Massachusetts College of Art and Design Solar Decathalon

Team Massachusetts: Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell

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A conceptual model of Team Massachusetts' 4D Home
(Credit: All Commercial Photography/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

A computer-animated preview of Team Massachusetts's design concept (ZIP 54 MB), created December 2010 (See the text versionof this video.)

Construction Documents

Project Manual (PDF 4 MB)
Construction Drawings (PDF 76 MB)

Neither the United States, nor the Department of Energy, nor the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their employees make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness for any purpose of any technical resources or data attached or otherwise presented here as reference material.

4D Home

Team Web site: www.4dhome.us

This four-dimensional house from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell is designed to accommodate the needs of a family of three throughout their lives. The 4D Home is designed to be affordable and comfortable while creating more energy than it uses.

The 4D Home adopts a new approach to traditional New England architecture by incorporating a cluster of three small houses around a south-facing side yard or "dooryard." Removable glass wall panels surround the dooryard space, which serves as a sunroom in winter and an open porch in summer. The dooryard is covered by a wood trellis that supports a photovoltaic array and creates a covered transition from outdoor to indoor space.

4D Home integrates advanced technology through intuitive user interfaces, which are accessible to all ages and provide a balance between feedback and automation—ultimately teaching residents about their energy consumption and production.

Contact

Spencer Culhane
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Department of Architecture
621 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 602-677