Named the IVRV House, the three bedroom, 2.5 bath home was built using sustainable practices and materials such as a grey water system, drought tolerant landscaping, and pervious surfaces appropriate to the drought conditions of its site. The structure is located in the West Athens neighborhood of unincorporated LA County, and will be purchased by Belete Belhu, a US Army veteran. The angular design features a special carport within the structure—a novel way of incorporating the realities of its location in Los Angeles into the design itself. Because the city is plagued by air pollution, the students also researched and developed ways to mitigate the flow of particulates. 

“The screens on the side of the home that protect and shade the entry court and carport are called 'eco-screens',” Johnstone explained over email. “The screens are a layered system. The black exterior metal panels are designed and permitted to have thin film photo-voltaic panels applied to them. The inner structure (in grey) is made up of steel tubing and uni-strut to attach the inner and outer layers. The inner layer (in white) is made of vinyl strips coated in a 'green earth nano science' coating that captures and neutralizes harmful particulates in the air.”The partnership between SCI-Arc and Habitat LA offered an incredibly exciting and unique opportunity

Built in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity (Habitat LA), the project marks a milestone in a collaborative partnership between the school and the organization. “The partnership between SCI-Arc and Habitat LA offered an incredibly exciting and unique opportunity for everyone involved,” Johnstone states in the press release. “One of the many moments that stands out was a day near the end of construction where a group of students was working alongside the partner family to complete the ‘Eco-Screen’, an element designed to capture energy, clean the air and provide a secure, shaded outdoor space for the residents. The pride and joy shared by all was palpable. The complementary missions of Habitat LA and SCI-Arc were evident in the moment and exemplified in the place that was being created.”

Started in 2014, the collaboration between SCI-Arc and Habitat LA is intended to produce one house per academic year on unincorporated county land. Each fall semester will be dedicated to the design process, and construction will commence in the spring. With this and future projects, students are able to learn how houses are built beyond the screen, working on site with a team of volunteers to construct the structure.With this and future projects, students are able to learn how houses are built beyond the screen

The project also enabled students to learn, first-hand, the in’s and out’s of working with a local community. Habitat LA helped facilitate resident input and volunteer involvement. “This partnership provided a tremendous hands-on learning experience for the architectural students, helped broaden community norms around sustainable and innovative home design for the West Athens Community, and created an attractive and affordable home for the Belhu family,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

SCI-Arc’s Vice Director John Enright was quoted as saying, “SCI-Arc has always believed that design can change the world, and these students have proven that by building a house that incorporates sustainability, smart materials and novel economic building systems. To all of the volunteers, sponsors, and partners, we thank you for your support and collaboration.

“A house is not a home until a family inhabits it, A house is not a home until a family inhabits itand so to the Belhu family, without whose dedication and help with construction this project would not have been possible, we hope the house serves to be a place of love and prosperity for many years to come.”

For more images of the IVRV house, check out the gallery below.

This feature falls under Archinect's July theme, Domesticity. For more domesticity-related features, head over here.