home

sun dried adobe

compressed earth block

light weight concrete

straw bale

rammed earth

passive solar

active solar

other projects

materials: reclaimed-recycled-local

philosophymadeen architecture backgroundconstruction project planningcontact Madeen architecture in Durango and Telluride, Colorado

PASSIVE SOLAR BASICS:

summer/day passive solar performance diagram
summer/day passive solar performance diagram


summer/night passive solar performance diagram
summer/night passive solar performance diagram


winter/day passive solar performance diagram
winter/day passive solar performance diagram


winter/night passive solar performance diagram
winter/night passive solar performance diagram



DIRECT GAIN STRATEGIES:

partial earth covered commercial meditation center
partial earth covered commercial meditation center


water used as thermal mass
water used as thermal mass


passive solar residence near Mesa Verde, Colorado
passive solar residence near Mesa Verde, Colorado


innovative passive solar house with adobe as thermal mass
innovative passive solar house with adobe as thermal mass


drawn while intern architect at DeWindt/Henry Architects
Rendering of DeWindt/Henry design


March 2009 Greg Madeen invented the concept of ceiling
March 2009 Greg Madeen invented the concept of ceiling
thermal mass which was added to this passive solar house


innovative mountain/mining style residence near
innovative mountain/mining style residence near
Pagosa Springs, Colorado


alternative direct gain passive solar mountain style house at 9000’ elevation
alternative direct gain passive solar mountain style house at
8,500 feet elevation


architectural model showing passive solar design
architectural model showing passive solar design


efficient solar architecture near Durango, Colorado
efficient solar architecture near Durango, Colorado


passive solar adobe building with little need for additional heating or cooling
passive solar adobe building with little need for additional
heating or cooling


Passive solar straw bale with slate floors, cob walls, and natural stone wood stove suround


earth bermed solar residence with central courtyard
earth bermed solar residence with central courtyard


natural passive solar straw bale residence at 9000’ elevation
natural passive solar straw bale residence at 8,500 feet elevation


direct gain residence with pumice-crete thermal mass walls
direct gain residence with pumice-crete
thermal mass walls


ecological passive solar design with double wide pressed adobe
ecological passive solar design with double wide pressed adobe walls by Greg Madeen-environmental architect


creative solar design in southwest Colorado
creative solar design in southwest Colorado


innovative stone and wood passive solar architecture
innovative stone and wood passive solar architecture


overhangs on passive solar house in southwest Colorado
overhangs on passive solar house in southwest Colorado


commercial swimming pool enclosure at ski resort
commercial swimming pool enclosure at ski resort


commercial passive solar building
commercial passive solar building


commercial passive solar retreat
commercial passive solar retreat


experimental solar pumice-crete residence in the Rocky Mountains
experimental solar pumice-crete residence
in the Rocky Mountains


solar adobe with inexpensive shading device in historic Santa Fe, New Mexico
solar adobe with inexpensive shading device in historic
Santa Fe, New Mexico


direct gain solar with: stone, slate plus thick plaster thermal mass
Direct gain residence - Under Construction


commercial solar wood stove shop architectural design at Bozeman, Montana
commercial solar wood stove shop
design in Bozeman, Montana


70’s solar design
Clerestory design


passive and active solar alternative residence near Durango, Colorado
passive and active solar alternative residence near Durango, Colorado


super efficient SIPS house
super efficient SIPS house


environmental house with wall and ceiling
environmental house with wall and ceiling
structural insulating panels


passive solar super efficient home
passive solar super efficient home


passive solar design w/ center exposed adobe thermal
passive solar design w/ center exposed adobe thermal
mass wall in Durango, Colorado


deep green earth covered south facing
deep green earth covered south facing
residence in Telluride, Colorado


holistic direct gain plus greenhouse pumice-crete
holistic direct gain plus greenhouse pumice-crete
design in northern New Mexico


direct gain passive solar house in Tesuque, New Mexico
direct gain passive solar house in Tesuque, New Mexico


GREEN HOUSE STRATEGIES:


production green house near Calgary, Canada in collaboration w/ Madeen Interior Design
production green house near Calgary, Canada in collaboration w/ Madeen Interior Design


green house solar collector in Pella, Iowa
green house passive solar collector in Pella, Iowa


western Canada earth sheltered greenhouse
western Canada earth sheltered greenhouse

protected north earth-covered entry for a south facing greenhouse
protected north earth-covered entry for a south facing greenhouse


earth sheltered production greenhouse in collaboration w/ Madeen Interior Design
earth sheltered production greenhouse in collaboration
w/ Madeen Interior Design


interior of Alberta, Canada production greenhouse
interior of Alberta, Canada production greenhouse



TROMBE WALL STRATEGIES:

efficient trombe wall thermal mass directly behind south glazing
efficient trombe wall thermal mass directly behind south glazing


shading devices to prevent summer overheating on passive solar residence
shading devices to prevent summer overheating on passive
solar residence


experimental passive solar design near Durango, Colorado
experimental passive solar design near Durango, Colorado


trombe wall behind glass with view windows
trombe wall behind glass with view windows


solar adobe guest house with trombe wall near Taos, New Mexico
solar adobe guest house with trombe wall near Taos, New Mexico





Passive Solar Systems:
A building design system utilizing the sun and other elements for enhanced climatic year round indoor comfort without the use of active machinery.


By properly orienting the building & windows, adding thermal mass, analyzing sun angles to determine overhang sizes and locations, and adding night insulation; the use of solar energy can greatly decrease the need for mechanical heating and cooling systems, thus greatly reducing energy costs.


By balancing room volume, south facing glass, and thermal mass, the sun's energy benefits are maximized without the use of mechanics, machines, or electronics.


There are three main methods to utilize passive solar heating: direct gain, trombe wall, or green house strategies that can be mixed depending on circumstances.


Depending on the climate or site conditions, it may be necessary to combine
passive solar with backup systems in order to achieve effective and flexible heating and cooling.

Madeen Architecture & Construction, LLC
102 East 8th St., Suite 215
Durango, CO 81301   
(970)769-0090

326 Midland Ave, #203   Aspen, CO 81611

© All photos and designs are property of Madeen Architecture & Construction.