Zonda - Resource Library

Zero net energy (ZNE) construction represents a vast opportunity for builders and contractors. So what is a zero net energy home? In the simplest terms, a ZNE home produces as much energy as it uses, most commonly using efficient construction methods. Achieving ZNE performance involves a whole-building design approach to consider all of a home's systems — the building envelope, mechanical systems, and lighting and appliances — in an integrated way.

This e-book collects our most valuable resources on ZNE projects to help you define what ZNE means for you and examine factors such as energy prices, net metering policies, solar resources, incentives, and budget. You’ll see that getting to zero doesn’t mean giving up desirable and high-performance gas systems.

Collaboration in architecture is nothing new. However, collaboration between architects and manufacturers is a relatively modern partnership, beginning largely in the early 20th century as new forms of architecture demanded material innovation and new construction technologies. Contemporary trends like Art Deco, Art Moderne, and International style embraced principles of industrialization, and some architects, perhaps most prominently Walter Gropius, espoused the need for the “rationalization, systemization, and standardization” of architecture in an effort to emulate assembly line production without sacrificing individualism. This course will look at some of the history of collaboration between architects and manufacturers and examine the concepts of interchangeable parts manufacturing, collaborative alliances, and mass production and customization. It will also assess several case studies as well as provide tips for creating effective collaborations that can lead to innovation.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation with ARCHITECT's Editor in Chief. Specifying wood in building design has a multitude of benefits, including elevating the design of the project, enhancing sustainable initiatives, and incorporating mixed materials for innovative buildings.

In this session, ARCHITECT explores the work and research of several firms using wood for innovative designs.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. At the conclusion of this program attendees will be able to identify, analyze, and determine the need for alternative design approaches to account for more dynamic weather and climate-related events that pose an increasing risk to the health and safety of the public by identifying likely hazards and project site-specific exposures. Attendees will learn how the standard of care for design professionals is constantly evolving and will change more rapidly as extreme weather and climate-related events pose a greater risk to human life and infrastructure. By understanding how the standard of care evolves, design professionals will be encouraged to develop more innovative resilient designs that better protect people and property.

After completing this program, attendees will learn how to better identify opportunities to assist clients in adopting more progressive resilient design approaches by focusing on the long-term impacts on human health as well as project life-cycle costs. During this workshop attendees will learn how to better communicate and document resilient design alternatives that serve to better safeguard the public and allow society to recover quicker from a natural catastrophe.

How are architects elevating design for the world's finest homes? And how are their forward-thinking philosophies reshaping the future of design?

In this ARCHITECT panel discussion, hear editor-in-chief Paul Makovsky explore these questions with Lauren Rottet of Rottet Studio, West Chin of West Chin Architects & Interior Designers, and Katherine Mendez of ODA, and see project examples from the trio’s boundary-pushing firms.

This course dives into two main areas of residential architectural styles, starting with pre-2008 recession to examine patterns and meaning behind historical trends. The second and core piece of the course moves forward into the road ahead to look at the changing influences on home design. Learners will understand the macro influences currently impacting residential exterior design and how those influences translate to ornamentation and finishing choices, such as colors, materials, and roofing.

Brick exterior walls must be properly designed, detailed, and constructed to achieve the intended architectural effects on building facades and to prevent moisture intrusion and cracking. This course will explore common brick masonry elements such as curved walls, corbelling, and arches and how they should be designed and detailed to avoid moisture entry and movement issues. The course will also explore several award-winning projects where brick stands out as the defining architectural feature of the building.

Minimalism is a philosophy of simplicity that’s taken off since the pandemic. More homeowners are demanding minimalist kitchen designs, but what does that mean – and what does it look like? This course will explore the concepts of minimalism and minimalist design, trends shaping modern kitchen design and use, and how minimalist design can be used to increase and improve the functionality of the kitchen. Finally, learners will review the role of luxury appliances in a minimalist kitchen and how to specify appliances to meet changing consumer needs.

Architecture is far from simple shelter. When thoughtfully and carefully designed, it can lift citizens and entire communities from their burdens, whether physical, mental, or economic. Community-led architecture is an evolution toward equitable, inclusive, and diverse design.

This course will explore some of the challenges underserved populations face and how community-led architecture can help create more sustainable, healthier, and happier communities. It will also examine how designers can incorporate propane into buildings for cooking, water, and space heating as an affordable, energy-efficient alternative to electric appliances for vulnerable communities worldwide.

According to the CDC, well-being integrates mental health (mind) and physical health (body) resulting in more holistic approaches to disease prevention and health promotion. Wellness has suffered greatly during the pandemic, with an increasing number of adults reporting a struggle with mental health or substance abuse. This underscores a holistic sense of wellness via occupational, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional fulfillment.

This course will discuss how water-based treatments such as hydrotherapy, heat therapy, and chromotherapy promote wellness and how designers can use freestanding bathtubs to create an at-home wellness experience for their clients. Trends in self-care and wellness experiences will be covered, as will features and specification considerations for freestanding bathtubs.