Architecture Style

What makes a house comfortable? Is it the level of padding in the couches or the climatic and physical comfort that architecture, integrated with nature, allows? Elamang is a house that attempted the highest level of "comfort" as described above, whilst producing the smallest environmental impact.

A rammed earth wall spine is the passive thermal system developed in this house to provide protection from climatic extremes. The spine links all levels of the long stepping dwelling on its south side.

The scheme also aimed to morph the existing dwelling into a more contemporary house and to link it to a new garage structure on Elamang Avenue. The design of the house uses the articulation of the old footprint, the additions and the garage volumes to form three landscaped courtyards and gardens.

Photovoltaics produce a considerable amount of the dwellings energy, as does a solar hot water installation. The bowels of the house contain 14.300 litres of water tanks and, much like a camel it can survive heat and drought with minimal water and energy consumption.

The project succeeded as a testing ground for our aim to combine a high quality of residential design with a high level of environmental sustainability.