The concept of open source house designs is becoming increasingly popular within the innovative house market. BuildSMART, a company based in Austin, Texas, is gaining recognition for their ecofriendly open source house designs. The company’s designs involve high-performance homes, with walls built with components designed to be easy to assemble and disassemble. BuildSMART designs focus on creating open layouts, and their sustainable designs offer homeowners countless possibilities of their future homes. Using digital 3D software, BuildSMART generates a design that is detailed enough to scale for production. The company has a patent-pending "Smart Core" system to produce their custom designs. BuildSMART has an expansive portfolio of possibilities, with a variety of models, including single-family homes, multi-family houses, and commercial buildings. By developing these user-friendly home concepts, BuildSMART aims to make sustainable construction accessible to everyone. Open Source House Designs by BuildSMART
Like all of BuildSMART's open source houses, the Gilead House has a modern, stylish design that prioritizes sustainability. This house concept combines contemporary features and recycled materials for a low-impact home. The open concept of this two-bedroom, one-bath house involves multiple levels that flow into each other, creating the ideal living and entertaining space. The Gilead House utilizes recycled materials that can be easily assembled using simple tools. The clever interior design also provides lots of natural light and air circulation. The open plan kitchen is spacious and modern, and the living room area has a cozy, inviting atmosphere. On the exterior, the curved wall around the property adds to the contemporary, yet inviting look of the Gilead House. Open Source Gilead House Concept Design
BuildSMART's Earthship design is an open source, self-sustaining home concept that pushes the boundaries of zero waste and sustainability. The design is based on traditional, earth-based designs and depends on passive solar energy and natural features of the environment. The layout of the Earthship incorporates angled walls that maximize energy efficiency and features a south-facing facade that captures most of the sun’s energy. The passive energy is gathered and stored to generate hot water and electricity. Additionally, the home stores rainwater and other waste, and uses natural ventilation for optimal air flow. The Earthship also features a sheltered outdoor space with a minimalistic landscape made of vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and other plants. This space helps homeowners reduce their carbon footprint and further embed their house into its natural location. Open Source Earthship House Design
The Cub Home is BuildSMART’s tiny house solution for those looking for a straightforward, low-cost living solution. Though the house is small, the design’s innovative layout makes the most out of its space. Its small footprint allows a family to live in a comfortable smaller-scale home. The Cub Home is designed as an expandable home that can reside in small spaces and yet provides living and work areas that are versatile and adapted to the modern lifestyle. The design has a focus on sustainability, using recycled materials and reducing the home’s overall energy use. Additionally, the Cub Home features a green rooftop garden, multiple storage areas, and efficient ventilation options. The model has modular components that make it easy to assemble, transport, and disassemble any time needed. Open Source Cub Home House Design
The Conical Dome House revolves around the concept of creating a structure that is energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable. This dome-shaped house provides several benefits that make it an ideal living environment. The open conical design allows for natural light and ventilation, while the dome shape helps to achieve optimum thermal protection. The home’s interior also relies on natural light to save energy. Built with a combination of recycled materials and modern components, the dome design allows for the perfect circular, open-planned configuration. This efficient layout provides maximum living space and flexibility while maintaining a contemporary look. The structure also features an internal water collection and storage system,room for expanding for an additional bedroom and a composting toilet. Open Source Conical Dome House Design
The BuildSMART’s Tidehouse Competition Trophy is a modular house designed to consider the environmental impacts of architecture. This atmospheric house creates a unique living experience through its innovative open plan design and efficient use of space. The house is designed with a midcentury modern aesthetic and is comprised of two-story box modules with large windows facing the sky. The design also assists in capturing natural light and ventilation with abundant terraces. The Tidehouse has an efficient layout that maximizes interior space. It houses a kitchen, dining area, bedroom, living room, and multipurpose room. These connected compartments create one room that can be used in multiple ways. Additionally, the exterior is composed of mud-based materials, providing an interesting contrast between traditional and contemporary design. With the Trophy house, BuildSMART provides an exceptional example of energy-efficient architecture. Open Source Tidehouse Competition Trophy Design
The Brick Palace is the most ambitious undertaking from BuildSMART yet. This project is focused on allowing homeowners to create a unique, one-of-a-kind residence with a high-end design. This luxury modular house provides ultimate comfort with a modern look that is inspired by post-modern architecture. The open plan concept includes multiple levels with a generous level of living space. The Brick Palace is an energy-efficient home, utilizing recycled materials and modern components. The exterior includes an open terrace, connective pathways, and natural stone accents. On the interior, the house is equipped with large windows that let in natural light, as well as an open-plan kitchen with modern appliances, and a living room with a fireplace. The central room connects the whole house and provides an amazing experience for those lucky enough to call it home. Open Source Brick Palace House Design
The Pod Design from BuildSMART is an example of an open source, sustainable house concept that offers a distinct living experience. The shape of the house is inspired by a bee’s nest and allows for maximum utilization of its interior. It has two interconnected modules that can be opened to create a large open space. The house is designed for flexible living with a touch of modernism. The Pod Design features detected earth walls, natural fabrics for insulation, and a climate-controlled air circulation system. The roof and walls are both designed to make energy use more efficient. The use of natural materials brings a cozy atmosphere to the interior of the house, while the open plan allows for a variety of design possibilities. The Pod house is a perfect example of sustainability and energy efficiency that is also highly aesthetic. Open Source Pod Design House
The Tridipanel House Design from BuildSMART is an open source home concept that is designed to be self-sustainable. This house concept uses a combination of natural materials, recyclable components, and modern products to create an efficient, sustainable living space. The layout of the house features a two-story, open plan interior with a living space on the lower level and sleeping quarters on the upper level. The house also features a south-facing slope and a central atrium for heat collecting and air circulation. Additionally, the Tridipanel House has a variety of energy-saving features such as solar-powered water heating, rainwater collection, and natural daylight. The exterior of the house features a steel frame structure with a minimalist design, and a terrace for open-air gatherings. Open Source Tridipanel House Design
BuildSMART’s Two-Storey House Design is an impressive open source house concept that focuses on sustainability, efficiency, and design. This open-plan home is designed to provide spacious and comfortable living on two floors. The upper level has a generous kitchen, dining, and living area, while the lower level provides several bedrooms and bathrooms. The floor plan of the house combines modern and traditional features to create a cozy home environment. Natural materials and high-tech components provide a sustainable and energy-efficient atmosphere. Additionally, the Two-Storey House uses natural ventilation and minimum energy use to reduce the strain on the environment. The structure has thermally insulated walls and roofs, and its big windows let natural light in, which also reduces energy use. With its modern yet natural look, this house provides an amazing sustainable living environment. Open Source Two-Storey House Design
How Open Source House Design Can Support Your Goals

