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A Neat & Efficient House Design

The article below is about a fantastic home design about a home that follows the sun to maximize solar efficiency. All that is takes to rotate this home is 28 wheels, two motors, and less power use than a light bulb.

Artist impressions of the rotating house to be built in Crace, ACT, Australia.

Dubbed Girasole for its ability to follow the sun, the four-bedroom home in northern Canberra has been designed by DNA Architects and Industrious Design. The new design schema will allow the home to take full advantage of natural light and solar efficiency. The house will be able to track the sun automatically and complete a full rotation in less than 10 minutes. Furthermore, the eco-friendly, single-story home includes a sloping roof with 10,500-kilowatt solar panels that are able to generate enough energy to power the home and its hot water system.

Builder and owner of MAG Constructions John Andriolo said, “Girasole will encourage a change in thinking away from needing to find a perfectly oriented block and will demonstrate that even the most ambitious undertakings can be seen as a prototype for future environmentally friendly homes.” The design took several months and was a significant change from the company’s usual work with rail. There were several safety elements involved in the design, which has no overhang and features fixed components such as the walkway and veranda. Only the home itself rotates, which has a 120,000-litre water tank beneath the 704-square-metre block.

Due to the lack of lifting involved in the process, the rotation uses minimal energy – about 100 watts, which is about the same as a bright light bulb. Although rotating homes were likely to remain a niche market, the eco-friendly design could inspire other projects. “It’s never going to be the main type of houses people design, but it has its benefits,” John said. “You may see more of these homes out there.”

Despite the unique design, the planning process for Girasole was relatively normal. There were some initial concerns regarding privacy – the house faces either the street or the backyard for most of the year.

The house is expected to be on the market by February 2013.

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