A person’s home has oftentimes deemed a reflection of who they are – their personality, their preferences, and their passions. It’s under that roof that memories are created, love is fostered, and the family is cared for. It’s no wonder, then, that people take the utmost care to craft a home that embodies everything they stand for.
And if these modern green homes are any indication of the people they shelter, then you can be certain that they’re the creme de la creme — stylish, luxe, sensible, passionate, a little extravagant but practical, and thoroughly environment-conscious. It sounds like a lot for one person (or abode) to embody, but let these stunning, luxurious but altogether eco-friendly structures speak for themselves.
- The Caterpillar House.
It simply can’t get any more luxurious than having a home near the beautiful Andes mountains in Chile, with the flow of clean, natural, cool air coming down from the mountains and circulating throughout your own open space. This gorgeous prefabricated home called The Caterpillar House was created by architect Sebastián Irarrázaval, for and in collaboration with an artist who wanted the abode to be a quick, sustainable build; it would use sustainable materials and would help reduce overall emissions in the home all while making the most of the exquisite environment it was built on. Because of this, the materials used were modern and quite ingenious: a dozen recycled shipping containers were used by the architect to create the intricately genius crisscrossing, caterpillar-like structure, which is also why the house is named so. - The Floating House.
The only thing that could possibly top the luxury of having a house near a beach, a lake, or any similarly relaxing body of water is having that house ON the water itself. This is exactly what innovative architect-designer Dymitr Malcew envisaged for his stunning piece of artwork slash architecture. The Singapore-based artist-architect planned and built this small but functional and undeniably luxe abode with high sustainability standards in mind, making sure that the home didn’t encroach on nature but instead worked in harmony with it. The result is a single-story enclave that falls seamlessly into the (literal) flow of nature. - The Residences at Sixty-Six East, Eleventh Street, New York.
The name alone is enough to brand it a luxurious residence, but this serviced apartment building pulls out all the stops to meld healthful eco-friendliness and peak luxury. Each apartment or penthouse unit in the prestigious address boasts amenities that sound like something straight out of a Bond movie — anti-microbial coating on surfaces prone to touch, EF shielding on exposed or hidden wires, filtered water and filtered air, heated flooring, posture-pedic structures, and even bathwater infused with vitamin C. The insanely luxurious perks are enjoyed by many high-net-worth individuals as one can only imagine the price tag it keeps, but the fact that each unit is still much-coveted means it’s worth every dollar.(Photo taken from Real Living.com) - A Minimalist-zen Home.
Tucked away in Subic Freeport Zone in Manila is a treat for the eyes and a retreat for the senses. Sherry Apostol lives in this cement-and-greenery structured minimalist-zen home, designed by her husband and architect-designer Kevin Wickham. Wickham, who is a champion of sustainable structures, built his own home with nature in mind. The foundations and most of the furniture, fixtures, and home accents are crafted out of cement which gives the abode a sharp, industrial look. These features are softened by the many elements of foliage and greenery, plus literal pops of the color green, to make the place look more like a lived-in family home. The end result is more like a work of art than a person’s abode (Photo taken from Real Living . com) - The Dream Home.
Many people work hard and strive for the means to build their own dream house. It is a goal that many young people tuck into their 5 or 10-year agenda, convinced that it is one of those rites of passage into true adulthood, giving them one of the keys to a luxuriously independent way of life. This dream home in Cavite, built with second-hand pieces and furnishings and with eco-friendly practices in place, was designed by Mikko Yap for a couple who yearned to live far from the hustle and bustle of the city in their own light and airy enclave. True to the vision, the 350-sqm abode boasts high ceilings, an impressively open space, attractive windows, and runs on 100% solar power. It not only looks incredibly chic but functions like an eco-friendly champ, too.
So in the pursuit of your next home, whether you decide to build one from the ground up or find one already standing that fits all your tastes, consider one that inspires luxury and sustainability all at the same time. These homes, after all, have proven that you need not sacrifice one over the other. It’s perfectly possible!
