In 2005, the University of Memphis’ Department of Architecture founded the TERRA project to research, design, and build an environmentally friendly house that sticks to the aesthetics of the neighborhood where it is located.
The acronym TERRA unpacks as Technologically + Environmentally Responsive Residential Architecture. The demonstration home, designed by U of M architecture students with the U.S. Green Building Council’s residential guidelines in mind, broke ground in 2007 in Uptown, a Memphis neighborhood north of downtown. (LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — certification is being applied for.)
And now, on February 27th, the TERRA house will be opening with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m., followed by a tour, where the public can finally see what all the hubbub’s been about. TERRA is a two-story, 1,700-square-foot home, with green components that include insulated concrete forms, soy-based insulation, a system that utilizes rainwater, and a process that recovers gray water waste.
The home will be open for tours every weekend in March from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
TERRA open house and tour, February 27th-28th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and March 1st, noon-4 p.m. Northeast corner of North Main St. and Greenlaw Ave. Free and open to the public. For more information, call Michael Chisamore at 678-4914.
