Site-specific sustainable design starts with understanding the natural forces at play on your lot. By analyzing factors like sunlight, wind patterns, and underground conditions unique to your site, we can create a home that is both efficient and deeply connected to its environment. We strive to work with the land’s natural characteristics to craft spaces that are comfortable, functional, and attuned to their surroundings.
Solar Orientation:
Every lot has a unique relationship with the sun, and this relationship should guide the home’s orientation whenever possible. For example, if your site has a natural clearing facing south, this area might be perfect for large windows to capture sunlight and warmth during the winter months. Similarly, mature trees on the western side of your property can provide valuable shade in the summer.
More often than not, however, we’re tasked with designing for specific views on an acreage lot, or our home orientation is constrained within a tight city lot. In these cases, we respond to the sun with the shape of the home and its shading strategies. Roof overhangs and shading louvers are common methods to address heat gain from the sun.
Wind and Ventilation:
Wind interacts with each lot differently, and understanding these patterns can shape both the home’s layout and its surroundings. If your lot experiences consistent breezes, strategically placed windows can draw in fresh air and create natural ventilation. For lots in windier areas, windbreaks like a line of trees or a low concrete wall can protect outdoor spaces from being overexposed.
On smaller urban lots, wind can be channeled through narrow corridors or courtyards to enhance ventilation. Designing openings to align with the prevailing winds can transform your home into a breathing structure that exchanges indoor and outdoor air freely.
"A functional, thoughtful, and beautiful home has a better chance of being preserved through time, and if it’s adaptable to new technologies, even better."
Geothermal and other Natural Systems
Certain lots offer hidden energy potential beneath the surface. If your site is located in an area with favorable conditions, geothermal heating and cooling can be an excellent option. Geothermal systems tap into stable underground temperatures for year-round comfort using either vertical or horizontal loops.
Aesthetic Integration:
Sustainability doesn’t mean compromising on aesthetics. Many of the features we often use - exterior insulation, geothermal systems, the latest HVAC, triple pane windows - aren’t even visible to the eye.
Integrating the aesthetic of a home with its wooded lot might inspire us to use materials like timber or stone that echo the site’s natural beauty. We always get excited when we can focus the materiality of a home on its surrounding site. But we also love to explore sustainable strategies that can influence the shape of a home. For example, windbreak walls or solar shading can add visual interest while serving a crucial purpose.
While building a new structure has its obvious impact, we believe we can design a home to last 100+ years with the right assemblies and strategies. A functional, thoughtful, and beautiful home has a better chance of being preserved through time, and if it’s adaptable to new technologies, even better. Not only does this approach minimize future resource use, but it also creates a timeless aesthetic that ensures the home continues to complement its site for generations to come.
Our Process:
At Unfold Architecture, we begin every project with a site analysis to uncover the specific opportunities and challenges your lot presents. By tailoring sustainable strategies to your property’s unique features, we can create homes that are efficient, comfortable, and perfectly suited to their environment.
Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, where we’ll explore how to overcome challenges and find creative solutions on even the most difficult lots.
