Earth Lab Director’s House
Program:
The Director’s House is the first
building of the Eco Village. The house is a demonstration
of various sustainable practices including collecting and
filtering rainwater, solar and wind generated power and passive
lighting and ventilation.
Design:
The form grows out of the imagination of
rain, wind, sun and materials for a house that is designed to
be self sustaining. The orientation and shape of the
house increase the passive ventilation and harmonize with the
natural site.
Construction:
The materials of the house are
unconventional and offer examples of more sustainable building
construction. The floor is a concrete slab on grade with
hot water tubes for heating. The walls are made from
12” solid light-weight autoclave aerated concrete.
The roof material is aluminum shingles. The
interior finish is cement-fiber board.
Systems:
The rain water collected from the roof is
stored in underground cisterns and in the vertical water
towers. Photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine are
located near the house with battery storage and an AC
converter. The house is heated with solar and propane
heated hot water through tubes in the floor.
Owner:
Location:
Madison County Mississippi
Project Team:
Jason Vollen, David Perkes, Chris Dorin.
Construction:
Volunteer and contracted labor
