Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Architecture Wednesday: Ecologia Montréal


The owner of this home, Sabine Karsenti, with the help of the Ecologia Foundation and her designer Gervais Fortin, wanted a house that would reduce her ecological footprint to a minimum by using healthy materials, local materials and pollution-reducing materials. 
Ecologia Montréal is the first house in Quebec to integrate the BioGeometry™ science, to control electromagnetic fields, to consider the energy of the earth and to infuse domestic water, in a vortex which enhances biophotons. The combination of all these factors, harmonize the emotional, vital and spiritual levels of the home and of its occupants.
I just thought it was purty, but, well, enhancing my biophotons was a pleasant surprise.
The house is built in insulating concrete forms, constituted of 100 % recycled materials, while the concrete itself contains 39 % recycled materials. Topping all that off is a green roof, made of fiberglass with a life cycle of 100 years.
I.Will.Never.Have.To.Replace.My.Roof.
And the windows; to minimize the heat losses, the double glazing has a reflective film and krypton gas, offering an R value able to reach as high as R10.
Again, they're purty.
The stone of the facade is from a local quarry, and a local artisan created hemp and lime walls giving them a rich and velvety aspect in addition to the fact that they do not contain either gypsum or paint. The panels of the kitchen are made from recycled materials and release very little urea formaldehyde, while the appliances are among the most long-lasting and economic in water and electricity consumption. 
All the faucets have adapters to reduce the flow of water and the baths and vanities are crafted from vegetable base resin. The indoor furniture was made locally with resistant materials to daily uses and the floors are 100% recycled white ash. The radiant floors, combined to a geothermal system, maximize the comfort.
It's all kinds of green, and all kinds of recycled, and all kinds of purty.

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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:46 PM

    Not only do I like it, but it's designable in The Sims 3. Too bad I need a bigger home in that game. Otherwise I'd be sketching out a floor plan right now.

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  2. I love the entire house, except for the shower. Besides the usual purpose of using the shower to become squeaky clean, I love to get the cubical hot and steamy and just absorb the heat. Yes, I am a lizard. So that wide open shower just will not do!

    Ive never had a house make me feel stupid! I didnt know what half those things are the house does/doesnt do.....

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