The show looks at, “Looks at how modern homes are being designed and built to meet the needs of rapidly changing contemporary lifestyles.”

You can watch videos at the site about….

Lighthouse, the first net zero carbon house in the UK.

The amazing Emilio Ambasz designed CASA de RETIRO ESPIRITUAL

And more…

Many homes to see – all are beautiful and unique. Check out Ultimate House.

[images via Ultimate House]

Post from: Blisstree

Building the Ultimate House Videos

1. They build homes that glow.

2. They have a thing for orange. I happen to like orange – orange old school tupperware, burnt orange dresses, orange skies at night, orange roses, and more. It’s not like they build ONLY orange structures, I just get this orange feeling when I’m browsing their work. I’m betting you – they have a thing for orange.

3. They turn out killer warehouse conversions. This from the girl drunk on homes NOT commercial sites.

4.They make the wood paneling look actually work for them – or at least they do this way better than some people.

5. I’m mesmerized by their about us/people page. Yes I always go and look at who builds all these houses I show here – it’s just something I do BUT I don’t usually care. At many architecture sites, if there’s a bio picture up, it’s often artsy – you know; not natural. Anyhow, at Pb, the images crack me up. It’s like someone took jail house shots without the jail house wall backing. Part of me wants to bolt the drive from pdx to Seattle just to see if they’re all standing around looking somber and cool against some wall. It’s way fun, and a nice change from most architecture sites.

#5 was a total cheat and basically a me issue. So I’ll also give you two bonus perks – they’re in the Pacific NW and they build green both of which are pretty lovable issues.

Check out all the nice Pb Elemental Architecture work and don’t forget the about page.

[images via Pb Elemental Architecture]

Post from: Blisstree

Five reasons to love Pb Elemental Architecture

Ok, one, I swear that I’ve posted about the Zero Energy Idea House here before. I honestly feel like my brain is going out on me, because now I can’t find that post. How obnoxious.

In any case, I recently received some update images from the project, so if I posted this house before or not is a moot point. I’ll just bring you up to date now. Up until now, all I’ve seen of this house are some renderings. Now however, this house is going up, and it seems to be going well.

Installation of the SIPs roof panels

Basics about the Zero Energy Idea House: Zero Energy Idea House is a green building demonstration project being built in Bellevue, WA. It was designed by Clinkston Brunner Architects and is being built by Shirey Contracting.

A major goal of this 1,700-square-foot home is energy savings, it won’t be zero energy, but it’ll use far less energy than a typical home. The house will combine energy generation and conservation techniques in order to score a total monthly energy bill of less than $40. That’s a big old deal (have you seen your energy bills lately)?!

Installation of Warmboard radiant heat flooring

Green features – too many to list, but includes cool objectives such as, SIPs (structural insulated panels) construction, rainwater collection system, FSC certified wood products, recycled-content tile, formaldehyde-free insulation, vegetated “green” roof to reduce storm water runoff, and a planted “living wall” as a retention wall, among others. I’m very interested to see what this living wall will look like. We’ve seen living walls in commercial structures, but in residential this is rare.

You can follow along as this house progresses at the Zero Energy Idea House website. OR take a peek at all the newest images.

[Images via Northwest Property Imaging via Zero Energy Idea House]

Post from: Blisstree

Zero Energy Idea House Updates

This is not a commercial structure below though, it’s a really nice sustainable house, or more a compound I should say.

The Dar Residence has so many amazing features:

• The compound is split into 2 shifted bars, a studio building and main living space.
• The home looks large, but it’s just 1600 sq ft.
• The curved roof has daylight solar gain, and the house also supports passive solar gains, via a combined solar domestic hot water and space heating system fed by an array of evacuated tube collectors.
• Natural, durable materials—PISE (sprayed earth-cement), reclaimed redwood boards, and copper roofing were used as well as an extensive use of owner-found salvaged materials.

See more images including some very nice interior shots.

[images via Arkin Tilt Architects]

Post from: Blisstree

Best Green Home of the Week

[image via Highland Craftsmen]

I recently got the book, Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs from Nature from the library, and it got me thinking a lot about bark in design. I used to think of bark design as more just a rustic beach house look, but this book was cool; it shows a lot of different ways in which bark can be used for home design; from rustic to contemporary. I also didn’t know how sustainable bark could be. Of course there are ways it might be unsustainable, but if you work with a decent company, you could have a home outfitted in sustainable bark.

For example, Highland Craftsmen Inc., notes…

“We are a “green” building company, and proud members of the US Green Building. Through the Arbor Day Foundation, we plant a tree for every job done. Many of our Bark House materials and products use zero water and very little energy in their manufacturing process.  By 2010, we will use water exclusively from rainwater catchment systems. If glues or sealers are needed, we educate clients about quality green products to use.  HC offers FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) products as well.”

Versatility of bark in home structures:

Something I picked up from the book and Highland Craftsmen website is that bark is way more than shingles. The HC website explains it as, “Bark House materials are characterized by their natural, un-milled and unprocessed state. Although usually left bark intact, the bark may also be removed. Being unprocessed does not mean they are not precise. On the contrary, the dimensional variances as well as the specific recommended uses for the materials took years of research and development to establish. Materials include twigs, logs, poles, massive wooden slabs, sheets of bark that are un-laminated and stumps with stems.”

You can see lots of bark design options in this gallery.

