Building Contest 2013: 2 - The Eco Dream

[Chuckles_82]

Sorry about the photos, I'm new and didn't really know how to upload them! -_-

You can register for the image gallery here

[Pam]

You can register for the image gallery here

Or you can use an image hosting service like Photobucket. 

[hazelnut]

Lot size 40x30 (designed for 9 Azure Lake Avenue, Hidden Springs)
4 bed spaces (1 double, 2 single), 2 baths
Price on original lot: §65239 furnished, §37929 unfurnished
Content used:
   Expansions: World Adventures, Ambitions, Generations, Pets
   Stuff packs: A few items from High End Loft and Outdoor Living
   Free store content: Earth Day, Toyota Prius set

Hill House is an earth-sheltered home for an eco-friendly family of four.  From the front, it appears to be more hill than house.  Only the postbox and the path leading into a cleft in the rock suggest that this hill is any different from those surrounding it.  Look closely and you will see a door at the end of the path, painted to match the surrounding rock.  The front door leads to an open-plan living area with spectacular views of the lake.  Stairs lead up to the roof garden and down to the lower ground floor, which has two bedrooms, each with an en-suite shower room.

From the rear, the house looks quite different, with large triple-glazed windows for natural lighting and passive solar heating.  The balconies and wide eaves provide shade when the sun is high in the sky, protecting against overheating in summer, while allowing the lower winter sun into the house.  Solid masonry walls store the heat and release it slowly at night.  ‘Green’ insulation (made from sheep’s wool and recycled newspapers) and the earth-sheltered design reduce the need for additional heating.

Solar panels and a wind turbine on the roof generate electricity.  The house also features a heat pump, passive stack ventilation (made more effective by the ‘upside down’ plan) and recycling of ‘grey’ water to flush the toilets.  A reed bed treats waste water and a compost heap allows recycling of garden waste.  There are recycling bins for sorting non-compostable household waste.  The roof garden uses companion planting to deter plant pests without the use of insecticides.





Notes:

• When budget allows, the lower ground floor can be extended further into the hill to provide extra bedrooms, hobby rooms or storage space (although natural light might be hard to arrange).
• The companion plants don’t seem to get in the way of tending the garden and the roof is rain-proof (I was worried about both of these!)
• The game automatically sets the door into the children’s bedroom as the front door, so the correct front door will have to be set by a Sim.

Download thread

[rahmbr]

This is my first build contest here. I hope you enjoy.

Safe Haven
Lot Size: 20 x 20
Bedrooms: 2 bed spaces
Bathrooms: 1
Lot Value: 69,494
Requires expansion/Sims 3 store content: Uncertain, I have all stuff packs and expansions but most items are Base game, Ambitions and Earth Day and Prius store pack
Description: Built with indoor pond, this home is perfect for the aspiring illustrious author. This open floor plan, along with loft bedroom is decorated in meadow colors on the ground level and sky blues in the loft. The lower level contains a separate laundry room that leads to the back porch and gardening, a single bath with nice tub and shower combo, with the kitchen and stair between the two rooms. The rest of the area is open with areas set aside for painting, writing and chess, and viewing the telly. These circle the pond where one can fish for sustainability. Because of the spawner issues, I did not add any, so the fishing is meager at the moment, but run by the grocery mart and you can quickly stock it with some favorites.



























Please let me know if I did anything wrong with the upload.

Edit: Attached Download specifically to this post 2/12/2013 Thanks for the help.

[Lilygirl]

House: Eco-Lovers' Haven

Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Lot Size: 20x30
Furnished Cost: 60,689
Unfurnished Cost: 35,972
Items: Amb, LN, Pets, Showtime, Seasons. No SPs. Free Store Content from: Harvest Bounty, Earth Day, Prius Family.

