you need to get your head examined. The only thing missing from those pictures are a bunch of Guido bros pulling up in their Hummers...

amor de cosmos · #**244** Posted **Oct 21, 2011, 4:12 PM**

Quote:

Alam Sutra Residence / Wahana Cipta Selaras
Architects: Wahana Cipta Selaras
Location: Serpong, Tangerang, Indonesia

http://www.archdaily.com/177566/alam...cipta-selaras/

the classic view:

livingroom hangs over the stream:

livingroom with rock sticking through the floor:

dining area part of the livingroom:

kitchen:

staircase to guesthouse:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fallingwater

isadorasarah · #**245** Posted **Oct 24, 2011, 1:10 AM**

amazing,... natural and

elegant...

amor de cosmos · #**246** Posted **Oct 25, 2011, 2:08 AM**

1400s barn --> house

http://freshome.com/2011/10/24/glass...-century-barn/

Austinlee · #**247** Posted **Oct 25, 2011, 5:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don098

A McMansion is any home, regardless of its size or cost, that is general built from cheap materials that is designed to harken back to a different architectural era (as the one you posted) or is simply gaudy and tacky. If you can't see how outrageous this home is (as well as the picture of that second home you posted) then I think you need to get your head examined.

Quote:

A typical, trashy McMansion built by people with new money who wish they had the class to buy a real Victorian or Colonial but they're so vapid that they're scared it would be "haunted".

Ok, let's compare nearby real Victorian and Colonial homes. Are these really any less different than a brand new home with the same quality custom made wood work and imported marbles and columns?
Isnt' the point of liking these classic old homes the quality of the materials and a unique design? All these houses meet that description including the one you irrationally abhore.

Here's an 80 yr old home nearby for sale for 4.9m
6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms

OR a 5 yr old home of a similar design style, 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms listed for 3.9m.

Age doesn't matter. If the design, materials and site are all well chosen. Timeless homes can be built at any generation. Yet you think people are vapid enough to be afraid of ghosts? What the hell are you talking about?

Here's one more example. 111 yr old home. 8 bedrooms, 5 baths. asking 1.15m

OR 23 yr old home. 6 bedrooms, 7 baths. List price is $2.25m

This house has more character than many of the nearby estates built 80 yrs before it:

amor de cosmos · #**248** Posted **Oct 26, 2011, 4:15 PM**

Quote:

Finestre Villas / CC Arquitectos
Architect: CC Arquitectos / Manuel Cervantes Céspedes
Location: Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico

http://www.archdaily.com/178733/fine...c-arquitectos/

skyscraperfan23 · #**249** Posted **Oct 26, 2011, 10:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by amor de cosmos

http://www.archdaily.com/178733/fine...c-arquitectos/

It is beautiful, despite that mexico has become just as corrupt now.

amor de cosmos · #**250** Posted **Oct 27, 2011, 1:13 AM**

Quote:

Welcoming Modern Home in The Arizona Desert: The Brown Residence

The Brown Residence was designed by Lake|Flato Architects and is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. The site characteristics in this case were truly challenging, but the architects managed to plan a home that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. According to the project developers, the house maximizes the desert views, allowing its inhabitants to fully enjoy their unique natural environment:

http://freshome.com/2011/10/26/welco...own-residence/

amor de cosmos · #**251** Posted **Oct 29, 2011, 2:26 AM**

Quote:

Bodrum Vicem / Emre Arolat Architects
Architects: Emre Arolat Architects
Location: Mugla, Turkey

http://www.archdaily.com/180196/bodr...at-architects/

skyscraperfan23 · #**252** Posted **Oct 29, 2011, 4:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by amor de cosmos

http://www.archdaily.com/180196/bodr...at-architects/

Cool and so nice.

M.K. · #**253** Posted **Oct 30, 2011, 5:19 PM**

http://designlike.com/2011/10/30/wel...tic-sea-views/

vanman · #**254** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyscraperfan23

Cool and so nice.

There is no need to quote all the pics everytime you want to comment on a post. Just quote the text.

jsr · #**255** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 10:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleks

Douglass House
Richard Meier

link

Looks like a portion of railing is missing in that picture. Safety hazard?! Nevertheless, beautiful house.

skyscraperfan23 · #**256** Posted **Nov 1, 2011, 10:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman

There is no need to quote all the pics everytime you want to comment on a post. Just quote the text.

I Have to, sorry.

amor de cosmos · #**257** Posted **Nov 2, 2011, 3:44 AM**

old barn --> house

http://dornob.com/swooping-curves-tr...n-to-new-home/

The North One · #**258** Posted **Nov 6, 2011, 6:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isadorasarah

amazing,... natural and

elegant...

also the most overrated piece of shit on the planet. Because of that one view.

huggkruka · #**259** Posted **Nov 7, 2011, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The North One

also the most overrated piece of shit on the planet. Because of that one view.

Aw, that's pretty harsh. Yes, it's overrated, and yes, that view is overused, but it's still a nice house. Nice materials, great situation, very modern for its day, etc. Show us a better one!

amor de cosmos · #**260** Posted **Nov 8, 2011, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

The Pierre, San Juan Islands, United States
Olson Kundig Architects designs a retreat nestled in the rocks

Conceived as a secure and unexpected retreat nestled into a rock, the Pierre (the French for 'stone') celebrates the materiality of this site. From certain angles, the house – with its rough materials, encompassing stone, green roof and surrounding foliage – almost disappears into nature.

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=15552