Architecture

Yin & Yang house features an elaborate rooftop garden

Yin & Yang house features an elaborate rooftop garden
A small block of land located in the countryside of Germany will become home to this new concept, which boasts a generous rooftop vegetable garden
A small block of land located in the countryside of Germany will become home to this new concept, which boasts a generous rooftop vegetable garden
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Model of the Yin & Yang house by Penda architects
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Model of the Yin & Yang house by Penda architects
Austrian architectural studio Penda has come up with an innovative green-roof home concept designed to offer a new level of sustainable living
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Austrian architectural studio Penda has come up with an innovative green-roof home concept designed to offer a new level of sustainable living
A small block of land located in the countryside of Germany will become home to this new concept, which boasts a generous rooftop vegetable garden
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A small block of land located in the countryside of Germany will become home to this new concept, which boasts a generous rooftop vegetable garden
Dubbed the Yin & Yang house, the modest home is designed to let a family take back control of their food supply
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Dubbed the Yin & Yang house, the modest home is designed to let a family take back control of their food supply
The garden is integrated into the dwelling's design, with the slanted roof-top garden starting from the ground and working its way up
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The garden is integrated into the dwelling's design, with the slanted roof-top garden starting from the ground and working its way up
Yin & Yang house at night
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Yin & Yang house at night
What the Yin & Yang house might look like during winter
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What the Yin & Yang house might look like during winter
Aerial view of the Yin & Yang house
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Aerial view of the Yin & Yang house
Wooden stairs lead to the rooftop garden
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Wooden stairs lead to the rooftop garden
The home features an open kitchen and dining area
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The home features an open kitchen and dining area
Yin & Yang house master bedroom
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Yin & Yang house master bedroom
The 75-sq m Yin & Yang house will be built around a wooden structure with large floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout
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The 75-sq m Yin & Yang house will be built around a wooden structure with large floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout
The landscape of the home changes with the seasons
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The landscape of the home changes with the seasons
The garden is rich with planter-boxes suitable for growing vegetables, herbs and fruits
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The garden is rich with planter-boxes suitable for growing vegetables, herbs and fruits
The home will be built with two separate structures, that wrap around and join together in harmony
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The home will be built with two separate structures, that wrap around and join together in harmony
The home is inspired by the shape and central idea around the yin & yang concept
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The home is inspired by the shape and central idea around the yin & yang concept
Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
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Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
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Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
Side view, Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
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Side view, Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
Rooftop view, Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
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Rooftop view, Yin & Yang house model by Penda architects
Yin & Yang house wooden model by Penda architects
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Yin & Yang house wooden  model by Penda architects
Ground floor, floor plans of the Yin & Yang house by Penda architects
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Ground floor, floor plans of the Yin & Yang house by Penda architects
Second floor, floor plans of the Yin & Yang house by Penda architects
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Second floor, floor plans of the Yin & Yang house by Penda architects
Due to the sloping design of the roof garden, grey water can also be collected and stored to be re-used to water the garden during dry periods
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Due to the sloping design of the roof garden, grey water can also be collected and stored to be re-used to water the garden during dry periods
View gallery - 24 images

Austrianarchitectural studio Penda has come up with an innovative green-roofhome concept designed to offer a new level of sustainable living. A smallblock of land located in the countryside of Germany nearthe city of Kassel willbecome home to this new living concept, which boasts a generous rooftop vegetable garden. Dubbed the Yin & Yang house, the modest home is designed to let a family take back control of their food supply.

"The Yin & Yang house is designed for a small family, that wants tolive off-grid, independent and self-sufficient," says Penda. "Atthe same time we provide a gardening-system for the owners withgreenhouses in winter and rows of planters for the rest of the year."

Inspiredby the shape and central idea around the yin & yang concept, the homewill be built with two separate structures that wrap around and jointogether in harmony. The garden is integrated into the dwelling'sdesign, with the slanted rooftop garden starting from the ground and working its way up.

Occupants of the home can access the garden directly from the groundor from the second floor of the home. Due to the sloping design ofthe roof garden, grey water can also be collected and stored throughout the year and re-used to water the garden during dry periods. The garden is richwith planter-boxes suitable for growing vegetables, herbs and fruits.

Austrian architectural studio Penda has come up with an innovative green-roof home concept designed to offer a new level of sustainable living
Austrian architectural studio Penda has come up with an innovative green-roof home concept designed to offer a new level of sustainable living

"Whenarchitecture supports the way we grow our food, a house becomes morethan "just" a building," says the company. "It attracts all your senses. Nature makesthe house visually appealing because it changes its look according tothe seasons."

"My wife Fei and I are alsoliving in a small house in a rural area of Austria and the biggestadvantage of the countryside is the quality of life," adds Chris Precht, founding partner of Penda. "Especially whenit comes to growing your own food."

The75-sqm (807-sq ft) Yin & Yang house will be built around a wooden structure withlarge floor-to-ceiling glass windows throughout. The exterior, aswell as a large amount of the home's interior, will be clad withwooden panels, blending the dwelling into the lush greens of its garden.

The home features a single-car garage, two to threebedrooms, a central shared bathroom, home office, open kitchen anddining area, plus an upstairs living area with access to theexpansive rooftop garden and an additional office or third bedroom.

The home features an open kitchen and dining area
The home features an open kitchen and dining area

"Thehouse is conceptualized for a young family that would like to liveand work in the countryside," says Penda. "Forecasts show that cities and urban areas attract young people. By2050 more than 70 percent of our population will live in cities.Architects are called upon to find solutions how to revivethe countryside."

Thefinal cost of the Yin & Yang house has yet to be disclosed but itis set to start construction in the next few months.

Source: Penda via Designboom

View gallery - 24 images
4 comments
4 comments
Riaanh
Very nice. Gardening is going to be a full-time occupation. I like the originality.
LordInsidious
Love this, just add a robot to take care of it all and then I'll renovate my house to add this to the roof.
Buellrider
I'd love to live in that house. I'd cover the place with pollinator plants and hopefully be visited by bees and butterflies by the multitudes.
GurubandhuKhalsa
They left out the most important point - the cost. I am guessing it will be way out of most people's wallet range. The roof looks like it will cost way more than traditional roofs. If it snows, where does all the snow go? The bottom. The roof is like building a huge staircase.