Tonight, Michelle Kaufmann announced that her firm will participate in the "smart home: green + wired, Powered by ComEd and Warmed by Peoples Gas" exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry ("MSI") opening May 8, 2008.  MKD will exhibit a modern, green prefab on parkland just southeast of MSI.  The project has been in the works for a few months, and over the last week, they’ve broken ground and laid the foundation.  As rendered above, the full-sized mkSolaire will demonstrate the mk 5 EcoPrinciples: smart design, eco materials, energy efficiency, water conservation, and healthy living. 

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The Vento Residences has earned North America’s first LEED Platinum* certification for a multi-family residential project.  Located in Calgary, Alberta and built for a price of $8 million, this multi-use urban infill project has 20 two-story townhouse suites that are situated above retail space.  Interestingly, the development was coming online at the same time as several other developments in the area and sold out quickly at a slight premium in price (compared to the competition).  Purchasers identified with the dark green units and bought them up in a heartbeat.

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Previously we wrote about High Street Philadelphia, which is a super-green, mixed use community being developed by home(scale).  They sent me some new renderings pictured above and below, and the hope is that they’ll be able to see this project to a reality.  High Street is aiming for LEED Platinum certification, the highest designation bestowed by the USGBC, and will feature 51 carbon-neutral residential units, 3 commercial units, a cafe and organic grocery, and underground parking. 

Units will feature high design and contemporary materials from such brands as Duravit, Hansgroghe, Schiffini, and Fisher Paykel.  They will be offered at affordable prices, or "work-force pricing," too.   It’s going to be an excellent, net-zero energy development with courtyards, photovoltaic power, solar hot water, LED lighting, efficient systems, green roofs, bio-mass filtration, and access to the Philly CarShare program. 

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• How green is your neighborhood?
• Architects bring high design to affordable housing.
• How to cash in on a warming planet.
• The nature of nature-deficit disorder.
• A solar grand plan: ending oil imports and GHG emissions.
• Builder says green units are profitable.
• Top 10 Green Real Estate Stories of 2007.

*WIR = Week in Review; a Saturday showcase of excellent links. 

[RSS Readers - Click to View] This video was just uploaded yesterday and it’s nice to hear Ed Mazria explain Architecture 2030 in his own words.  We’re talking about the architecture and building community response to climate change.  You’ll remember that Mazria garnered mainstream media attention last year with the insightful, poignant phrase, "If you want to stop global warming, stop coal."  As Mazria explains in the video, there are a few ways to stop coal … watch and enjoy the weekend.