A little while back, Robert Kerr let us know about a new line of hybrid construction homes that his firm developed called Select.  The renderings in this article show the first Select home, which was designed for a private client to be built in Los Angeles.  Referred to as the Meridian Residence, this unique home accommodates mature trees already on the site — notice the Olive tree atrium in the middle.  We'll definitely keep you posted as the home moves forward and approaches completion …

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The great American architect Daniel Burnham once said, "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood."  The Venus Project is no little plan — it's a proposal for a total redesign of the world.  From cities on the sea to mass transit, mega sky scrapers, and even colonies in outer space, it covers every angle.  Furthermore, it proposes to achieve all of this by switching to a resource-based economy and adopting radical lifestyle changes.  The plan is large, thoroughly documented, and beautifully rendered.  The architecture even comes with plans to build the machines needed to build these massive structures.  Here's a look at just a couple of the many concepts …

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Some of the students of tomorrow will have the opportunity to learn in incredible, well-designed buildings.  Take for instance this $28 million building designed by Ross Barney Architects with the assistance of The Sheward Partnership.  Commodore John Barry Elementary School was designed to LEED Silver certification but ended up obtaining LEED Gold (at no extra cost to the School District of Philadelphia).  The District has obtained certification for two other schools and committed to build all future schools to LEED Silver certification.  Four such schools are on the boards right now. 

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• Ride the green building wave.
• Toronto mulls mandatory green roofs.
• Nevada water authority opposes home water recycling.
• Los Angeles approves Green Building Retrofit Ordinance.
• EPA says GHGs endanger human health and welfare.
• Wind turbines cause health and societal problems?
• Forget resorts, here come the green hotel chains.
• Can energy monitoring change habits?

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JG covers all sorts of innovative homes, but to be entirely honest, we prefer the affordable.  So Caleb Schafer nabbed our interest when he emailed us about his efficient, modern home.  Four years ago, after graduating from architecture school, he and his wife moved to Texas and began building the home on a 1.5 acre site due north of San Antonio.  They built it for ~$70,000 — it's a 1400 square foot home — we're talking about $50 psf.  Not bad!  Here's how they did it:

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