Solar Decathlon crowns Team California winner in architecture category

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Team California, designer of the Refract House pictured here, took first place today in the architecture category of the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, D.C.

Conceived as ‘a bent tube that controls the entry of light into the house while wrapping around a central courtyard,’ Team California’s house beat entries from Rice University, which came in second, and Team Germany and Virginia Tech, which tied for third. The win put the California group into the overall lead as judging in other categories continues this week, leading to the announcement of an overall winner Friday.

Team California is a collaboration between Santa Clara University and the California College of the Arts, also in the Bay Area. The group’s website boasts that they are the only undergraduate-led team in the competition, sponsored by the Department of Energy to encourage functional, energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing solar-powered homes.

While Refract House won the architecture category, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette won the market viability category today. More photography of the 20 houses on the National Mall can be seen after the jump.

Above: Twenty solar-powered designs are in the competition, staged at the National Mall in Washington.

Above: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s entry, which took first place in the market viability category.

Above: The interior of the Louisiana team’s entry.

Above: The Cornell team goes for nuclear reactor chic.

Above: A resin door with a prairie motif? It’s on the house built by Iowa State University students, of course.

Above: Penn State students envision a kitchen garden that’s actually in the kitchen, with herbs and vegetables within easy reach. Do the deer and gophers come inside too?

Above: Another view of Refract House, the Team California entry.

Above: With a monumental backdrop, a member of the Universidad de Puerto Rico team cleans solar panels in preparation for another day of judging.

For virtual tours of all 20 homes, click here.

-- Craig Nakano

Photo credits: Stefano Paltera