Hasta La Ideas

There’s to be something happening soon on the property of Frank Lloyd Wright‘s Fallingwater that might surprise some: new construction. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the organization who runs the Wright’s most famous creation, have announced that they have selected a firm to build small on-site cottages to house those involved with the educational programming at Fallingwater. The call went out to six firms, who were tasked with building six very green and very efficient housing units on the grounds, and the Vancouver-based firm Patkau Architects landed the gig with their hill-like, almost invisible concept. Here’s a bit:

Patkau Architects was among six firms chosen by a preliminary selection committee to participate in a Design Competition of Ideas supported through a grant from The Fine Foundation. Participants developed designs for low-maintenance, energy-efficient cottages that should create a sense of community and become a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of small-scale green housing. In addition to using environmentally friendly building materials, the firms’ designs took advantage of natural heating and cooling opportunities to minimize environmental impacts. Each included a basic kitchen, fireplace and shower, and incorporated recycling of kitchen and gray water for use in toilets.

The six submitted concepts will be on exhibition at Fallingwater from mid-June until August 22nd, with construction presumably beginning shortly.

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