Contemporary Design in Detail: Sustainable Environments

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158 Sustainable Environments

Bercy Chen Studio,

Residence on Annie Street,

Austin, Texas, United States

 e home incorporates a modular steel

frame with an infi ll of thermally effi cient,

prefabricated and preinsulated steel panels,

reducing construction site waste and making

the tectonics of the building clear. Using an

exposed structure with infi ll panels (faced

with horizontal cumaru board) required

fewer materials for the fi nishes inside and

out.  e steel is durable and both insect and

decay resistant.

Above A number of factors contributed to

the house’s certifi cation as a City of Austin

Green Building project, including construc-

tion methods and materials.  e home is a

slab-on-grade building, with the sealed con-

crete slab serving as the fi nished fl oor.  e

concrete obviates additional layers of wood

or nonrenewable materials, while eliminating

dust and mold. Walls and ceilings are also

effi ciently constructed from clear stained

seven-ply maple plywood. A fl ush glazed

hallway pavilion between refl ecting pools

links the two halves of the house. Salvaged

steel plates form the base of the pools, which

are planted with native aquatics.

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160 Sustainable Environments

Steven Holl Architects,

Turbulence House,

Abiquiu, New Mexico, United States

Perched on a desert mesa, this artists’ resi-

dence is constructed from intricately pieced

together aluminum panels.  e high refl ec-

tivity of the surface prevents the absorption

of excess solar radiation and helps to cool

the interior. To further reduce direct solar

gain, the fenestration, which remains rela-

tively small, is mostly located on the north

or shaded sides of the house.

Opposite  e house’s aerodynamic form ac-

commodates the desert wind through a cen-

tral void on the ground level that gives the

structure its two-legged appearance. ( e

smaller leg on the south side serves as a stor-

age shed.) Natural fi nish, fl at-lock seam alu-

minum panels form the shell of the house.

 e panels were designed using parametrics,

then digitally fabricated by a sheet-metal

company in Kansas City with extraordinary

precision.  e process minimizes waste

material generated during production;

excess aluminum can be recycled at the

fabrication shop.

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