U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon | Powered by the Sun

Solar Decathlon 2011

Architecture Contest

(100 points)

For the Architecture contest of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, teams were required to design and build attractive, high-performance houses that integrated solar and energy-efficiency technologies seamlessly into the design.

A jury of professional architects focused on:

  • Architectural elements
    Architectural elements included the scale and proportion of room and facade features, indoor/outdoor connections, composition, and linking of various house elements.

  • Holistic design
    Holistic design is an architectural design that is comfortable for occupants and compatible with the surrounding environment.

  • Lighting
    The jury assessed the integration and energy efficiency of electrical and natural light.

  • Inspiration
    Inspiration is reflected in a design that inspires and delights Solar Decathlon visitors.

  • Documentation
    Documentation included drawings, a project manual, and an audiovisual architecture presentation that accurately reflected the constructed project on the competition site.

See the jury feedback for all teams.