Description: Yellow Lily Realty has found another gem, this one perfect for the nature lovers dreaming of living symbiotically with the environment. What better way to live eco-friendly than living outdoors? Yes, there are walls, windows, and roofs, but the large archways give this home the feeling of living outdoors, without the discomfort of fighting the elements. I'll allow the pictures to wow you!

From the Front Curb: Bicycles, Foliage, Outdoor Living.



Overhead: Wind Turbines, Solar Panels, Pond, Fresh Air.



Living Space: No Electricity Required, Fire Pit Coffee Table (works!) Fun and Relaxation.



Kitchen/Dining: Candlelight every night, includes Grill outside.



Bathroom: Bell Pepper anyone?



Bedroom: Fireplace, Candlelight, Rose Garden, Fountain.



Front Yard with Stocked Pond:



Backyard: Garden, Clothes Line, Fire Pit, and Telescope.



Download Here.

[Snufflesxx]

rahmbr, look in the top-right part of your first post. It should say 'Modify' 

[RainBeau]

Are you looking at the top of the topic or at your own post?

[samoht04]

Thank you for the suggestion, but for me, there is not a Modify spot on this topic as there is at the other site I frequent. Maybe because I am too new in the forum replies even though I have been a member for about 2 years.

The Modify Button is here, next to the quote button.




Voting is now open! Vote for your favourite three. However please do not comment in this thread, any comments on entries/voting will be removed. The thread is only open to allow new members to get their entry posts fixed, their entries were submitted before the deadline and therefore are still allowed. No more entries will be counted.

[rahmbr]

Thank you for the help. I guess when I scrolled up on my post I went to far to the previous post and I could not modify. I found it now and have fixed it. I apologize for the inconvenience and I have removed my other post.

[samoht04]

Building Contest 2013: 2 - The Eco Dream - January 27, 2013 - February 9, 2013
    Chuckles_82 and Decima!

Congratulations to Chuckles and Decima! You can download the winning entries here: Chuckles_82: Evergreen Lifestyle and Decima: Sherwood Treetops.



Decima's Comment:

"Thanks everyone for another great building contest. I was really pleased to see so many people taking part. I'd wanted to build a tree house for ages but didn't 'get around' to it, but when I saw this contest I figured now was the time! Well done to Chuckles for a great build, and thanks to the mods who organise the contests."

Chuckles_82's Comment:

"Wow, thank you to everyone who voted for me! I was very excited about this building contest, and immediately researched ideas for green living. I've always been interested in a self-sustained lifestyle that is in harmony with the environment, but these days plastic packaging and non-recyclable materials are practically rammed down our throats. I've seen building programs on TV showing the development of such houses, and so used some of the ideas from that as well. In a way I had clashing ideas - natural and recycled vs clean and sharp modern. I think the colours of the materials may have clashed a bit too much. On my second version of the build I've given it warmer colours that blended better, and given it a warm atmosphere. I especially liked my companion planted garden - I did actually look that up - my grey water/rain water system, and my 'steam shower' made from hygienators. Congratulations to everyone else, too, because there were some very interesting and innovative ideas out there!"

The thread is now open for comments! 

[Chuckles_82]

Hurray! I'm open to all comments!

[Gogowars329]

Congratulations to Decima and Chuckles for their win. I am open for comments on my build.

@Chuckles, from the outside, your house looked great. I loved the bike. Inside though, the white floors made me think of a hospital and the house didn't look very homely at all. I do much prefer the remake you made for your world but overall, an amazing little build.

[ladybug53]

Congratulations Decima and Chuckles_82 . 

Everyone's entry was just remarkable . Excellent contest , thank you to our brilliant Moderators for giving us such a fun and challenging contest again. I totally enjoyed doing this one .
I had so many favorites that it was difficult to decide on only three. Great work everyone !

[Snufflesxx]

Well done Chuckles and Decima! You both definitely deserved to win!

I'm open for comments on my build 

[Neashaleigh]

Well done everyone and congrats to the winners.

Would love some feedback on mine