The Beauty of Subtle Sustainable Architecture

See how 4 earth-friendly design approaches find harmony with nature

Colin Flavin | Houzz Contributor

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” — Frank Lloyd Wright

Homeowners and designers continue to be inspired to design houses that are more “earth-friendly.” Our approach often focuses on energy efficiency, as we use enhanced insulating materials and install advanced heating and cooling systems. We add solar panels to rooftops and build wind farms to generate electricity.

Sustainable design can also celebrate natural beauty. Let’s explore some approaches to designing houses that wear their sustainable features in harmony with the architecture and broader landscape.

Woodland Retreat by Flavin Architects; photograph by Nat Rea. The north side of this house is set into the ground via a berm planted with native grasses and small trees. The quiet colors of the house help it blend into the landscape.

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Soaring Above the Desert: Albert Frey’s Cree House Reborn

See the architect-designed home, newly renovated and open for the first time at Palm Springs’ 2019 Modernism Week

Colin Flavin | Houzz Contributor

For years, curious travelers driving on State Route 111 through Southern California’s Coachella Valley marveled at the dramatic profile of a hillside home, its massive stone chimney and deck perched high above the desert floor. This was all that most people ever saw of Albert Frey’s 1955 Cree House, as it remained closed to the public for most of its existence.

During 2019 Modernism Week, held in Palm Springs on February 14-24, visitors finally got to tour this midcentury gem, wrapping up a more than yearlong restoration. Read on to see more of “The Forgotten Frey” and learn about its inception, innovative design and recent renovation.

View of the Cree House from Highway 111, with the afternoon sun backlighting the deck. Photos by Colin Flavin except where noted.

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Midcentury Marvel: Is That a Pool in the Living Room?

Step inside the Raymond Loewy house, a modernist hideaway in the California desert designed by architect Albert Frey

Colin Flavin | Houzz Contributor

The Raymond Loewy house in Palm Springs, California, designed by Albert Frey for the celebrated industrial designer in 1946, isn’t what you might expect of a home created for a celebrity client. Instead of a large, lavish house, Frey’s design is pint-size, built with low-cost materials and beautifully integrated into the landscape, an innovative approach that continues to be relevant.

The house punches above its weight by making a seamless connection between the home’s interior, the exterior courtyard and the desert beyond. Frey’s approach to design, so different from the Spanish-style homes popular at the time, helped create a new style of architecture called Desert Modern.

The backyard pool merges with the living room of the Raymond Loewy House. Photo by David A. Lee

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How to Select the Right Exterior Finishes for Your Modern House

When choosing your new home’s exterior finishes, consider location, maintenance, and natural aging

Colin Flavin | Houzz Contributor

Creating a home of lasting value is top of mind for those building a new house. For most of us, our home is our largest investment, so of course we want to see our hard-earned dollars protected. Homeowners building a modern house want an innovative design, but not at the cost of it looking dated in a few years.

Aesthetics and initial cost must be balanced with maintenance. When researching the materials and finishes for your new home, understand the level of maintenance that different materials require, and the time and expense entailed. Choose materials that don’t require more upkeep than you can undertake. Here are examples from new homes and iconic vintage homes that get the exterior finish right.

Walter Gropius' personal home in Lincoln, Massachusetts

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