Stephen T. Sears, MBA, CEP’s Post

As a modern, technologically-advanced and engineered building material, #EIFS with Drainage are an #exterior cladding solution that offers a combination of #performance attributes, #energyefficiency, and #financialvalue that #oldfashioned, #heavyweight, and #laborintensive cladding materials just can’t match. In fact, these attributes are reasons why major entities and corporations depend on EIFS for important, high-profile projects that demand performance and value. (You can see for yourself here https://lnkd.in/ddjUwqxS.) Just as important, #designflexibility and #aestheticappeal are also reasons why EIFS are such compelling options. The article below, posted by Designboom (the 25 year old, go-to #architecture platform based in Milan, Italy) describes a thoughtful, custom home located in Virginia. The « Shenandoah House » arranges its living space along the pitted contours of its mountainous terrain. Designed as a 2,700 SF writers’ retreat connected to the local landscape, the layout blends contemporary architecture with the natural topography - offering incredible views. Inspired by the clients’ trip to Greece, SCHAUM SHIEH ARCHITECTS created a unique aesthetic that integrates the home’s smooth, white finish reminiscent of Greek seaside architecture with materials like EIFS. The result? A design and exterior finish that would be extremely difficult to do with #traditional materials - especially if one wants the benefits of #continuousinsulation at the same time. Of course, today’s EIFS with Drainage can also mimic #brick, #stone, #wood, #metal and #multiplematerials. Learn more at www.eima.com #design #insulation #performance #value #builtenvironment

In Paris, France, a warehouse conversion project by BRENAC & GONZALEZ & ASSOCIES created two stunning adaptable mixed use residential buildings. Located alongside a tree lined promenade, the buildings have a combination of public and private patios, courtyards, gardens and hanging gardens. The placement and orientation of the buildings on the urban site was strategically planned to allow for maximum natural sunlight to be able to filter into the interior space, reducing the overall energy needs of the project. The designers also realized that they would need a way to combat the sunlight in the summer months to reduce solar gain. To confront this challenge, the facade of the buildings were wrapped in perforated metal, which allows for protection from the direct sun, but also allows for air flow movement and light to filter into the spaces. The light through facades of the buildings allows for a playful use of light, and the adaptability of the panels allows for an exterior that is ever changing much like its environment. The panels provide noise insulation from the city as well when closed, adding another protective barrier for its inhabitants. On the site, vast beautiful gardens are prevalent. These gardens allow for the residents and neighborhood to be able to connect with nature and have access to fresh grown food. Successful urban design is increasingly shown to be projects that can incorporate multiple aspects of sustainability within them while also being cognizant of creating a sense of community. Hopefully more projects such as this one, will be incorporated into more urban environments. We’re all in this together #sustainability #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #architecture #greendesign #urbandesign #urbanplanning #cityplanning #development #realestatedevelopment #renewabledesign #urbangardens

In the city of Barcelona, located within the Catalonia region of Spain, a residence tucked into the dense urban environment, navigates a historic preservation mandate of its facade, while adapting the interior spaces to modern necessities. The site offered a lot of logistical hurdles, being a narrow deep lot inbetween taller surrounding structures. Designing the home around a central interior courtyard space that opens up to the sky, the designers brought in natural light and venthilation to a two story living space. Thick interior walls allow for effective thermal regulation throughout the home. The strategic placement of openings in the facades and interior walls, helps move and regulate interior temperatures naturally. The walls were built of a unique technique that resembles rammed earth construction, but is made of a combination of sands, gravels, and little cement. The combination reduces the carbon footprint of the project, while also stabilizing interior temperatures, humidity, and acoustics. Soaring interior ceilings with wood beams add further acoustical regulation. The atrium at the center of the home naturally illuminates the interior spaces of the home, reducing the need for manufactured lighting throughout the day. The home is a great example of historic preservation and adaptive reuse in our dense urban environments, that can still achieve sustainability initiatives that don’t sacrifice architectural design. We’re All In This Together #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #architecture #architecturaldesign #design #urbanevironment #urbandesign #spanisharchitecture #lowimpacthousing #adaptivereuse #historicpreservation

The ArchDaily article explores a Thai residence designed by Coletivo de Arquitetos, showcasing the innovative use of brick for structural and aesthetic purposes. The design addresses local climate challenges through strategic orientation, ventilation, and shading techniques, enhancing thermal comfort. The choice of high-quality brick ensures durability and ease of maintenance, blending functionality with visual appeal. The project demonstrates brick’s versatility in creating varied textures and forms, contributing to both the structure’s stability and its unique architectural character. For more details, visit the full article

🌳 Reimagining Home Design: The Role of Trees 🏡 Incorporating trees into home architecture is more than just a design trend—it's a lifestyle shift. By blending natural elements into living spaces, these designs enhance aesthetics, promote eco-friendliness, and improve overall well-being. From indoor courtyards with towering trees to innovative layouts that preserve existing landscapes, this approach is redefining sustainable living. Read the full article highlighting this growing movement offered by Spanglish World Networks, La Ronda del Dia, La Portada Canada. https://lnkd.in/ggnxAmRy

