Dwell Magazine set out to stage a minor revolution in coverage of design ideas that plant seeds for universal results. So far, we have witnessed a successful coup, one defying the dark notion print is dead. The alchemy? Making the shelter book an indispensable object of desire – one that visionaries reshaping our mod-century landscape simply cannot ignore. It’s no small feat that the magazine keeps on trucking in a disastrous era for the housing industry, proof that visual stimulus propels progress despite the odds.

“Because we offer so much in terms of design, photography and stories being told, it lends itself to print,” observes savvy Senior Editor, Aaron Britt, who adds that the magazine’s tactile allure might not apply to other books, such as his favorite, The Economist. As he sees it, a magazine that seeks to inform without necessarily exciting the senses crosses over more easily to the screen with nothing lost.

“With Dwell or National Geographic, you want to leaf through it forward and backward and that makes it an object.” adds Britt. “It doesn’t mean it is the only thing we can be or are trying to be, but it something we are really good at being.”

Really good for ten years now, the shelter magazine just celebrated a decade in print (it has an online component), a tribute to the fact design professionals value old school reference guides that complement onscreen viewing. A vast majority of its readers are forward-thinking designers, architects, landscape visionaries, and design-oriented consumers. In other words, pragmatic artists seeking to dovetail pages that inspire. In the sense you don’t have to print out an item to tack it on your bulletin board – it actually conserves energy.

At the same time, Dwell considers sustainability in its publishing practices, bypassing a conventional paste and waste process by using certified recycled paper. Its pages feel good on the fingers, less processed than its flashy, glossy cousins. The good pulp might not put the kind of dent in paper use purists rant about, but at least it’s a conscious act which shuns the frivolous alternative (see Neiman Marcus seasonal catalogs). Most likely, Dwell couldn’t live with itself without this commitment.

“Moving to recycled paper is the key to our redesign but taking advantage of the fact that sustainability has always been something Dwell has focused on, we are moving that dialogue forward which is essential to our growth as a publication,” publisher and president Michela O’Connor Abrams told Green Biz.com in 2007 about the resign introduced in February of 2008. It also resized the format from 9″ to 8.375 and along with the paper, began sparing an estimated 930 trees per issue.

You might ask if down deep, Dwell functions as yet another shopping mechanism since it does rely on ads, like most other successful media (even PBS), and does list the resources for the minimalist masterpieces showcased in articles – the tidy prefabs, the highly coveted bedroom additions. The answer is that it cannot deny it is selling something, but along the way, it goes beyond pushing product to achieve behavior modification. Dwell prefers to focus on exceptional design, which just so happens to fall into the green category in most cases.

“In a perfect world, everything would already operate in an efficient minded way,” Britt argues. “If we are successful, we won’t have to have the conversation anymore. It’s like we publish houses that have indoor plumbing. All houses do. We want sustainability to be woven into the built world as broadly as an indoor toilet and electricity.”

Meanwhile, for those needing to go directly to LEED, bamboo and solar concepts, the magazine provides an Off the Grid section completely devoted to sustainability. Much of this content also is cultivated on the web where editors product daily features. “We understand the magazine to be the bedrock of the brand, but Dwell.com and Dwell on Design are important forums to talk about things in the magazine and not in the magazine due to space restraint,” Britt explains.

One is left questioning if this enviable success story would be played out anywhere but San Francisco, a leader in progressive conservation ideas and initiatives, not to mention plenty of money to fabricate what is conceptualized, namely some of the most striking examples of nature-nurtured dwellings in the country. While Iowa-based and NYC minded Metropolitan Home offered up much of the same in its day, it really didn’t do what Dwell does to make us relate. It didn’t capitalize as much on the human emotion driving the design engines.

“Being in San Francisco give us a different purview than other design press,” figures Britt. “We are happy and proud Californians and hope some of that California-ness comes through.”

Most likely it will, as long as those patronizing the book can keep erecting what they conceive. As Dwell reminds us, the bottom line is you can build the best house in the world but we still need a better energy policy in Washington. That, and perhaps a little help from our friends, like new governor, Jerry Brown. It isn’t just a field of dreams. If you build affordable, beneficial low-use – they will come. Read all about it.

Images: Dwell

The post Eyes on Media: Dwell, The Little Shelter Magazine That Could appeared first on EcoSalon.

Not being from hurricane country, every time one of those behemoths slams into a coastal community, I ask myself why anyone would build there. We more or less know the line of fire and wouldn’t be a good idea to stay out of it? I’m sure though, that folks in Daytona probably wonder what’s up with us Left Coasters building on fault lines on in literal lines of fire as they watch homes shake and burn on their television screens. In any case, one company, though it didn’t really set out to to do so, has come up with a prefab home design that seems to be pretty much storm proof. They’re cool looking, too.

Deltec is a Northern Carolina-based – hello hurricanes – manufacturer of prefab, mostly circular homes that can be put together by your local contractor. You can get one for as little 100k for 300-ish square feet, but throw down 500 and you’re looking at about 5,000 square feet. These guys are way big on eco, too, with tons of green built into their homes and a manufacturing facility that boasts one of the largest solar arrays in North Carolina. They’re into extremely low-waste manufacturing processes, as well, and shoot for building with 100 percent renewable energy. They’ve even constructed a LEED Platinum home for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In the end, though, how green you go is up to you, as virtually everything these guys do is customizable. Kinda neat for prefab.

