House Exterior
Refine by:
Budget
Sort by:Popular Today
1 - 20 of 115 photos
Brooks + Scarpa ArchitectsThe Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space. The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends.
The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened.
The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space.
Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories.
The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space.
Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling.
The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.
Arielle C. Schechter, AIAThe western decks face a magnificent view. We designed sliding wood screens that can be easily closed to block the intense summer heat when needed.
Searl Lamaster Howe ArchitectsPositioned on the west, this porch, deck, and plunge pool apture the best of the afternoon light. A generous roof overhang provides shade to the master bedroom above.
EW Architecture Inc.At roughly 1,600 sq.ft. of existing living space, this modest 1971 split level home was too small for the family living there and in need of updating. Modifications to the existing roof line, adding a half 2nd level, and adding a new entry effected an overall change in building form. New finishes inside and out complete the alterations, creating a fresh new look. The sloping site drops away to the east, resulting in incredible views from all levels. From the clean, crisp interior spaces expansive glazing frames the VISTA.
Bell ArquitecturaEl proyecto se sitúa en un entorno inmejorable, orientado a Sur y con unas magníficas vistas al mar Mediterráneo. La parcela presenta una gran pendiente diagonal a la cual la vivienda se adapta perfectamente creciendo en altura al mismo ritmo que aumenta el desnivel topográfico. De esta forma la planta sótano de la vivienda es a todos los efectos exterior, iluminada y ventilada naturalmente.
Es un edificio que sobresale del entorno arquitectónico en el que se sitúa, con sus formas armoniosas y los materiales típicos de la tradición mediterránea. La vivienda, asimismo, devuelve a la naturaleza más del 50% del espacio que ocupa en la parcela a través de su cubierta ajardinada que, además, le proporciona aislamiento térmico y dota de vida y color a sus formas.
Arielle C. Schechter, AIAA detail of the cypress screen on the street side elevation. This gives the house the privacy the owners craved. Photo by Keith Isaacs.
South Park Design BuildNew 2 Story 1,200-square-foot laneway house. The two-bed, two-bath unit had hardwood floors throughout, a washer and dryer; and an open concept living room, dining room and kitchen. This forward thinking secondary building is all Electric, NO natural gas. Heated with air to air heat pumps and supplemental electric baseboard heaters (if needed). Includes future Solar array rough-in and structural built to receive a soil green roof down the road.
Searl Lamaster Howe ArchitectsThe cedar ceiling of the living rom extends outside, blurring the division of interior and exterior. The large glass panes reflect the forest beyond,
EW Architecture Inc.At roughly 1,600 sq.ft. of existing living space, this modest 1971 split level home was too small for the family living there and in need of updating. Modifications to the existing roof line, adding a half 2nd level, and adding a new entry effected an overall change in building form. New finishes inside and out complete the alterations, creating a fresh new look. The sloping site drops away to the east, resulting in incredible views from all levels. From the clean, crisp interior spaces expansive glazing frames the VISTA.
Arielle C. Schechter, AIAThis is the private deck off the master bedroom. This western deck faces a magnificent view. We designed sliding wood screens that can be easily closed to block the intense summer heat when needed.
Belltown Design LLCOur siding material is prepainted Hardie Plank, to cut down on cost. Our color scheme is made up of SW Sailcoth, a typical Hardie color, Shadowy Evergreen 19-18 by Pratt and Lambert for the trim and bands, Exterior Curb Appeal, Craftsman Four Square, Seattle , WA. Belltown Design. Photography by Paula McHugh
1