The Villa Kogelhof ($NFS) may be the coolest completely self-sufficient house on the planet. This self-sufficiency is due to a number of cool innovations as well as some old ones. It’s heated using a combination heat pump and central air. The water is heated via a biomass pellet stove and Electricity is generated from PV-cells on the roof and in the future, a planned windmill.
The Villa was built on a site setup by the government to connect regional ecological zones. The site is a protected habitat and a major tourist draw. The only way the owner could get the house built was to guarantee that it would be returned to its pre-agricultural state. Meaning some 71,000 six-year-old trees planted in 2006 will turn this Villa on a vast plain, into the Villa In The Woods.
The Villa Kogelhof itself is made of two rectangular stacked volumes. The one underground consists of the main entrance, parking, storage, and a workspace that over looks the pond. The upper span features the main living area, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, and patio.
Prebuilt is an Australian based designer who creates some of the most beautiful homes on the continent. One of their latest projects is the Merricks Beach House ($CALL) in Victoria. It’s a family home that connects perfectly with the native coastal environment. It is made up of seven modules that contain three bedrooms, a playroom, […]