St Petersburg College architecture students Linaea Floden, Chris Galbraith, Greg Martinez and Jason Weldon have submitted a design for the 2010 U.S. Green Building Council Natural Talent Design Competition.
The competition challenges entrants to design an affordable, LEED for Homes Platinum, 800-square-foot, environmentally friendly home for an elderly client in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans.
The winning design will be selected by judges from New Orleans and nationally. The winning entry will be built under the supervision of the entry’s designer.
SPC’s ADA accessible design will cost under $100,000 to build. It features:
- Structural insulated panel construction (SIP) and pre-fabricated trusses which reduce material requirements, construction waste and construction time.
- Strategically placed windows and doors to allow for significant breezes through the home, reducing the impact on HVAC.
- Recycled siding and decking wood from Mississippi River barges, purchased through the local restoration effort “Rebuilding Together, New Orleans.”
- Drought resistant, native landscaping with little to no turf.
- Large trees on the south side of the structure to maximize shading and natural cooling.
The SPC design team found that New Orleans has a rich history and community, enabling its evolution.
Respecting the tradition and history, without directly reproducing it, the design echoes the forms of the historical architecture of the area.
“Rather than being abandoned after Hurricane Katrina, the strong historical and community ties actually take New Orleans to the next level,” said Linaea Floden, SPC architecture student and project leader. “The local culture is so strong and iconic that it is unique within our country.”
As a design team, they asked, “How does the home reflect this culture?”
Their solution was to divide the home into three zones: one public, one private, and one transitional. For security purposes, the design provides living and dining spaces in the front, and bedrooms toward the back. The kitchen serves to join the two.
Large windows at the front of the house allow the interior to open up to the front porch and then to the street. For added security, a large scale louver system protects the glass during storms.
