Blisstree » eco-homes

Green Real Estate Picks of the Week: Green Domes

Jennifer Chait — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:00:14 +0000

So since I recently found my new favorite real estate website we’re going to have to visit at least once in a while. Or at least until we all our own great green abodes.

My green picks of the week include:

This Off-Grid Solar Mountain Retreat Dome Home in Saguache, Colorado. Domes already have that unique flavor going for them. This one is extra special due to that cool offset doorway. Very slick. Plus, I do like the color, which seems to have been kept natural, yet looks sort of orange.

Learn more about this off-grid solar home.

My second green pick this week is…

Oddly I liked another dome house, which at least made the title of this post easier. This particular dome is stupendous and located in Stockbridge, Michigan. Lovely, set in green, and just a fantastic use of space. It’s there, but barely. I love how it doesn’t at all upset the trees. I also happen to be a fan of gray.

Learn more about this beautiful dome house.

[images via Green Homes for Sale]

Post from: Blisstree

Green Real Estate Picks of the Week: Green Domes

40 Amazing Treehouses

Jennifer Chait — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:00:20 +0000

This last week and a half we saw some new treehouses – not as many as I’d have liked. You know, I don’t think Offbeat is the kind of place that suits series. I spend all week thinking about what I could post if we weren’t doing a series. Hmmm, maybe no more. In any case, we have seen plenty of treehouses over the week, and over time here, so in case you missed something here’s a round-up.

Lastly, I wrote a post over at RiverWired about 17 Eco Treehouse Inspirations – some of these I’ve never posted about here at Offbeat, so you’ll find some new gems.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

40 Amazing Treehouses

Residential LEED & the mkSolaire

Jennifer Chait — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:26:14 +0000

For the last 2 years, the pilot study rating for residential LEED has been going on. Now the U.S. Green Building Council has the revised residential LEED rating goals and system ready to go. The revised system’s goal is to help architects and designers achieve a whole house approach to green living.

LEED has traditionally been applied to commercial structures – and some don’t think the LEED standards are entirely well thought out. Still, there are obvious benefits if we can achieve green homes, and LEED is offering one checklist for that goal. This is a good tool for consumers especially; although, keep in mind that a home does not have to be LEED certified to be healthy, non-toxic, and earth-friendly – this is just one system for checking these goals.

You can see the revised system below:

LEED for Homes Rating System (opens in PDF)

LEED for Homes Project Checklist (XLS)

You can get the full residential LEED scoop from the U.S. Green Building Council.

What’s more exciting, I think, then the new standards will be all the new houses trying to get the certification. This, I’m sure, will result in some pretty cool architecture – with people trying to build one of the best newly certified homes and so fourth. Like the new home being created for the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. They’ll be running a feature exhibit, Smart Home: Green + Wired, May 8, 2008 – January 4, 2009.

PR from the Museum:

“During its 75th Anniversary year, the Museum of Science and Industry will be building a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable “green” home in its own backyard to show case the ways, big and small, that people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives—and to highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. Celebrating exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular, environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home: Green + Wired will offer guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Guests will be able to view the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; sustainable gardens and green roofs; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.”

It sounds stellar. Best of all, guess who designed the home? Michelle Kaufmann Designs! Cool, right? Remember West Coast Green?

Happy Blog Action Day!

Jennifer Chait — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 06:05:51 +0000

If you haven’t guessed yet; it’s Blog Action Day. At last count (I’m not updating all day so…) but at the last count there were 15,568 blogs signed up to participate with a total rss reach of 12,507,731. Not bad. That’s a whole lot of bloggers blogging about the environment. Many bloggers participating are part of the b5media network.

Following are the b5media blogs that are participating in this fine event today. There could be more too — yup, I miss stuff.

Wow huh. Good stuff.

Now, Offbeat Homes does tend to blog about the environment quite often; so what to do on a day that’s all environment is a good question. Since we always talk green the only thing to do was talk more green than usual. Stick around today for a heaping helping of green-minded architects, ideas, and of course the structures.

But first while I get situated why not go see what my pals in the list up above are posting about. I’m guessing the environment; combined with the flavor of their blog’s personal topics — should be amazing.

Post from: Blisstree

Happy Blog Action Day!

Jonesing for San Francisco

Jennifer Chait — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:32:56 +0000

Usually when I feel like going somewhere else it’s Humboldt or Montana. Then, every once in a while, I start feeling like a sprinkle of San Francisco. It’s a crowded city which I don’t adore but even with all the people it still feels large around you.

The thing about the city is you can walk everywhere still. Once I stayed in this awesome hostel on the edge of China Town and I’d walk to the Haight, the park, and than over to SOMA. At twilight you could walk to the water and see the bridge starting to twinkle.

And then of course there is the architecture. It’s hard to consider what might be offbeat vs. not in San Francisco because all the little oddities make up this entire unique area. No worries though; I did try to think up some offbeat SF today.

