As promised, the favorite residential selection from '06's AIA awards: the Solar Umbrella House. Inspired by Paul Rudolph's 2,000SF Umbrella House of 1953, the Solar Umbrella House is a) in Venice, CA, b) slightly smaller (at 1,700SF) and c) doesn't retain the 9 interior levels (9 levels!) and entirely glass-backed concept of Rudolph's work.
It is, however, clearly driven by the original overhanging roof on Rudolph's home (removed by its first owners); Pugh + Scarpa architects transformed the design element into overhanging solar shades instead, which provide 100% of the home's energy. Why did everything turn out so perfectly? Lawrence Scarpa lives here. Read more...
Photo copyright Marvin Rand
