Reuse, but Sustainable?
April 25th, 2006
Every now and again, I come across something that’s just a little bit silly. According the the BBC
Francie Rehwald wanted her house to look “feminine”, have curves and be eco-friendly. Her architect’s answer was: “Let’s use a 747!” The plane’s parts were obtained from an aeroplane scrap yard in California. They cost around $100,000 (£56,000) to purchase, while the construction of the project, which is expected to start in June, is thought likely to cost several million dollars by the time it is completed.
Several million dollars? While I think the creative reuse is great and the aesthetic to be a bit Mad Max, I think this home is hardly sustainable.
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April 25th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Well, then how could you green this building?
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They’re building into the hillside, which is nice for insulation, but I’d make sure to take a look at the building orientation: for the Northern Hemisphere, South facing windows to facilitate passive solar design.
I’d also perhaps consider designing the wing sections to provide enough overhang to shade the large windows in the summer and allow for solar gain the winter.
Depending on the area, how about a green rooftop to provide insulation, increase habitat, and facilitate water absorption.
Perhaps you could also look at the building carbon accounting. How can you make the building a net-zero carbon building? Could you use the engine cowlings and fans for micro wind turbines?
Could you build into the building an element of fun or play, afterall it’s an airplane. How about using the 747 cockpit or emergency slides?
...I have high hopes for this building and look forward to seeing how it turns out…
April 26th, 2006 at 9:35 am
Wait, wait – what about the other flaw with this: A huge 747 is “feminine”??
I hope her architect was another woman with enough of a sense of humor to be able to poke fun at her client for wanting a “feminine” house in the first place. (I also hope they make it magenta pink.)