Bogenberger-Swift

---

This rural home near Ojai, CA with its mass walls made of wood fiber insulated concrete forms and all steel roof construction is about as environment-friendly as it gets. The modestly sized home is arranged in a V-shape with one leg being a “sleeping house” and the other a “living house”. They are connected at the apex by a glass enclosed entry that joins the two wings with an expressive roof.

A photovoltaic system that is integrated into the metal roof of the home generates all of the electricity needs. The swimming pool doubles as a fire water storage tank that utilizes ozone rather than chlorine. The exterior and interior walls use lime-based plaster that allow the building to “breathe” while expressing vibrant colors not possible with conventional plaster. All of the interior finishes are from sustainable sources with a large portion from recycled materials. The owners, both biologists, have converted the surrounding landscape into a botanical garden consisting of mostly native plants.

Perhaps the most compelling features of the project are its lack of maintenance, expressive permanence and relatively inexpensive cost.