ECO-HOMES HAVE come a long way since the quirky treehouses and hobbit-like dwellings of the 60s. No longer do they imply sacrificing comfort for a clear conscience. Instead, today's most covetable eco-homes hint towards a new era of redefined luxury - one that does not revolve around consumption.
'True luxury is about having choices, getting exactly what you want, without waste,' says David Peri of Periscope Marketing, eco consultant for Alpine 2002 - a 'hyper eco-luxury' property completed this year in Boulder, Colorado, US. Designed by American Studio H:T and constructed by eco-luxury builders Vireo and WeberHaus from Germany, the hillside house aims to resolve the dilemma of how to live responsibly while having a home that appeals to our worldly needs. 'Light floods into the home, yet energy doesn't pour through the glass into the air,' says Peri. 'And you don't waste a fortune heating the home.'
The focus for Alpine 2002 is on longevity, promising a 250-year lifespan. 'There's a saying that you need to consider three things in buying a home: location, location, and location. We want to change that to: performance, performance, and performance,' says Peri, adding that Alpine 2002 is built out of organic, sustainable materials. 'This home could be eaten with little impact on your health.'
The house's energy management systems reduce energy costs to a minimum and walls and ceiling are highly insulated to minimise any thermal loss from heat or cold. Peri says its hyper-precise construction process resulted in only 2 per cent waste, compared to the usual 17 per cent US average, and it uses only 18 per cent of the typical energy consumed by America's average home. 'This is arguably the most ecological and energy-efficient home in North America by most real world measures.'
Part of the challenge architects face is adapting the house to its natural surroundings, and the consequential needs of its inhabitants. While heating is an essential for most countries, in Asia, cooling is a priority. Bird Island, an innovative urban-renewal project being planned in Kuala Lumpur by Graft Lab architects, is constructed with an environmentally friendly tensile roof structure. 'It will glow between the trees and reflect in the pond like a lantern at night,' says Gregor Hoheisel of Graft Beijing. 'It's a kind of 'Swiss army knife' of ecological features; it collects rainwater, funnels wind, provides shade, creates privacy and living space with minimal material use.' The house shifts the relationship between indoors and outdoors, promising comfort without the constraints of traditional walls. A rainwater cooling system responds to Malaysia's climate, with additional energy generated by an on-site solar plant and heat pumps. Sliding glass doors provide security and weather protection, while mosquito netting surrounds the extended living space.
Hoheisel says in terms of ecologically friendly construction, China is currently behind Western standards, with most buildings a constructed for quick sale. 'However, the Chinese government is recently turning a special focus on sustainability,' he adds. 'I assume that within a few years China will become one of the leaders in sustainable buildings as the government has a tremendous power to direct the market.'
Wallflower Architecture and Design's Water-Cooled House in Singapore also harnesses the natural cooling power of water. Perfect for tropical climates, if not for families with small children, the home features two storeys, linked by a spiral staircase, with serene, reflecting ponds on both levels. A continuous light and air well on the first floor is paralleled below by a similarly continuous koi pond, to cool the rooms and spaces. The second-storey pond is designed to thermally insulate the bedrooms, dining and family spaces underneath from solar heat gain. To maximize the focus on water, an underwater window appears above the front door walkway, giving a visually soothing glimpse of the pond above.