HGTV Green Home Shines

Eco style in Serenbe
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Photograph courtesy of Scripps Networks, LLC

Natural beauty and environmentally conscious architecture have been the hallmarks of Serenbe in Palmetto, Georgia, since its inception, making the neighborhood an obvious choice for this year’s HGTV Green Home. This is the fifth year the network has constructed and given away a fully furnished, eco-friendly showhouse (the winner, chosen earlier, is to be announced this month).

For lead Atlanta architect Steve Kemp, context is everything. So he chose a modern farmhouse concept, inspired by the agrarian setting. “Our homes should respond to the site, immediate neighborhood, region, and culture,” Kemp says. “I love modern architecture, but there needs to be a connection.”

After studying the basic shapes and materials of historic Southern farmhouses for inspiration, Kemp and his team gave their version modern twists with glass walls, metal roofing, and an open floor plan. Although only 2,300 square feet, the three-story house includes a carport and garage in addition to three bedrooms, with courtyards and decking to accentuate the wooded setting. Natural stone, solar panels, and concrete countertops are obvious sustainable choices, but other furnishings and carpet selections are less apparently green.

Visitors can tour the house Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., through June 24. Proceeds from the $20 admission benefit the Serenbe Institute, a nonprofit community organization, and the Chattahoochee Hills Charter School. hgtv.com/greenhome

This article originally appeared in our June 2012 issue.

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