Comments on: ArchiCritic: Solar Decathlon http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/ New Buildings, Construction, Destruction, Planning, Real Estate, and Gossip as it happens in the Nation's Capital Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:30:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: spookiness http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7492 spookiness Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:32:29 +0000 http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7492 I love how in certain jurisdictions they are required to put "Do Not Drink the Water" signs near fixtures that use graywater. Sinks I can understand, but it's darn funny to see such signs next to toilets and urinals. I love how in certain jurisdictions they are required to put “Do Not Drink the Water” signs near fixtures that use graywater.

Sinks I can understand, but it’s darn funny to see such signs next to toilets and urinals.

]]> By: Effy http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7489 Effy Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:32:55 +0000 http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7489 Interesting that DC wouldn't let them use the grey water technologies, I'm surprised this hasn't gotten any press considering the whole point of this exhibit was to show of green technologies, and if you can't even use them in a demonstration there is a long way to go to making these technologies a reality in use and practice. Interesting that DC wouldn’t let them use the grey water technologies, I’m surprised this hasn’t gotten any press considering the whole point of this exhibit was to show of green technologies, and if you can’t even use them in a demonstration there is a long way to go to making these technologies a reality in use and practice.

]]> By: tsarchitect http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7488 tsarchitect Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:55:04 +0000 http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7488 Two things: The Sidwell Friends Middle School recycles its blackwater for non-potable uses, so is it just forbidden to recycle graywater for potable uses, or is some kind of approval for the treatment possible? And "Tromm wall" should be "Trombe wall," no? Two things:

The Sidwell Friends Middle School recycles its blackwater for non-potable uses, so is it just forbidden to recycle graywater for potable uses, or is some kind of approval for the treatment possible?

And “Tromm wall” should be “Trombe wall,” no?

]]> By: Spencer Lepler http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7487 Spencer Lepler Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:04:11 +0000 http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7487 Unlike many of the other residences, Spain and Cornell were definitely "outside of the box" and as such they are probably less marketable to middle America. In addition, unlike many of the other houses, the Spain house has only one major living space, which requires moving all of the furniture nightly to convert it to a bedroom. I feel that while this could have been surmountable if they had used furniture that was foldable/stowable, like the University of Kentucky house, but because the team used non-transformable "euro concept" furniture it was hard to image how the transformation from living room to bedroom would occur without feeling extremely cramped. Unlike many of the other residences, Spain and Cornell were definitely “outside of the box” and as such they are probably less marketable to middle America.

In addition, unlike many of the other houses, the Spain house has only one major living space, which requires moving all of the furniture nightly to convert it to a bedroom. I feel that while this could have been surmountable if they had used furniture that was foldable/stowable, like the University of Kentucky house, but because the team used non-transformable “euro concept” furniture it was hard to image how the transformation from living room to bedroom would occur without feeling extremely cramped.

]]> By: Steven Sorrel http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7486 Steven Sorrel Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:10:34 +0000 http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7486 At least to me, the design by Spain looked like it could easily be commercially viable. It has a realistic footprint, and the interior was a very livable space. Just because the roof could move doesn't mean it was avant guard and impractical. At least to me, the design by Spain looked like it could easily be commercially viable. It has a realistic footprint, and the interior was a very livable space. Just because the roof could move doesn’t mean it was avant guard and impractical.

]]> By: End of the race « city block http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7481 End of the race « city block Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:28:11 +0000 http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/10/19/archicritic-solar-decathlon/#comment-7481 [...] Decathlon is over, and zee Germans have won.  DCist has photos here, and DC Metrocentric has a few observations: This year, it was evident that most of the houses were designed with mainstream marketability in [...] […] Decathlon is over, and zee Germans have won.  DCist has photos here, and DC Metrocentric has a few observations: This year, it was evident that most of the houses were designed with mainstream marketability in […]

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