Jan
25
The 19 dwellings that competed in the 2011 DOE Solar Decathlon were confined to floor plans from 600 to 1,000 square feet. These compact footprints had to contain “holistic, safe, functional, convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable” places to live as well as mechanical systems that generated more power than team members consumed during a battery of tests and myriad other sustainable technologies. Several design solutions met this multifaceted challenge by expanding habitable areas with outdoor rooms.
The resulting spaces highlight diverse approaches to outdoor living that work in harmony with adjacent interiors.