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Sustainable Architecture and Design of North Beach Residence Posted: 10 May 2011 07:57 AM PDT North Beach Residence was designed by Heliotrope Architects. This environmental building design is owned by Rysia Sucheca and John Warburton, located on Orcas Island. It was built by David Shore Construction, and received a national AIA Honor Award this year. As its location is a historical site, an eco friendly construction should be carefully considered. The ecobuilding is located in a site used as winter camp  by the Lummi Indians at the past time. By this condition, excavation process was avoided to preserve the archeological artifacts that may still be in the area. So, the eco house building was then built on a matt-slab, poured right over the grass. The orientation of the house is to the beach, providing beautiful scenery. The structure is located among the fir trees, between the beach and the meadow. The structure was also raised as the location is in a federally designated flood plain. The eco friendly housing has 2,070 sq ft area, consists of primary residence and two guest suits, accessed from the deck outside. Glassed openings are provided to provide maximum natural lighting and views. It is also completed with outdoor terrace to do some outdoor activities, such as dinner. The exterior walls are clad by metal cladding, steel columns minimize visible structure.  from the interior. To achieve the sustainability aspect, this eco construction is also completed with several sustainable features. To provide energy from renewable resource, the 3kW solar photovoltaic arrays are used. There are also 3 solar panels providing heating for water and contribute to the hydronic space-heating system. For water source, rainwater catchment system is also provided completed with 10,000 gal tanks near the main building. The system is provided by the green roofing system which is planted by some plants. Also, some low-flow fixtures and fittings are used. The sustainable design is also supported by the use of wooden materials as floorings, Oregon Lumber flooring and locally sourced native alder for end-grain flooring. The use of matt-slab and recessed foundation provide minimal footprint and minimal disturbance of existing groundwater flow. The sustainable construction was awarded national AIA Honor Award this year. It is intended to for occupancy from May through October. However this house is designed to be zero energy for a full year using. ref 1 2

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