Book Review: New Green Homes

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:27:06 +0000

In the preface to New Green Homes, architect Guillermo Hevia Hernandez spells out his doubts about sustainable architecture’s ability to impact the larger topics of global warming, ongoing and worldwide energy crises, and other topics of environmental calamity. Hernandez writes, “Sustainability is an issue that has come to the fore, although it is still not clear what this concept implies and whether it can be applied to all fields.” His honesty is refreshing, particularly because he goes on to write that the topic’s clarity or obtuseness should have no bearing on the practical reasons for building energy efficient, materially responsible homes–in fact, he seems to tie the architecture which does so to an ethical standard.

New Green Homes by Sergi Costa Duran, Ethel Baraona Pohl and Liliana Bollini, published by Collins Design, is a colorful tour through over 20 homes built using these sustainable practices, with energy- and water-saving features and environmentally responsible materials. From conception to completion, each project is lovingly detailed with an architect’s precision, covering terrain and climate challenges.

Whether the project includes passive solar, photovoltaics, renewable, recyclable or locally- and site-sourced materials, each home is cutting-edge in its use of available technologies. Full color photos, relief maps of the site’s terrain and layouts with dimensions give a complete picture of the process by which each home came to fruition.

One striking similarity between all of the homes included is a constant biophilic angle to the overall situation of each home: whether it is incorporating a woodland setting or a skyline view, each home includes copious amount of natural light through scores of windows and a subtle marrying of outdoor elements to the indoors.

Kitchen & Bath Sustainable » books

Book Review: New Green Homes