Austin-based Reclaimed Space built this modular prefab with roughly 80% reclaimed materials and presented it at Dwell on Design 2010.  With interior design by Zem Joaquin, founder of Ecofabulous, the 400-square-foot home has Electrolux appliances, a vertical living wall from Fyto Wall, CaesarStone countertops, Mythic zero-VOC paints, Solatube daylighting, LED lighting, and Caroma water-efficient bathroom fixtures.  If you didn't get a chance to see it, watch this five-part video series embedded below:
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If you’re thinking about raising chickens, there are a few ways to go about it.  You could build a retro Modern Coop or Quonset Coop.  Or, you could build a boxy coop with a green roof, like this one pictured here and featured in Dwell.  It’s framed with two-by-fours, insulated, sheathed with oriented strand board, covered in reclaimed cedar, ventilated with two upper windows, and topped with native landscaping, according to Miyoko Ohtake.

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Dwell and its writers/editors have considerable influence in the prefab industry.  They made a big move last year announcing the Dwell Homes Collection of “warm modern” prefabs designed by Turkel Design and produced by Lindal Cedar Homes.  This year, Lindal and Turkel Design added seven new plans to the collection and they’re beautiful, to put it simply.

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Dwell has the story on this 8'x40' container space in San Antonio designed by Jim Poteet.  The tiny retreat – living space, bathroom, and sink and counter – is sandwiched by a foundation of recycled telephone poles and roof of lush greenery.  The container also has bamboo flooring and wallcovering, an electric composting toilet from Sun-Mar, a mini-split heating and cooling system, and large floor-to-ceiling windows and doors to allow natural light.  This illustrates, with impressive flare, what can be done with containers, don’t you agree?

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The show home for Dwell on Design, Eco Fab House, which just sold for $66,100 on eBay, was garnished with a vertical living wall from Fyto Wall and Design Ecology. The system was set up with modular panels, a soil-less hydroponic watering system, and pre-grown plantings.  Fyto Wall is estimated to require upkeep only once per month and can be used to reduce noise, reduce cooling loads, filter air, produce food, or, of course, add life to a design.

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