San Diego, California, United States
Kevin deFreitas
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
A reinterpretation of quintessential
Southern Californian courtyard houses; this is a modestly sized home that lives much bigger than it really is by thoughtfully opening up to, and engaging the landscape and wonderfully temperate coastal climate.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
It is a home that simultaneously looking towards the future (technologically feature rich), while remembering the low-tech comfort strategies of the past, a time before
air conditioning and
forced air units existed.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
The goal of this project was to design and construct a highly efficient home that would employ passive and active strategies to significantly reduce energy, water, and resource consumption all while delivering a modern, comfortable and livable home for a young family of six.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
Through concerted research, experimentation and a good measure of faith, the house proved a success consuming 65% less electricity than state mandated standards, and 55% less water than homes of comparable size without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics. From an architectural standpoint it was important to dispel the common public misperception that efficiency and conservation has to look “hippie” or alternative.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
Like the song says, “it’s not easy being green,” but it likewise is not difficult either, and the ramifications for future generations are enormous.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
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| diagram--drawing Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas |
The people
Architects: Kevin deFreitas
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Photographs: Courtesy of Kevin deFreitas
