Sleek Sustainable Home Design

This sleek modern home from Balance Associates Architects incorporates sustainable building practices such as a photovoltaic system, a rainwater collection system and translucent panels that help maximize the use of natural light.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links.

September 25, 2015

From: Balance Associates Architects

Related To:

Urban Contemporary Exterior

An urban exterior with a steep slope site and a retention pond that slowly releases water back into the city system.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Contemporary Home: Front Entry Bridge

This contemporary home features a front entry bridge with retention pond below, slowly releasing water back into the city system.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Front Entry Bridge: Capitol Hill Residence

Water is collected from the roof into the retention pond and slowly released back into the city system. Rather than burying a tank, it was used as a front entry water feature.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Light Filled Entry: Modern Staircase

The Capitol Hill Residence stair is centrally located in the light filled entry hall. Overhead is a sloping translucent roof that fills the core of the house with daylight. In order to maintain the function of this space, the stair needed to allow light to pass though it and filter all the way into the basement. In addition, we wanted to maintain a visual lightness to the stair through the use of materials and a simple, yet elegant form.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Capitol Hill Staircase Design

The stair design in the Capitol Hill Residence reinforces the concept of the central light core and makes for a dynamic entry and circulation space. Its apparent simplicity of form and material enhances the overall light and airy quality of the interior spaces.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Staircase Design: Capitol Hill Residence

From: Balance Associates Architects

Living Room and Exterior Deck: African Mahogany Wood

The living room and exterior deck were constructed from African mahogany wood windows and doors, offering stunning views.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Cantilevered Tread Support: Steel Staircase

To minimize the presence of the stair in the hallway the designer eliminated the need for the outer stringer. Instead, they cantilevered the tread supports from a single stringer located adjacent to the wall. The treads themselves are sandblasted acrylic mounted to a pair of tapered steel angles. The tread design allows for maximum light to pass through to the space below. Glass infill panels create the guard at both the stair rail and surrounding guards. With the use of 2 layers of laminated glass no top rail was required at the guard locations. To support the glass, steel bar stanchions span between floors levels, adding an element of continuity to the various levels of the stacked stair. High levels of precision were required during the detailing and construction process to maintain absolute alignment between 3 levels as the stairway extends from upper bridge to the basement.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Central Translucent Slot: Skylight

Day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot. Exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Master Bedroom: Large Lift-Slide Door

This master bedroom offers a glass guard panel outside the large lift-slide door that prevents someone from falling yet doesn't impede on the view.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Sleek Modern Home Exterior with Gorgeous View

With sleek, angular lines and a soaring roof, this home defines modern elegance. The home's facade is almost entirely made up of windows to showcase the site's most impressive feature — a gorgeous view.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Minimal Foundation: Front Entry

The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Upper Floors Cantilever: Home Exterior

While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic.The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Modern Home Exterior: Photovoltaic System

A 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid. While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Modern Master Bathroom with Sleek Orange Glass Shower

A floor to ceiling glass shower walls help create an open and airy feel in this modern bathroom. Crisp white and grays add to the clean and simplified look. Orange shower tiles adds a bust of color that makes a real statement in this sleek space.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Sustainable and Beautiful Residence: Exterior

With a compact form and several integrated sustainable systems, the Capitol Hill Residence achieves the client’s goals to maximize the site’s views and resources while responding to its microclimate. Some of the sustainable systems are architectural in nature. For example, the roof rainwater collects into a steel entry water feature, day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot, and exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view. Hidden systems affect the energy consumption of the house such as the buried geothermal wells and heat pumps that aid in both heating and cooling, and a 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Capitol Hill Residence: Footprint

While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence was shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Capitol Hill Residence: Modern Home Exterior

Glass windows add to the eastern view of this modern, edgy design flair home. Stainless exterior lighting highlights the home as well.

From: Balance Associates Architects

Shop This Look

Photo By: Steve Keating

HGTV Dream Home 2021

Home Town

Top 2021 Home Trends

Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

Organizing Mistakes to Avoid

Indoor Plants for Low Light

Balance Associates Architects

Sleek Sustainable Home Design

Related To:

Urban Contemporary Exterior

Contemporary Home: Front Entry Bridge

Front Entry Bridge: Capitol Hill Residence

Light Filled Entry: Modern Staircase

Capitol Hill Staircase Design

Staircase Design: Capitol Hill Residence

Living Room and Exterior Deck: African Mahogany Wood

Cantilevered Tread Support: Steel Staircase

Central Translucent Slot: Skylight

Master Bedroom: Large Lift-Slide Door

Sleek Modern Home Exterior with Gorgeous View

Minimal Foundation: Front Entry

Upper Floors Cantilever: Home Exterior

Modern Home Exterior: Photovoltaic System

Modern Master Bathroom with Sleek Orange Glass Shower

Sustainable and Beautiful Residence: Exterior

Capitol Hill Residence: Footprint

Capitol Hill Residence: Modern Home Exterior

Shop This Look

Modern Home Designed for Rock Star 18 Photos

Sleek & Modern Home With a Swimming Pool 6 Photos

Sleek Modern Home With Terraced Swimming Pool 24 Photos

Modern Home With Brick Exterior, Sleek White Interior 9 Photos

Elegant Light-Filled Home Makes Use of Open Design 9 Photos