8 Spectacular Small Duplex House Designs That Reflect Sustainable Architecture

The world understands the need for sustainable architecture in the changing housing needs and challenging environmental conditions. You might have read these terms so many times, as the world is shouting out loud in this. But is sustainable architecture limited to commercial and public spaces only? Architects of Nakshewala say, 'no!'  They urge that sustainable architecture has revolutionized residential designs, allowing functionality, safety, and aesthetic appeal without compromising sustainability.

In this blog, we will take you through a journey of small duplex house design with 10 stunning duplex houses that will change your perception of a sustainable residence. 

1. Modern Minimalist Duplex

Features: This sort of duplex home design features clear, clean lines, box-like construction, huge glass windows, and a well-organised area. This type of house is ideal for making the best use of limited space in metropolitan locations. These are considered the greatest houses since they effectively connect the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sustainability Factor:

• Use energy-efficient materials, such as installing solar roofs on the terrace.
• Use big openable glass doors and windows for better sunlight, ventilation, and indoor-outdoor connection.
• They are landscaping around and leaving an open front porch for better outdoor connection.

2. Courtyard Duplex Design

Features: These are very traditional houses found in India. In southern India, they are better known as Nallukettu houses in Kerala, and their elevation is better known as the Kerala style front elevation. Even in Northern India, the concept of a central courtyard, also called 'aangan', is widely popular. They are the best front elevation designs that are used for sustainable architecture in residential housing spaces.

Sustainability Factor:

• The sloped roof/awnings made of terracotta help in implementing natural cooling and shading to cut down on AC needs in the house.
• The traditional old Nallukettu houses are provided with a rainwater harvesting system.
• The Kerala style front elevation offers a central open courtyard that allows an inflow of natural light and ventilation; thus is the widely popular small duplex house design.

3. Green Roof Duplex

Features: These house elevations are popular in areas where there is a hot climate but limited garden space. The concept started gaining hype in the 2000s due to changing climatic conditions. These rooftop gardens helped in incorporating greenery as well as maintaining the house temperature cool to the core. 

Sustainability Factor:

• Making a terrace garden with a green roof helps balance the biodiversity.
• This also helps in reducing urban heat while also ensuring natural insulation in the home.

4. Split-Level Duplex

Features: This small duplex house design is great where there is uneven terrain or slopy bases in hilly areas. The floors of the single-unit house are staggered into 3 to 4 levels. However, the split can be a side split or a back split. 

Sustainability Factor:

• They are great for maximizing natural light
• Create ample ventilation in the house. 
• They are also great for managing the right use of uneven terrain.

5. Passive Solar Duplex

Features: The homes are clearly designed for maximising the sunlight that seeps into the house. It is possible only with the architectural brilliance that leads to the right placement of doors and windows according to the sun orientation so that the homes are lit naturally. They are best for homes that get ample sunlight, making them energy independent.

Sustainability Factor:

• This type of small duplex house design ensures thermal mass of the houses. 
• The facade materials are chosen wisely that maintain the natural insulation.
• This also makes the houses naturally light up.

6. Bamboo Duplex

Features: One of the best sustainable materials that is used for front elevation designs is bamboo. This type of construction is very famous in the north-eastern states of India. Since they are lightweight, easily grown, and renewable, they cut down on carbon imprints very fast.

Sustainability Factor:

• Naturally available material that can sequester 12 metric tons of carbon per year.
• Its root structure improves water quality and avoids soil erosion.
• Great material to absorb high seismic waves and sustain in high winds.

7. Tiny Duplex with Vertical Garden

Features: They are the small homes that are built with the concept of biophilic architecture. One of the best architectural plans for urban locations where space crunch is the major constraint. Vertical gardens are the new architectural trend that is one of the major parts of green building architecture.

Sustainability Factor

• Create a small local bioclimate in the surroundings.
• Improves air quality and reduces toxicity in the air.
• Create an environment that is naturally cool.

8. Earth-Sheltered Duplex

Features: These small duplex house design elevations are however uncommon to find. They are great for extreme climatic conditions. A relative resemblance of these homes can be seen in the hilly areas where houses located near the low terrain are cooler than the upper terrain.

Sustainability Factor:

• These homes provide natural insulation.
• These homes help in reducing energy
• Allows a great escape to nature.

The Last Say

In the present changing era, small duplex house designs are the most liked typology in urban dwellings. They not only serve the ample residence needs of a small to extended family but also give a wide range of options while looking for the aesthetic appeal of your house. Coming to sustainability, these urban dwellings are coming up with revolutionizing changes that cater to the modern world. Whether it’s reducing the carbon footprints or the use of unconventional materials for house design, small duplex houses with sustainable designs cater to the modern need for efficient, eco-friendly living spaces. 

FAQs

Q1. What is a sustainable architecture?

A. Architecture styles that cause the least carbon impact, emphasize the use of renewable resources that cause the least environmental impact, preserve natural resources, and adhere to the green building code in the infrastructure lifecycle are categorised as sustainable architecture.

Q2. What is biophilic architecture?

A. The architecture designs that are closely associated with nature, inspired by 5 elements of nature, and likely to create a small bioenvironment surrounding homes are categorised under biophilic architecture.

Q3. Which architecture design firm designs sustainable houses in India?

A. Nakshewala, a 12-year-old name in online architecture design, closely works on the sustainability of house designs while designing them.