Eco Open Plan

Another dream house theme for me is being able to benefit from ecologically sound principles. Using the right building materials is important, taking advantage of renewable energies where it is feasible so many of my designs have large windows to support solar gain and natural space heating.

The ground builds up around the bottom to the left of the plan

This design goes even further though ... called Sous Terrain ... it is partially underground and has the addition of solar thermal panels and a grey water system.

Large Windows for Solar Gain

Solar thermal panels both at ground level and on an adjacent 'shed'
which houses the pumping systems for the solar thermal and the grey water.
Some of solar thermal output heats a swimming pond.
(absent house walls courtesy of design program flaw)

Where the house is sous terrain the windows are raised to
accommodate the changing ground level 

Through the archway the master suite is underground,
on a mezzanine level to accommodate a dressing room below.

The front entrance has a glazed screen to maintain ambient temperature