The newest not-so-weeHouse, which is also the first weeHouse in a major city, is having an open house next week.  This is your chance to tour a prefab if you’re in the area!  Located at 4221 Ewing Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Oeschger weeHouse is 2,200 sf with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.  They used four boxes in constructing the home with the following green features: high-R foam insulation, Kohler dual-flush toilets, bamboo floors and detailing, natural cedar siding, and floor-to-ceiling windows.  The Urban weeHouse will be open for viewing on December 14, 2007, from 4 – 7 pm.  Who knows, maybe you’ll end up with a weeHouse for Christmas?

Other Good Links:
++Urban weeHouse
++Alchemy Architects

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If this project doesn't exhibit the power of celebrity, I don't know what does.  Brad Pitt has been able to bring serious innovation to the Lower Ninth Ward — this cool concept is becoming a serious reality.  The Make It Right Project involves some of the most talented architects in the country, and they're building low-income, high-design, sustainable homes.  It's incredible.

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Update:  Make It Right Project: 13 Designs, 150 Houses

Today, actually within the last couple hours, Brad Pitt announced more specific plans and designs for his Make It Right NOLA project.  Last night, I was looking at their website, but it didn’t have any new announcements.  Today, their site is redesigned with all sorts of information.  More information to come later tonight, but make sure to sponsor a home and check out the Pink Project.  Also, check out this N.Y.Times story on the announcement.

You’ve probably heard of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company … their houses have been featured in Time, Domino, USA Today, and the New York Times, to name a few publications.  The home pictured above is different from their other homes, which have that traditional, A-frame-esque shape.  All Tumbleweed homes are sufficiently small, but this home is modern.  It’s 400 sf of green modern.  The Z-Glass House is a stationary house, meant to be affixed to a foundation.  You buy the plans and find a contractor to build it for you (with costs ranging in the $100 – $200 psf range).  Or you can build it yourself.  Check the layout, too.  Such a great looking home, with a kitchen, bedroom, living room, and bathroom, what else do you need?  Add a little solar on the roof, or maybe even a Skystream, and call it done.

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The first Gold certified LEED-H home in Illinois is built from the renovation of an old neighborhood tavern.  The 3,800 square foot building is used by the owners as both a residence and as the offices of their company:  Smog Veil Records.  The label has adopted an "eco-friendly" set of principles, and the owners felt their home/office ought to reflect those values as well.  Daylighting, recycled materials, and efficient appliances were all part of this project.  Inside, some of the floors are made of a terrazzo made from recycled glass and chunks of old vinyl records.  (That's probably the only kind of vinyl flooring anyone should have.)

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