Green Building Blog - Jetson Green

Johnson Creek weeHouse Prefab

Wow, check out this stunning, prefab home located in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.  Just like the Marfa Weehouse, a home we talked about a long time ago, this home was designed by Alchemy Architects.  The Johnson Creek weeHouse is a 2,200 sf retreat home consisting of the main living area for daily activities and a small tower for less intenstive activities, like sleeping.  The two parts are connected by a patio bridge and the entire home is surrounded by the heavily wooded site.   

Photo Tour: FROG Zero Classroom

The classroom of the future was on display throughout Greenbuild 2008 and it's safe to say that attendees were impressed.  Project FROG built the classroom using their FROG Zero system of modular construction -- a zero-energy building system.  What's interesting, though, is that the contractor, Fisher Development, assembled and finished it in six days.  And it's beautiful inside and out.  The company has received venture funding and can sell their classrooms for 25% cheaper than the competition.  Soon enough, we'll all be able to watch the proliferation of healthy, architecturally-designed learning environments. 

Natural Design for a Creative Exchange

This building in Cambridge, England is not only called “Creative Exchange,” but it functions as one, too.  Designed by 5th Studio, the structure has a purposely small footprint and smart design that allows natural light to flood into interior spaces.  The interior spaces are open and function more flexibly than a typical office so occupants can collaborate and share ideas.  Similarly, the top floor has a working garden that also facilitates congregation and interaction among the occupants.  Other than the few private workspace areas, everything is quite open and communal at Creative Exchange. 

Builder LivingHome Green Prefab Planned for Las Vegas IBS 2009

Well, if you didn't have a reason to visit Las Vegas in January 2009, maybe we could give you one now.  Builder is teaming up with LivingHomes and KieranTimberlake to place this beautiful, green prefab on the exhibit floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center at the International Builders' Show (IBS) 2009.  The modern 2000 sf prefab will be built with steel-wood modules and an abundant list of sustainable materials.  Its ostensible purpose, I believe, is to show the industry that modular construction can be financially accessible, sustainable, and optimal for eliminating construction waste and debris. 

Greentainer Project in Gandino Italy

The Greentainer Project in Gandino, Italy is yet another expression of container architecture, albeit this time it's for a more whimsical application.  The project used one, standard-sized, 40-foot container and transformed it into a structure that's mobile, flexible, and self-sufficient.  In its current form, Greentainer is perfect for multiple uses and almost infinite locations, plus the rooftop solar panels provide all the energy necessary to run the heating and cooling system, lights, and other devices.  So you could potentially use it for a party, event, grand opening, art show, or any other scheme you can come up with. 

Nzinga Modern Modular Town Homes

Check out these modern green town homes being developed by Yolande Nicholson called Nzinga Town Homes.  Designed by Garrison Architects (the same firm that brought you the Tread Lightly House), each Nzinga Town Home residence consists of 2900 total square feet with 2000 sf of living space and 900 sf for a separate apartment space.  The homes are open, airy, and abundant with natural light, but if you're looking for a little privacy, the vertical trellis work seems just right for a green wall and some natural shading. 

RINCON 5 Green Prefab Now at $179k+

You've probably heard about Marmol Radziner Prefab's latest single-module offering called the RINCON, right?  RINCON is the moniker for their latest modular series, a line of homes that can double as a small prefab dwelling or ancillary living structure, you name it.  The name is inspired by the Spanish word for "nook" -- an apt description for this little accessory structure.  The largest model in the series is RINCON 5, and it's a 660 sf model with full kitchen, living room, bedroom, and deck area.

FROG Zero Classroom to be Greenbuild School of the Future, Today

Update: 11/22/08 - Photo Tour: FROG Zero Inspires Greenbuild 2008

We're going to be on the scene at Greenbuild this year, are you?  If you are, get ready for Project FROG's "FROG Zero" classroom, which will be on display as part of the "School of the Future, Today" demonstration.  The 1,282 sf structure is the company's new, zero-energy building that's intended to raise the bar for green classrooms.  Project FROG, an acronym for Flexible Response to Ongoing Growth, manufactures high performance, modular, green building systems that are rapid to deploy, affordable, and sustainable.  Units can be purchased as individual classrooms or in combination to create campuses.  The one on display at Greenbuild will include some of the following eco-friendly features:

Rapid Rooms Modular Green Shed

Sustain, Toronto-based designer of the popular miniHome, is on a roll and just released renderings of their new Rapid Rooms suites.  Buildings for the Future of London retained Sustain to design the 4 x 5 meter (16 x 13 feet, 215 square feet) modular unit that comes complete with an accessible bathroom, living area, bedroom, and kitchenette.  It's a turnkey solution that can be installed in your backyard or wherever for almost any situation.  Maybe you want an extra work space.  Maybe you need a spot for that extra family member.  Or maybe you just need a little more room.  Whatever your need, Rapid Rooms are super insulated (R40) and come with the same materials as other miniHomes.  You can also grab the optional solar PV system, too. 

The Union Modern Solar-Powered Lofts

This is The Union by architect and developer Jonathan Segal Architect.  The project gets its name from its prior life as the union hall for San Diego’s textile manufacturing business.  When the textile union moved away, the building fell into disrepair, and rather than demolish it, Jonathan Segal decided to adaptively reuse the structure to create sustainable live/work units and his own architectural office.  The Union now includes additional buildings that, in total, comprise 13 residential loft units, of which some are market-rate and some are affordable.  Also, the rooftop solar panels provide ~50% of the units’ energy needs.