Liz Hickok’s amazing (and sweet) installation; San Francisco In Jell-O…

More pictures at Hickok’s site plus the story of this work which is as interesting as the piece itself — you should absolutely read it.

LOCUS Architecture in San Francisco is so fresh it almost hurts. I’m in love with this Bungalow Renovation they did for instance.

See the interior shots of this great renovation at their site.

I would be the worst offbeat blogger ever if I didn’t tell you about the LOCUS home in Minnesota. Yes, I know this is San Francisco day! So you’ll have to go see it yourself. Trust me it’s worth that click of the mouse.

You can’t visit San Francisco and NOT go to Berkeley. That would be a crime. Plus then you’d miss homes like this:

A home paneled in license plates! About 600 salvaged license plates. The owners were looking for an eco-solution to their exterior wall finish. This works. Read more here.

If you’re now aching for a little San Francisco too check out Bay Area Style : Houses of the San Francisco Bay Region 1893-2004. A beautiful book that spans decades.

Well, thanks for letting me indulge in some selfish San Francisco lust today. Hopefully I’m over it by tomorrow.

TODAY’S BONUS:

Today’s bonus is for those of you who are so dedicated that you stuck around for this entire post.

Do you know what that bonus is? Here are some hints…

Did you guess? If not then you’re not a very good scavenger hunt detective and you won’t be needing this….

Post from: Blisstree

Jonesing for San Francisco

Human Shelter: Air, Water, & Earth

Jennifer Chait — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:39:11 +0000

Today we’re going to continue with more of Michael Jantzen’s work. As noted yesterday, it’s hard to pick favorites, but when I first saw Jantzen’s designs, his Wind Shaped Pavilion was the one of the designs that first drew me in. So, I’m sharing that one today. The other design I picked to share was inspired by a readers comment — but more on that later.

The Wind Shaped Pavilion:

What I like about this design is that it’s not static. Literally. From Jantzen’s site:

“The Wind Shaped Pavilion is a design proposal for a large fabric structure that can be used as a public or private pavilion. As a lightweight fabric structure, the wind slowly and randomly rotates each of the six segments around a central open support frame. This continually alters the shape of the pavilion, while at the same time generating electrical power for its nighttime illumination.”

But here’s the really interesting part…

“The shape of the structure starts out as a relatively symmetrical form. Then the wind begins to alter that shape randomly, with only a slim chance of ever returning to its original symmetry”

I think it would be so neat to live by a structure that’s in constant change. I can’t imagine how much fun that would be to see in action. Think about the possibilities; I’m leaning towards it making a great child center. Kids would brag to their friends, “I go to the moving building.”

Next up: Liberty mentioned water in her comment and I started thinking that we don’t have enough water fun here. Sure we had the underwater resort, but most of us were pretty firm in our desire to stay dry, above land. Hence, the second design I’m sharing.

This is the Malibu Video Beach House. Maybe some of you have seen it. It’s been featured in many places. No idea why I’ve missed it. Too much coke Slurpee brain freeze?

The home was designed to sit between homes on the Pacific coast highway. To alleviate a typical coast home issue, ocean view blockage, the front of the home is designed with television screens that display real time or pre-recorded views and sounds of the ocean. This structure is less my style, but I thought some of you might really enjoy it.

My style or not, it’s intriguing, I love the idea of bringing the view back. As I mention (often) I loved my years in Humboldt. There, homes blocking ocean views on the coast really was an issue.

This is a view from the back.

Interior: (see the birds?)

And a tiny interior view of the atrium (see a larger one here).

Interesting concept, don’t you think.

Something that’s important to recognize about Jantzen’s work is that his designs are heavily rooted in human friendly sustainability. Jantzen is Executive director of The Human Shelter Innovation Institute (HSII). According to his site:

“HSII is a think tank dedicated to creating alternative solutions to the growing global problem of inadequate human shelter… The primary mission of HSII is to explore designs that make use of alternative materials, technologies, and manufacturing techniques… HSII has been developed in part to research new approaches to low-cost, energy efficient, eco-friendly shelters. These can be as simple as temporary housing for poverty-stricken communities or emergency relief programs; or as complex as large-scale housing projects for universities and urban communities.“

Well, and I thought I was doing pretty well building my one passive solar home. Makes you re-think things.

The trend towards sustainable building practices is becoming more evident. On Offbeat alone, we’ve had many recent guests with varying visions of sustainability; the Woodland home, Bart Prince, and many more.

Hopefully the strong human element that’s prominent in HSII will become more mainstream as well. HSII is a non-profit that does rely on outside support so if you’d like to learn more visit Human Shelter.

So, this conclude our visit with Michael Jantzen; although, it’s been very cool so I do believe we may have to have him back at some point. Let’s see… I think that this weekend, we’re going to visit a reader’s home (exciting) and maybe even see some more nifty weekend surprises.

[All photos courtesy of Michael Jantzen (A double hearty thank you!)]

Post from: Blisstree

Human Shelter: Air, Water, & Earth