Concept: The project aims to provide a net zero dwelling, that eliminates energy consumption and provides solutions with renewable energy.
Architects: Norah Altwaijri & Kevin Klassman
University: University of Southern California
The project is located in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate that has mild, humid winters and warm, dry summers. The house’s U-shaped typology shape was chosen based on the weather conditions. This typology is selected to create unique spaces in both interior and exterior.
The design is modified and stacked to fit the surrounding environment and climate. The area of this residential dwelling is 800 sq.ft, which is a part of a six house community, located on a hillside.
The house is designed to accommodate a young couple with an open concept design that creates specious areas.
The design is to enhance cross ventilation breathing, this house cools down naturally by taking advantage of the biomass of its submerged structure. The sunken house works with in the ground for cooling in the summers and warming in the winters.
Norah Altwaijri
Norah Altwaijri is currently a Master of Architecture student at the University of Southern California (USC). She received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU) located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Norah aspires to bring a feminine touch to architecture back to her country, as architecture in Saudi Arabia is considered a male dominated field. She aspires to owning a practice that specializes architecture, interior design, and furniture design that will hopefully provides a creative hub for professionals and students.
Kevin Klassman
Kevin Klassman is a graduate student at the University of Southern California studying to receive his Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree. He has previously obtained a bachelor of science in landscape architecture and a Minor in Sustainability at Arizona State University for his undergraduate degree. Kevin’s goal concluding his studies is to strive for more resilient and sustainable communities by finding innovative ways to seamlessly bond both the built and natural worlds as one. His experience in architecture and landscape design provides him a platform to experiment with the natural and built world to find design solutions to deliver aesthetics, functionality, and productive long-term performance.