Solar Chalet
earth bermed off grid house 2016
Dec. 30, 2018
Macdonald Architects designed a passive solar mountainside off grid home in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains. The home is constructed of prefabricated Ferrocement. It is 2 1/2 stories high, with a solar clerestory, and ground floor greenhouse front, the length of the home.
Sustainability features include: solar power generation, solar hot water radiant slab heating, a safe room, and a whole house generator. A family room and 4 bedrooms are on the lower level. The bedrooms face south and open onto a greenhouse along the front of the home. Main rooms and owners' suite are upstairs with a solar clerestory along the length of the house. There is a front balcony on the upper level extending over the greenhouse below.