We recently shared Albert McDonald’s winning entry for the COD competition, and now SO Architecture just shared their proposal with us.

The sketch competition asked participants to design a sustainable home to replace the demolished Rachel Raymond House designed by her sister Eleanor Raymond, FAIA. The new 2,500 sq ft home would be placed on the original site using the same program brief as the original, yet it would be a contemporary interpretation and implement sustainable strategies.

The proposal entitled ‘Free Plan (T)’ incorporates the free plan of Le Corbusier in an effort to leave the inner organization undisturbed. Yet, the free plans also means ‘no walls shall disturb one to live among nature’. Taking inspiration from Raymond’s work and incorporation of nature, the firm proposes to ‘take the house into the landscape’.

The Free Plan(T) project  is a house that flows with nature. When the weather is suitable, common life activities will take place outside, while during winter, the house ‘will morph to provide shelter to the exterior parts by a mobile cover.’  The flexible form allows the design ‘to free land from paving to flowers.’

The house also focuses on sustainability as excavated soil serves as green roofs, local earth friendly materials complement the design and all electricity is provided through photovoltaic. Large parts of the building will be lifted to let draining water be absorbed and the masses will be opened mainly to the south to optimize the use of natural light.

Free PLAN(T)

Team: SO Architecture – Shachar Lulav Oded Rozenkier
Year: 2009
Type: concept dwelling
Area: 2500 sqft
Location: Belmont, Massachusetts, USA

For further information about the competition and the other winning entries read this pdf.