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Published on 07/27/1998 All articles from this issue

LAH home designed to fit the environment

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By Jean Newton

Special to the Town Crier

Architect-builder Safwat Malek takes recycling to a whole new level with his environmental and ecological approach to designing and building homes.

With a philosophy that goes beyond just selecting "green materials," Malek's Los Altos-based company, Enviro-International, designs and builds homes that are also sustainable and ecologically sound while featuring principals of reduced toxicity and energy and resource efficiency.

It requires a paradigm shift in thinking, said Malek, as well as a few extra steps in the design process to make sure a project is environmentally sound.

"You have to forget business as usual and take a look at your daily routine to find ways to combat global warming and pollution," Malek said. "It's a matter of survival. If you approach design from that standpoint, you come up with creative, imaginative and practical ways of dealing with environmental issues."

Malek has gathered experts in the fields of air quality, energy efficiency, sustainable green building material, landscaping and even the Chinese art of Feng Shui to take advantage of the latest technology and ideas within the industry.

Now he's putting his creativity and expertise to work with the development of a 2.2-acre project on Rhus Ridge Lane in Los Altos Hills. With the building plans and site already approved by the Town of Los Altos Hills, the 4-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath home is designed to fit the environment and not the other way around.

"Contrary to common belief that the bigger the size of the home the better and more expensive it is, our target was to design an efficient home with an emphasis on how to get the most for the least square footage while including all the amenities," Malek said.

The first challenge was to preserve the beautiful heritage oak trees and incorporate the original pathways that link to the open space preserve across the canyon from the property.

"We designed the home to fit between the trees so the trees actually helped dictate the design to some degree. We also wanted to respect the character of the neighborhood while keeping within the framework of town regulations," Malek said.

Malek worked with the topography and orientation of the natural environment using the contours of the site to avoid large cuts and retaining walls. Maintaining a low roof profile, Malek was able to create interesting volumes and shapes without generating a large bulk.

When it comes to choosing building materials, energy is the key factor in selection. Perimeter walls will be made of "Rastra Panels" that are 10 inches thick and made of recycled Styrofoam and cement. Offering higher insulation than the traditional 2-by-6 stud walls, the recyclable material minimizes the use of wood and offers higher fire resistance than traditional construction. When wood is needed, Malek uses certified lumber from environmentally harvested forests. Building materials are free from chemical and toxic products.

Inside the home Malek will use energy-efficient appliances, insulated and sustainable windows and a heating system designed to produce natural ventilation to allow the highest air quality control system. A photovoltaic solar system is integrated into the roofing system for conservation of energy and cost savings on utility bills.

Landscaping will provide a park-like setting with pathways, park benches and native ground cover to capture the peaceful back-to-nature atmosphere of the location.

"Everything is designed to fit the surrounding environment and to protect and preserve the environment we live in," said Malek. "This is the perfect house for a buyer who cares about the environment as much as I do."

Malek is ready to begin construction on the project. When he finishes building the house, Malek said he will take all waste and leftover materials to be processed for recycling as "part of our effort to protect valuable resources and do something for humanity."

For more information, call Enviro-International at 941-0503.