A National Treasure: The House of Tomorrow

The House of Tomorrow has been designated a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  More here: link

The House of Tomorrow, designed by George Fred Keck for the Century of Progress exhibition in Chicago in 1933, is of tremendous importance to the history of passive solar heating.  Keck, it is said, 'discovered' passive solar heating when he found workers inside of the house wearing shirtsleeves on a cold February day, demonstrating the efficacy of the sun.  (Of course Keck did not 'discover' passive solar heat; vernacular builders understood this since ancient times.  But Keck proceeded to become the first architect to understand solar heating in modern scientific terms.)  In The Solar House I tell this story in much detail. 

It's exciting to know the House of Tomorrow will be fully restored!

Update: I'm quoted about the House of Tomorrow on Treehugger, where Lloyd Alter correctly raises an eyebrow at the use of the word "sustainable" by Indiana Landmarks.

Previously on the blog:
80 years: The House of Tomorrow
The House of Tomorrow Postcard