Design Process
I Want an Eco-Friendly Home!
Last week we welcomed new clients to the studio for the first time, and although most of our clients arrive seeking conscious, ecological, and healthy architecture, this time I was surprised by the directness with which they arrived and introduced the conversation:
“We have come because we want an eco-friendly home”
This is how clear and simple the initial step is, which will become, if all goes well, one or two years of work. Time in which all of us together, architects and clients, commit ourselves fully to ultimately make a dream come true.
However, this simple idea has many nuances that lead to what one client understands by “I want an eco-friendly home” varying greatly from one to another.
Thus, our work begins by understanding the extent to which our clients are committed, ultimately knowing how far they want to go in order to design a project tailored to their needs.
And what does this mean? What are the possibilities of an eco-friendly home?
Well, the possibilities are many. If I want an eco-friendly home, I may simply be referring to wanting to save energy, a field in which we can build from a home that generates more energy than it consumes to a home that incorporates intelligent home automation systems that efficiently manage the entire household. We can discuss collecting rainwater and disconnecting from the main grid, or even installing an underground geothermal system that allows us to use subsurface heat to warm our home.
The possibilities are unlimited, and initially our work consists of determining how far our client wants to go.
A Matter of Budget
This is where limitations are established. When someone reaches the conclusion of “I want an eco-friendly home,” it is clear that this is someone with a different consciousness toward life and who would probably opt for the maximum we can offer.
However, budget limitations will often be decisive in determining how far we can go.
For us, the maximum desirable would be to build a passive house, which not only meets all efficiency requirements but is also a healthy home whose indoor air maintains better conditions than the outdoors throughout the year.
However, the decision to build a passive house with natural materials free of toxins and pollutants will increase the cost of our home by 20 to 30%, and this will normally come at the expense of reducing square footage or amenities. Fewer square meters, lower budget.
We mention this because clients typically arrive at the studio with a clear number in mind, a maximum budget they do not wish to exceed, and telling someone that with the same money they had planned to build their home they will build fewer square meters than they thought in order to allocate part of the budget to making it eco-friendly is when their commitment to their initial goal of wanting to build an eco-friendly home is tested.
A Matter of Time
The second limitation we will encounter is the owner’s capacity for dedication.
A passive house requires a certain level of dedication and maintenance of the systems that keep it operating with practically zero energy consumption, so the person who inhabits it must perform minimal monitoring and upkeep of these systems.
Thus, ideally in this type of home, unless it is fully automated, one member of the family should be somewhat curious and familiar with all the ecological systems and installations in their home in order to perform monitoring and maintenance.
For example, if we decide to disconnect from the municipal water supply network and install a dry toilet, we must maintain the tank in good condition so that natural decomposition processes take effect.
If we decide to install solar panels, we must monitor their performance and regularly clean the surface.
A Matter of Commitment
Finally, if I want to build an eco-friendly home, I will need a certain level of commitment to my project.
During the design process, we will encounter alternatives and many decisions will need to be made in which we must actively engage.
For example, natural insulation is typically around 10% more expensive than conventional insulation. Are we willing to assume this additional cost for the sake of our health?
Another example would be the length of the façades—a compact house retains heat much better. Are we willing to accept a more compact design to improve the efficiency of our home?
As you can see, if we want to build an eco-friendly home, we will face a series of limitations and decisions that will test our initial commitment, but from our experience we can assure you that this is an investment you will profit from starting on day one, as you will begin living in a healthy, efficient, and natural place that not only guarantees your health and well-being but also contributes your small grain of sand to a global problem—that of ecology.
We look forward to welcoming you to the studio to get to work on your dream!