This structure is called the "Aquaterra", a tourist vistation house in Woodacre, California USA. The developer of this unique, out of this world building is Mr. Greg Snowden. The cost of its first prototype is approximately $8,000,000.00 with the area of 12,000 sq.ft.
Here are some of the details of this remarkable design:
Construction Materials: Vegetable-based plastic, ceramic/glass composite, lightweight, high-strength concrete, stainless steel, flagstone, glass laminate, madrone and monterey pine finshing wood.
Special Features: "X" plan bridge structure, earthquake resistant with spring-loaded, neoprene gasket design, roof deck water-filled skylight, aerodynamic design to enhance hillside updraft to power two "eggbeater" windmills, completely self-sufficient, photovoltaic solar cells for electrical power, 60 foot waterfall to recycle and cleanse water and to control temperature and humidity build-up, house walls are water-cooled, see-through acrylic/glass pool structure, house completely leaves the natural ecology undisturbed, two walk-way bridges lead to two separate levels of entrance.
Owner Requirements: The house must be appealing and educative to all ages and generations of people; must be absolutely ecologically sensitive to the site and to its own functions; must be self-sufficient in energy use; wherever possible use materials and methods of construction that are not harmful to the environment.
General Background of the Project: Mr. Greg Snowden saw our work at the Celebration of Innovation Exposition in San Francisco. He has a profound interest in ecology and permaculture and wanted to build a building that would be the ultimate in advanced ecological design. The house also had to be something striking, timeless and mysterious so that people would want to come back to see more. Mr. Snowden had an option to purchase a five acre hillside property which faced west. The property had consistent presence of wind which made the use of windmills a probability; it also had a 30 to 45 degree incline. Since Mr. Snowden was strongly in favor of not disturbing the land a concept emerged where the building might soar over the site rather than try to excavate into the hillside. Excavating would be both costly and harmful to the site's ecology.
The functions of the house, given the programmatic requirements, become an educative experience to the public. The house contains the following functions not normally understood by the general public:
1) Sewage water cleaning system using sunlight and water plants recycled throughout
2) "Eggbeater" windmills for electrical power
3) Cold water recycled throughout the walls of the house for summer cooling
4) Integrated photovoltaic solar cells for electrical power
5) Specially designed earthquake mitigating shock absorber foundation plugs
6) "X" configuration arch structure for unilateral stability
7) Aerodynamic design that acts as an airfoil to accelerate wind uplift to windmills
8) Suspension design that allows downward vistas through the floor
9) Waterfall cleaning system for general use water
10) Roof garden terrace with see-through stone and glass composite floor
11) Non-mechanical air conditioning and heating system
12) Prefabricated, post-tensioned structural system for ease and efficiency of construction
In plan the "X" configuration can be likened to a person stabilizing themselves facing downward with their hands and feet spread evenly apart on the floor and body off the floor. During an earthquake this low, four point position is extremely stable for it minimizes contact surface area, affords a very low center of gravity and makes the possibility of overturn very difficult. The "X" form also provides lateral stability so important to aerodynamic efficiency.
The living areas of the house are suspended from the "X" bridge giving the structure flexibility in the event of an earthquake. The symmetry of the egg-like shape also provides an energy efficient design minimizing the surface area and maximizing structural strength. Aerodynamics plays a key role in the design because the climatic conditions of the site dictate a design that must respond to heat year round. Therefore a form that disipates heat and is aerodynamic must be chosen. One of the most effcient forms for air flow is the saucer shape but its streamlined proportions make it difficult to accommodate an effective use of volume. The next progression, then, is an inflated saucer shape which then approaches the egg shape.
The functions of the house, given the programmatic requirements, become an educative experience to the public. The house contains the following functions not normally understood by the general public:
1) Sewage water cleaning system using sunlight and water plants recycled throughout
2) "Eggbeater" windmills for electrical power
3) Cold water recycled throughout the walls of the house for summer cooling
4) Integrated photovoltaic solar cells for electrical power
5) Specially designed earthquake mitigating shock absorber foundation plugs
6) "X" configuration arch structure for unilateral stability
7) Aerodynamic design that acts as an airfoil to accelerate wind uplift to windmills
8) Suspension design that allows downward vistas through the floor
9) Waterfall cleaning system for general use water
10) Roof garden terrace with see-through stone and glass composite floor
11) Non-mechanical air conditioning and heating system
12) Prefabricated, post-tensioned structural system for ease and efficiency of construction
In plan the "X" configuration can be likened to a person stabilizing themselves facing downward with their hands and feet spread evenly apart on the floor and body off the floor. During an earthquake this low, four point position is extremely stable for it minimizes contact surface area, affords a very low center of gravity and makes the possibility of overturn very difficult. The "X" form also provides lateral stability so important to aerodynamic efficiency.
The living areas of the house are suspended from the "X" bridge giving the structure flexibility in the event of an earthquake. The symmetry of the egg-like shape also provides an energy efficient design minimizing the surface area and maximizing structural strength. Aerodynamics plays a key role in the design because the climatic conditions of the site dictate a design that must respond to heat year round. Therefore a form that disipates heat and is aerodynamic must be chosen. One of the most effcient forms for air flow is the saucer shape but its streamlined proportions make it difficult to accommodate an effective use of volume. The next progression, then, is an inflated saucer shape which then approaches the egg shape.
Contents taken from www.tdrinc.com
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