Integrating Local Infrastructure & Resources

Green Infrastructure & Energy Efficiency

Customizable Designs

Security & Privacy

How Open Source House Design Can Support Your Goals
Open Source House Design (OSH) is an innovative concept for creating luxury homes that reduces the cost, resource demands and environmental impacts of production while also providing a highly customizable design that allows you to reflect your personal style. By taking advantage of the open source platform, diverse resources and robust architecture, OSH can help you achieve your housing goals while remaining affordable and suitable for the environment.
Integrating Local Infrastructure & Resources
Open Source House Design takes into account how the building itself interacts with its geographical surroundings. Sustainable materials can be incorporated into OSH designs, allowing them to make use of local resources and infrastructure wherever possible. This ensures construction remains cost-effective and produces minimal impact on the environment.
Green Infrastructure & Energy Efficiency
An important factor in the OSH concept is green infrastructure. The use of technology to monitor energy, natural resources, and pollution means that the house can remain as energy-efficient as possible. This includes utilizing solar and wind power, as well as ensuring that the building’s construction is as eco-friendly as possible. Other factors, such as efficient plumbing and ventilation systems, also ensure that the OSH home runs as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
Customizable Designs
The use of an open source platform also makes it easy to customize the design of your
Open Source House Design
. This makes it easy for homeowners to specify the exact layout, from the size and style of the rooms to floorplans and fixtures. And with the help of world-leading designers, you can be sure that your OSH residence will be stylish, modern and unique to you.
Security & Privacy
Lastly, security and privacy is a major consideration with Open Source House Design. All OSH residences are constructed with a layer of protection, using strong materials that can resist natural disasters and potential intruders. Moreover, the open source platform ensures that homeowners maintain full control over who can access the property, keeping family members safe at all times.