Backyard Shipping Container Workspace

This looks great, and mimics what a lot of people are looking at doing in their back yards.

You can see the full link here - http://inhabitat.com/california-builder-transforms-backyard-into-shipping-container-work-space/schoup-live-work-container-conversion-7/?extend=1

When Oakland designer and builder Stephen Schoup’s firm, building Lab inc, grew too big for his old backyard workshop, he thought long and hard on how to increase his workspace in a sustainable way. After much deliberation, he settled on an L-shaped shipping container officespace where he could incorporate many of the leftover materials and supplies he had laying around. The newly created backyard office balances the warehouse-style home and creates a charming courtyard in between.

Recycled Cork Flooring

I love this product. Cork flooring has always been a favorite of mine, but this reuse of wine bottle corks is particularly beautiful.

Here is the link to the full story from Inhabitat - http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/13/recycled-wine-corks-make-stylish-penny-tile-flooring/

Penny tiles are a popular look for interior flooring. While ceramic and glass are often used to make tiles, these beautiful penny tiles, which we noticed on 3rings blog, are actually cut from recycled wine corks. Designed byJelinek Cork, the recycled tiles take advantage of cork’s natural resiliency and water resistance to create a stylish low-impact flooring material.

Read the rest of Recycled Wine Corks Make Stylish Penny Tile Flooringhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

Green Building – Coolidge, AZ

Here is an update on an exciting project in Coolidge, Arizona. Coolidge is a town of about 12,000 people 50 miles south of Phoenix. I’m working with a landowner there to develop about 60 acres into about 48 new 1 AC home sites. The houses will take on the rural character of the area, but will have a considerable amount of environmental systems included. Passive cooling strategies, orientations directed by solar panel applications, sensibly building smaller, use of easily maintained and long lasting materials, and clear connections to outdoor areas are all the main design goals.

There will likely be 3 plan options, and the initial sales price targets are in the $249,000 to $299,000 range. Here are some of the initial studies that were generated for the latest meeting with the City Officials.

Alternative Energy Center – San Jose, CA

RESET, through the 1% program at Public Architecture in San Francisco, has started design on a new 50,000 sf facility for Going EverGreen. The building program contains many classrooms and offices, large labs on the second floor (each devoted to a specific area of study), and a small general administration area. Current design features include a green roof, very large solar arrays, significant inclusion of sustainable building materials, and a courtyard type layout that reduces the need for internalized circulation and promotes engaging the exterior environment as a normal, everyday requirement of using the building.

From their materials: “The mission of the Alternate Energy Center is to promote the use of renewable energy by providing access to information on renewable energy to communities, businesses, and educational institutions, by spearheading the development and transfer of renewable energy technologies, and by creating interacting networks of educators and their students, alternative energy businesses, government, and community leaders.”

We are very pleased to be involved in this project.

Seattle Eco Townhomes Post Gains

Rising house prices? Really?

Even though this is about a different locale than Phoenix – good news is good news.  This is an excerpt from the Seattle Times that explains how a local green certification program is helping to support effective development.

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/green-building/seattle-built-green-homes-grew-in-value-in-the-last-two-years.aspx