Eco Factor: Eco-friendly village with photovoltaic arrays and rainwater collection.
In an attempt to preserve and enhance both the culture and the environment of Hawaii, Harrison Architects have come up with preliminary design for a micro-ecovillage. Located in Maunalani Heights, this ecovillage comprises four new houses that will be off the power grid, and eliminate the use of municipal water. Rather, the houses will collect rainwater to meet with its water requirements and photovoltaic arrays on the roof will supply power. In addition, a vertical helix wind generator placed at the edge of the cliff will generate power to be used by the entire village.
It is interesting to see the houses make a family, related in materials, style and values. Projecting out over the drop-off as children testing their wings, two houses built over the edge of the steep valley are called the “Brother” and “Sister,” while the protective “Mother” and “Father” are closer to the street. Each house consists of three layers, starting with a plinth, or base, of volcanic rock in gabions. This plinth contains the rainwater collection tank for each house.
Making the walls sustainable and aesthetically appealing is the fact that they are made from either rammed earth, or a three-layer system of sliding wooden sun-screen. The slide fully-glazed doors offers great view and lets ample of light in. The semi-translucent photovoltaic panels above each house not only generate renewable energy, but also shade the house below.
