Koto and Plant Prefab Unveil Two New Net-Zero LivingHome Designs, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Plant Prefab announces a partnership with UK-based, modular, sustainable architects Koto Design, and together with Koto unveils two new and exclusive LivingHomes: Koto LivingHome 1 Yksi and Koto LivingHome 2 Piha.
Koto was a natural choice to collaborate with Plant, given the studio’s humanistic approach to design and sustainable living and joins the roster of Plant Design Partners that includes Ray Kappe, KieranTimberlake, Yves Béhar, and Brooks + Scarpa. Koto prides itself on using natural materials and creating spaces that heighten human senses and provide opportunities to fully immerse in nature.
Koto Piha – Image © Koto
Strongly influenced by the Scandinavian design tradition, Koto’s work is characterised by simple sculptural forms that maximise light and space, and their homes are conceived with nature in mind, to protect the environment and to encourage biophilic living: a connection between people and the natural world. “Our mission is to make great architecture more accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
To do this, we’re looking to work with the best design practices globally-firms whose missions align with ours so we can bring their designs to life in the most efficient way possible. Koto is the first international firm with whom we’ve partnered and we’re incredibly excited to introduce two exclusive designs and to expand our offering of top quality, highly sustainable homes.” Steve Glenn – CEO at Plant Prefab.
Koto Piha – Image © Koto
The four-bed, three-bath, 2,184 sqft Piha (meaning ‘courtyard’ in Finnish) is characterised by two courtyards that connect inhabitants with the outdoors – a central value of the Scandinavian lifestyle and design aesthetic. The sculptural form of the cantilevered Yksi (meaning ‘first’ in Finnish) creates a comfortable, two-bedroom residence in just over 1,100 square feet.
Both designs offer ample deck space for outdoor living and employ large windows and long sightlines to create a sense of openness. The characteristic Scandinavian designs maximise light, space, and connectivity to nature, facilitating comfortable, biophilic living with a minimum carbon footprint.“ At Koto, we strive to surpass expectations of modular construction, while always considering wellbeing for humanity and the natural world.” Theo Dales – Co-Founder at koto.
Koto Piha – Image © Koto
“With Plant Prefab we share a vision for innovative, top quality and sustainable design, and are thrilled to now be able to put this approach into practice, and marry our design aesthetic with the highest quality manufacturing for a US audience.” Zoe Little – Co-Founder at koto.
Following Plant Prefab’s rigorous sustainability standards, Koto LivingHome 1 and 2 will be built with ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems, smart energy monitoring, LED lighting, recycled insulation and drywall and low-flow water fixtures. All LivingHomes are now built to be net-zero, and Plant Prefab has established a standard above and beyond what the state requires, including the use of all-electric appliances and equipment.
Koto Yksi – Image © Koto
Additionally, with the goal to maximise energy efficiency for each home, Koto and Plant will work directly with the homeowner to determine optimal site placement to account for environmental factors such as sunlight. With sustainability always in mind, Koto also integrated select design elements to build upon Plant’s net-zero standards.
Both models are designed with windows that maximise cross-ventilation, reducing the need for air conditioning. Wherever possible, more common synthetic materials such as cement siding have been replaced with timber-based products to reduce the amount of embodied carbon expelled during construction.
Koto Yksi – Image © Koto
Construction of Koto LivingHome 1 and 2 is made significantly more efficient with use of the Plant Building System (PBS), Plant Prefab’s patented, hybrid system for building prefabricated homes. PBS uses a combination of modular units and Plant Panels, a new panelized construction system developed by Plant Prefab, which include plumbing, electrical, and finish materials.
By integrating both modular units and panels, PBS provides architects with greater design flexibility and reduces the complexity and cost of transportation and installation. Like all LivingHomes, Koto LivingHome 1 and 2 will come standard with Amazon Alexa-compatible smart home devices integrated throughout the home, including best-in-class energy monitoring. Source and images Courtesy of Koto.