The 2014 New American Home, now under construction near Las Vegas, is destined to be a one-of-a-kind crowd pleaser for the International Builders' Show attendees who tour it in February.
It is also designed to please its occupants—envisioned as a busy, extended family made up of children, parents, and grandparents. Architect Jeffrey Berkus’ design provides grand spaces for entertaining, areas for homework and schooling, quiet spots for meditation, and multiple outdoor living opportunities. (Click on the slide show at left to see time-lapse images of its construction.)
Oriented on its T-shaped lot to make the most of natural sunlight and views while minimizing solar heat gain, the 6,700-square-foot dwelling will be open for tours during the 2014 show Feb. 4-6 in Las Vegas. Some of the home's most must-see features include:
—Multigenerational design. The home will comfortably accommodate a three-generation family and is designed to offer the option of locating the master suite upstairs or downstairs. A carriage suite with separate access will connect to the house through an elevator. (One side of the elevator opens to the carriage suite; the other opens to the main home.)
—Indoor/outdoor living. The home’s open layout fuses the indoors with the outdoors and provides residents with many spaces to live and work outdoors. These include an outside office space that doubles as a meditation center and a rooftop terrace.
—Distance learning. In a nod to the growing trend of online learning platforms and home schooling, TNAH will accommodate distance learning. A double island in the kitchen offers space to cook on one side and an informal work area on the other so that kids can work on school work while still interacting with the family and being a part of the social sphere of the home.
—Public and private spaces. The house is designed to be both dynamic and soothing, with high ceilings in public spaces, and lower ceilings for a more intimate feel in the family areas. There's also a long gallery that can be used either as a transition space or as a large entertaining space.
—Sustainability. The home is being constructed by Element Building Co. to the highest level of the National Green Building Standard with state-of the-art technology including a solar water heater, photovoltaic panels, closed-cell spray-foam insulation, and a weather-sensitive irrigation system that automatically adjusts usage relative to the immediate climate.
TNAH is produced and presented by the NAHB Leading Suppliers Council and BUILDER. Click here for coverage of last year’s home.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Las Vegas, NV.