In the town of Võru, Võru County, Estonia, used locally sourced wood to building a single family residence in the heart of a forest. Utilizing an existing stone basement, the adaptive reuse project is situated overlooking lakes and trees, blending into its surroundings. The wood used to construct the home, was sourced from within an 18 mile radius of the site, to reduce its overall carbon footprint. None of the wood used to construct the home was store bought, and the builders harvested it from nearby forests, using local artisans and experts to appropriately source the right wood and right time of year to harvest it. This method, ensured that there would be minimal construction waste, and minimal destruction to the forest. The design of the home was centered around the footprint of the original stone foundation on the site, this came with its own constraints, but allowed for minimal disturbances to the site during construction. An open floor plan, with expansive glass windows, allows for an abundance of natural sunlight to stream across the interior spaces. These windows also provide views of the surrounding environment, creating a connection with nature for inhabitants. Projects like this, show the capabilities of adaptive reuse and creativity within architecture. Utilizing and sourcing natural native materials from the region, goes a long way in reducing a buildings carbon footprint. This home will hopefully act as an inspiration for other builders to adopt similar sustainability methods within their works. We’re all in this together #sustainability #sustainablearchitecture #sustainabledesign #design #architecture #sustainableconstruction #locallysourced #adaptivereuse #recycle #residentialarchitecture #estonia #renewablematerials

In the coastal enclave of Costa Esmeralda, located in Argentina’s Provincia de Buenos Aires, a single-family home burrowed in the dunes of a coniferous forest, showcases the potential of low-impact housing. The single story home was built to fit within the existing forest and utilizes a green roof to keep as much of the natural ecosystem in place as possible. The abundance of trees and insulative qualities of the green roof, help temperature regulation throughout the interior of the home. Strategically placed windows and doors allow for an abundance of natural sunlight to stream into the home, reducing the need for artificial light. The expansive openings also allow for an immersion into the surrounding natural environment. This strong bond created between the built and natural environment reinforces the importance of creating a connection with nature in design. The home is an enchanting example of sustainable design that minimally disturbs the natural ecosystem. We’re All In This Together #sustainability #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #architecture #architecturadesign #design #construction #lowimpact #lowimpacthousing #greenroof #residentialdesign #conservation

Corbusier has a lot to answer for. As a young designer based in France in the early 20th century he produced his design manifesto Towards a New Architecture in 1931 with his five must haves for Modern Buildings: Pilotis; Ribbon windows; Free plan; Free façade and a Terrace Garden. These were woven into the designs of the Bauhaus movement and popular with many ‘modern’ architects after him. He argued that pilotis separate the structure from the ground by columns or pillars to allow more flexibility in the use of space underneath the building. Fine in the South of France but possibly not so sensible in Antarctica? Designers on the coldest continent in the world appear keen on Pilotis in their new ‘Ant Buildings’-  some of which are allegedly capable of striding across landscapes if needs be.  The floors of the actual elevated Ant research stations are thus exposed to the winter weather with winds of up to 100mph and temperatures below minus 200C (-40F) in extremis.   Mongolian yurts can experience similar winter conditions and have thin walls of felt and canvass and minimal floorcoverings including carpets. Their comfort strategy is to ensure that when people are active in the tent the central stove is hot. Some of that heat is stored in the earth beneath the floor to provide some thermal inertia over the winter months to moderate internal temperatures. In the Chilean base of Escudero in Antarctica, a similar system is at work where below the raised Research Station floor are a series of functional rooms for drying clothes, an aquarium, storage spaces and some laboratory space. This creates a thermal buffer for the rooms above and also pre-heats and stores warmth in the earth below the base still leaving the main living and work areas elevated above the deep winter snow.   If a Mongolian tent did not have that thermal store in their floors they would have to use much more wood energy to heat the yurts to keep them habitable. Presumably the same is true for the ‘Ants of Antarctica’. Do subliminal ideas of 'modern buildings' linked to ideas of pilotis, and walls of glass, and multi-storey atria influence designers more than in depth thinking of appropriate climatic design? Who knows? Still Ants do look marvellous striding (in theory) across the frozen landscapes on their pilotis.

In Pointe Au Baril Village, The Archipelago Township, Parry Sound District, Ontario Province, Canada, Akb Architects has designed a cedar shingle outcropping of buildings on an acre of land in an ever changing landscape. Designed to blend within its surroundings, the project utilized natural materials and earth tone colors for its interior and exterior to minimize the visual impact of the buildings within the natural environment. Strategically placed doors and triple glazed windows allow for natural sunlight to stream freely into the interior spaces, while overhangs protect the interior spaces from solar heat gain during the summer. With the existing natural environment in mind, the two larger structures were build on the footprints of preexisting structures on the site. Wood-Burning Fireplaces are the main source of heat for the buildings, with a tankless hot water heater utilized for laundry and dishwasher. Bathing is done in the bay itself or using the outdoor shower. The home is seasonal, as part of the year the site is unreachable due to ice. In the winter, the house is closed up and docks removed for the property to wait out the winter. Homes being built within the natural environment is inevitable, there will always be a draw for people to be amongst the natural environment. What’s important is that we build responsibly and with as minimal impact as possible, as this project has shown is possible. We’re all in this together #sustainability #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #architecturaldesign #design #builtenvironment #adaptivereuse #lowimpact #lowimpactliving #architecture #renewablematerials #locallysourced #lowenergy

Biodesign: Living architecture and interior design We always had inspiration around us: in nature. That is, in a very summarized way, the essence of biodesign, a discipline that, as its name indicates, combines living beings, life, with design. But what does this mean exactly? What are its main applications? Can it be used for sustainable architecture or more innovative interior design?