2659 Sandy Plains Road
Tryon, North Carolina 28782
P: +1 828.863.2748
P: +1 800.544.6516 (toll free)
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Harcourt Architects Increases Focus on 'Green Homes'
Author: Justin Kinsella
10/17/2009
White Oak’s project
architects, Harcourt architects, undertake the development of a new collection
of smaller, smarter, more ecologically and financially sustainable estate homes.
Some thoughts on our progress follow, all of which are at play in our development of the White Oak community.
Even
though we didn’t think it at the time, we have benefited a great deal in Europe, and Ireland especially, from the
historic limitation in resources when compared to the U.S.
As
the economic climate now changes and shifts in the globally we are undoubtedly
seeing the beginning of a large shift in consciousness towards greater
efficiency and financially sustainability of all assets. For most people the largest
of these is obviously their home.
As
already pointed out, being based in Europe has
cultivated a mindset that has been cultivated by our longstanding and often mandatory
conservation towards resources is a great benefit today. Our consequent uptake and application of
techniques and technologies that increase efficiencies in buildings’ running
costs, has us well calibrated to lead the charge to become the genuine leader
in the development of sustainable affordable luxury homes in North Carolina.
We
have brought best practice to White Oak with regards to Ecologically
Sustainable building practices from the outset.
Some
examples of such applied practices include the riparian corridors threaded through
out the entire development linking all
naturally occurring habitats, the cyclical irrigation system installed within
the Golf Course and the future village area, and the dark sky lighting fitted
through out community common areas.
The
desired standard is also illustrated in the communities Golf Course as it is
set to attain upon completion an Audobahn Accreditation.
Within
the current climate the financially sustainable qualities intrinsic to the
development of properties along ecologically efficient and sustainable
principles has never been so relevant. The primary objective in this regard,
put simply, is to be as smart with your ones resources as possible.
We
are currently in the process of putting
packages together of smaller estate home designs that respond directly to their
environment with the end result of requiring less energy to run. We would
estimate a downward trend in property sizes to around the 2500 – 3000 sq ft
range. The reduced sizes will more easily allow a higher quality end product to
be achieved whilst at the same time reduce the price point hurdles for getting
a home set up in White Oak.
We
hope to have the first section of this collection ready for prospective clients’
review in early 2010.
We
have selected various sites and are designing the models in a responsive manner
to each sites specific conditions and solar orientation. As before we will be specifying natural,
locally sourced building materials that are low in embodied energy. In addition
to creating efficient homes, these models are being designed for the occupant
to be engaged with the layered water, valley and mountain views within the
community. I feel that it has never been more important for people to be able
to benefit from the restorative properties associated with physical and visual
interactions and connections with nature and natural phenomena.
The
final packages will include plans, sections and rendered elevations. We will
also build a scale model of each design in the context of the specific site to
better help prospective clients understand the proposed building, its response
to its environment and the design principals being used.
There
is incredible value to be had at the moment, as we are seeing the cost of residential
construction decreasing by as much as 40% in some instances.
We
will invite the selected accredited builders to give a turn key price on each
model.
If
required by prospective clients, we will have a facility in place where further
design modifications can be made in consultation with our design team.
Combined
with the higher quality design of this product plus the reduced running costs
and maintenance I think these packages will be appropriate and successful to
current and future preferences and priorities.
On this basis, our
aim is for White Oak to become a market leader in the development of genuinely
ecologically and financially sustainable residential product.
White Oak Legacy: Sustainable Homes
Download PDF document: Click here
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