My favorite part of this book was the bark house history chapter. There are some truly beautiful old house images shown, and some great stories about builders of the past who utilized bark as a structure material. Part of the history chapter covers the the lovely six story Oregon Caves Chateau located at the Oregon Caves National Monument. I’ve been there, and the Chateau is an amazing example of an old school bark structure; made from peeled Douglas Fir logs. Below is an old image of the Chateau…

[image via Oregon Caves Chateau - see more historic images]

If you’re interested in bark; or not, but think you could be, I highly suggest reading Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs from Nature. It’s chock full of beautiful images partnered with info you can use; either to simply learn more, or to make decisions about building your own bark style house. I was never that into bark, and only picked this book up on a whim, but I’d give it an A.

Post from: Blisstree

Sustainable Bark House Style

It’s been a while since we had some yummy structural link love. Since my bookmarks are way too full, now seems like a good time to drop some…

house of the week: 003 | Terrace House via Architechnophilia – this image above is the part of the house that’s not actually there, or so the post states. What’s that mean? Why not go find out? It’s worth the click.

I’ve had this saved for almost a month and it’s time to let go. This delicious little prefab hails from Jetson Green, but I actually first saw it at Architecture.mnp. What to do? Who to give the link love to??? Well, either way, you win, because both blogs rock. That said, why not visit Jetson Green to read more about the Johnson Creek weeHouse Prefab Home and then head to mnp for a surprise old school post of mnp’s that I really liked. (Yes, it’s a nice kind of surprise, not one of those surprises that suck btw).

inhabitat has a very nice Top Ten Green Architecture Projects Of 2008 round up going on. It’s a lovely read, with all sorts of sustainable delights of the last year; well, except the Eco Spheres, which are way older than 2008 (????) Still, I love inhabitat too much to complain any more about this – how petty of me.

Lastly, those kooky cats at Swamplot are having a big ol’ contest for the Greatest Moment in Houston Real Estate, 2008. If you know Swamplot, then you’ve already guessed that the awards nominees are super fun. In case you’re lost, the nice folks at Swamplot brought us the home with nine and a half bathrooms and the killer wood panel home. Voting has ended, but you can still view the nominees, and soon, you’ll be able to see who won.

NON STRUCTURAL LINK LOVE OF THE WEEK:

Just for fun, and because Valentine’s day will be here soon enough, I have to ask – is there anyone on this planet who you love MORE than zombies love brains? If you said yes, here’s a smacking good offbeat worthy V-day gift idea.

Post from: Blisstree

A house that’s not all there, wee structures, the green life, zombies, and more…

So, since I’m such an old school resident of Portland, I’m a little cranky with myself being that I’ve never noticed this project you see above, at Communitecture’s site. Seriously now, there’s just no good excuse.

This beautiful and quirky home’s plans utilizes trapezoids over rectangles and is sustainable to boot. The house, located in Orenco, OR, has locally-harvested oak structural columns plus salvaged materials from nearby barns.

Communitecture is a local (to me) architectural company who specializes in sustainable design that’s beautiful and bright. I’ve seen some of their commercial and multi-housing structures and they’re always very cool – very pdx. If you live in Portland you know what I mean by very Portland, and if not, well, come for a visit

In any case, I really love the Bloom Home. I love the unique shapes, the wide front stairs, the leaning look, and how the colors work so well organically (green and purple? They made it work). Check out more images at Communitecture and delight in their oh so not complex for an architect’s website. It’s all pretty and green-minded!

Especially check out their multi and co-housing designs – some great ideas are posted.

Want more Pacific Northwest architecture?

• Robert Harvey Oshatz – The Fennell Residence
• Eleven Eleven East Pike – From Tom Kundig
• The Twisted House
• The Shire

[images via Communitecture]

Post from: Blisstree

Communitecture – Bloom House

The Hatfield Residence is a sustainable home by JCL Architecture. Not only is this a cool house, but the site is very nice as well. Not so hard to use (as many architect sites can be). It’s a user friendly site with great walk through videos of JCL work.

This particular house overlooks a Pinewood reservoir in the foothills west of Loveland Colorado. I’m not sure how big it is, but I assume it’s using what it needs vs. excess as the JCL site notes, “The home takes shape as a space-efficient, energy-efficient and cost-efficient edifice. The linear design maximizes possible views and interior space for its square footage.” The home is an interesting mix of natural stone, stucco and a corrugated steel facade. There’s shaded southern glass, reclaimed bowling alley floors, soy insulation, and roof-mounted solar panels.

I like the crisp design, funky side shape, and mixture of materials. The lovely roof is to die for. I also of course adore that they photographed the house at twilight. One of these days I’m going to gather up all the architecture I’ve been sold on due to stellar twilight photos – I’m betting it’s considerable.

Visit JCL Architecture to see more images of this house, plus a walk-through video. Also check out their other work. They have a killer farmhouse looking residence (locklear residence) that has neat stuff like cast iron balusters reclaimed from a municipal project demolished in Ireland. It looks a little big, but I still liked it.

[images via JCL Architecture]

Post from: Blisstree

Sustainable Hatfield Residence

Especially good under the Christmas tree!

Good for wall building:

Good for driving (ha sort of):

Good for standing on:

Good for surprising bed buddies (although, maybe not so cozy):

Even good for spreading holiday cheer to evil villains:

Last but not least, good to recycle when you’re through.

Get some Bloxes!

P.S. I’m actually very fond of Legos. Don’t go all postal due to post title please. Need proof: Who recalls the cat lady?

[images via Bloxes]

Post from: Blisstree

Screw Legos – this year get the kiddos Bloxes

The Reboot House has got some other cool points too. Like wind turbines, solar cell paint, rainwater use, and remote controls.

Get the full scoop and see more images.

[image via Mad Architect]

Post from: Blisstree

Reboot House – that closely resembles some off kilter alien laser