Solar House 1 suggests a newly defined domestic living experience for Ohio.  The house promotes a theme of consolidation, and challenges the average Ohioan to re-consider space within their home.  The proposal offers a centralized living space that reconfigures to accommodate the users’ needs.  Conceptually, the house splits into two distinct interfaces.  The exterior interface, a ‘second skin’, acts as a catalyst that allows the user to negotiate between lived space and the surrounding environment.  This connection to the exterior encourages the individual to employ the house’s passive cooling strategies, via an ability to control natural ventilation, views, daylight and privacy.  The operable veil, composed of re-claimed Ohio barn siding, provides a rain-screen and draws subtle reference to Ohio’s agriculture industry.

 The house is organized around a neutral center space.  The interior interface which defines this center space, mediates between the user and the house program.  Program components are concealed or revealed by the interior interface which adapt the use of the space to the individuals’ needs (i.e. space becomes kitchen, space becomes bedroom, space becomes theater for entertaining).  Additionally, free standing objects (furniture, etc.) are designed to be stored behind the interface when not in use.