The book offers a comprehensive resource for professionals in the residential green building sector, addressing the strong demand for sustainable construction despite market challenges. It starts with an overview of green building principles, including sustainable resources and certification methods. Subsequent chapters delve into specific aspects of green home construction, showcasing contemporary projects that balance sustainability with practical constraints. This practical guide serves as an essential tool for those looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in creating livable, sustainable homes.
New challenges on a global scale have forced a rethinking about the way homes
and communities are designed. Future Homes provides an engaging and in-depth
analysis of possible solutions.
Focusing on innovative housing solutions, Avi Friedman shares the creation and evolution of the Grow Home, a cost-effective and adaptable house design. This illustrated guide outlines the construction process for homeowners, builders, and architects, emphasizing its modular nature that caters to varying budgets and space requirements. The concept, which has led to over 10,000 units and won the United Nations World Habitat Award, aims to address housing needs, particularly in developing regions. A new preface evaluates its ongoing impact since the 1990s.
Housing is rapidly having to adapt to the global changes of the twenty first
century. These include the transformation of the family and the rise of the
non-traditional household, increases in construction costs, and concerns over
climate change and the depletion of natural resources. Designing residential
environments that address these issues is an urgent priority. This book
examines the latest residential design trends that have arisen in response to
these challenges. Divided into four broad areas, tightly focused thematic
chapters look at twenty discrete topics, such as live/work; adaptable housing;
prefabrication; water efficiency; green roofs; and innovative landscaping.
Each chapter includes an essay which lays out principles, methods and
practices. Using text, drawings and photos from a variety of contemporary
international practices, the book demonstrates how these ideas can be applied
by architects. It offers a comprehensive collection of strategies and examples
that will inspire a much needed housing revolution.
Challenging conventional planning methods, this work introduces a flexible approach to community development in North America. Avi Friedman advocates for alternatives to suburban sprawl and emphasizes the need for innovative planning processes to foster sustainable and adaptable communities.
Since the beginning of the housing boom of the 1950s, the size of the average North American house has steadily grown while the size of the average family has decreased. Today, a growing number of homebuyers seeking smaller, more efficient residential designs are rediscovering a centuries old housing prototype: the narrow house. Measuring twenty-five-feet wide or less, these "infill" or "skinny" houses, as they are often called, are on the rise in cities and suburbs around the world. The benefits of building small and narrow are numerous: greater land-use efficiency, less building material, fewer infrastructure costs, lower utility bills, and flexible layouts. This building type creates environmentally sensible houses that allow homeowners to live within their means. Narrow Houses presents a thorough overview of the practical considerations of designing a narrow-front home, including siting, floor arrangements, footprint, and interior and exterior finishing. The book documents twenty-eight innovative examples of narrow houses from around the world designed by today's foremost architects. Project data including floor plans and extensive interior and exterior photography demonstrate the inherent flexibility of this housing model and the many possibilities for adapting these homes to the constraints of site, climate, budget, family size, and other needs.
Innovative Student Residences explores the evolving challenges in the design of student accommodations, addressing philosophical and structural limitations of traditional approaches. The book emphasizes the necessity for fresh perspectives driven by significant environmental, economic, and social changes. It presents contemporary design concepts through engaging examples, complemented by vivid full-color photography and detailed architectural plans, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of modern residential solutions for students.
Focusing on contemporary community design, this book offers architects, engineers, builders, and urban planners insights into sustainable practices. It showcases exemplary case studies from diverse locations, including London and the Netherlands, highlighting innovative planning concepts that reduce carbon footprints. Key themes include the creation of compact communities, adaptable housing, and the integration of edible landscapes, all aimed at promoting quality living in smaller, well-designed spaces.
Focusing on sustainable urban design, this book explores essential principles that blend architecture with natural features and public spaces. It emphasizes the transition to active mobility, highlighting the importance of prioritizing citizen well-being in urban planning. Readers will gain insights into creating vibrant, functional cities that foster community and sustainability.
Focusing on innovative and sustainable neighborhood design, this book presents key principles essential for residential planning. It serves as a valuable resource for students and professionals in urban design, planning, and architecture, particularly those engaged in sustainable residential development.