Deltec talks a lot about “kindship with earth” and “treading lightly upon it.” “Circular homes bring another dimension into our lives, one that is often forgotten, the dimension of a beautiful space linking us with our forbearer’s sense of free-living and connectedness to the earth.” Whatevs. Even they admit there’s nothing new about the round house. But round is good in terms of both functionality and strength. These homes have less exposed surface area, which improves durability and energy efficiency, and good aerodynamics. Says them: “There is not enough surface area on any part of the house for pressure to build up.”

Which brings us back to the hurricane issue. Deltac doesn’t claim to make hurricane proof houses, but it seems they do a good job of it – they got some great “still-standing” pics from Hugo, Dennis, Fran, Charley, Andrew and Katrina. In fact, says Deltec, none of their homes suffered any structural damage from the latter’s level-5-force winds, and two were hit by 20-30 foot tidal surges and winds of over 145. Not bad for no claims of being hurricane proof.

The post What Goes Around: Storm-Proof Design appeared first on EcoSalon.

The word sounds so, shall we say, cheap and chintzy? It doesn’t roll off your tongue and linger on your lips like Chateau Marmont or Fontainbleau. In fact, when I first heard the word prefab back in 2000, trailer park and double-wide sprang to mind.

But then I laid my eyes on the Eames House (image above), and it was love at first sight.

Although the Eames House isn’t pure prefab (many of its parts are), it was born of the Case Study Program (1945-1962) that challenged architects of the day to design efficient, low-cost housing. In fact, the program announcement reads like a modern prefab proposal might:

…each house must be capable of duplication and in no sense be an individual ‘performance’… It is important that the best material available be used in the best possible way in order to arrive at a “˜good’ solution of each problem, which in the overall program will be general enough to be of practical assistance to the average American in search of a home in which he can afford to live.

Prefab is far from a 20th century concept though, in fact prefabricated construction dates back to the 17th century. (To learn more about the history of prefabricated home building, read ‘Prefab’ by Allison Arieff & Bryan Burkhart. Great book!). And it’s true that these buildings haven’t always been becoming, not by a long shot. Trailer park, track homes, cookie cutter, the list goes on.

But I’m here to steer you straight. And since I’ve recently written about the death of the ugly, ostentatious and utterly offensive McMansion, I decided to focus on this pleasing alternative. Something smaller, sensible, adaptable yet fully capable of being stylish. (Just like the itHouse that Leigha wrote about.)

No, prefab is not for everyone. But no matter your personal design preference, prefab has so many merits and environmental and social checks in the positive column, it’s past the time to start paying attention.

So even if you think modern and minimal, grim, boring and cold, the following options should sway your style-buds toward prefab. I promise.

LivingHomes – RK1

The first LivingHomes prefab, RK1 (image above), was designed by architect Ray Kappe and was the first home in the U.S. to achieve the LEED^® Platinum rating in August 2006. Since then, they’ve added additional models and of course custom options galore. I had the opportunity to tour the RK1 back in 2006 and would have moved in, right then and there.

(If you live in the Newport Beach area, go see the newest LivingHome, the KTLH 1.5 designed by KieranTimberlake, on October 9 and 10. Find more information here.)

Office of Mobile Design – Santa Monica Prefab1

Jennifer Siegal is the design principal of Office of Mobile Design (OMD). Her Santa Monica Prefab1 (image above) is a 2,330 square foot, two-story, “16 ft. wide, four-module house…carefully fitted into its 25 ft. by 100 ft. narrow lot.” But it’s anything but boring or cramped. Check out her other homes, as well as her latest venture, the Desert Hot Springs Development Take Homeâ„¢.

Rocio Romero – LV Home

Available in a number of sizes and styles, the LV Series launched with the LV Home (image above), the simplest and smallest version at 1,150 sq ft and starting at $36,870. All of the modules are the same width (25′-1″) but vary in length so they fit together in any number of configurations. Rocio Romero makes it easy for the inexperienced, by offering a Getting Started tool that maps out the modular building process step by step.

Marmol Radziner Prefab – The Desert House

The Desert House (image above) was created for principal Leo Marmol, and his wife Alisa Becket. Completed in Spring 2005, it’s the prototype for Marmol Radziner Prefab. I wish I could post all the pictures here, but you’ll just have to peruse on your own. Then tell me, what’s not to love?

Marmol Radziner Prefab also offers a series of pre-configured products – Skyline, Rincon and Locomo (image above) – that range in price from $200-400 per square foot. The custom option, for those with specific architectural plans and a bigger budget, starts at $400 per sq ft and increases from there.

mkDesigns – Glidehouseâ„¢

The first of Michelle Kaufmann’s prefab designs was born in 2002 out of her and her husband’s frustration at the lack of sustainable housing options in the San Francisco Bay area. Glidehouseâ„¢ (image above) is named for the sliding glass and wooden doors throughout that create an open, indoor-outdoor living environment. The house’s list of sustainable features is impressive but not surprising considering all mkDesign homes are built based on five eco principles.

Alchemy Architects – weeHouse

The weeHouse (image above) is yet another factory-built dwelling that arrives on location ready to live in. It’s available in four sizes (Studio, Pair, Tall, Four Square) and a plethora of available materials, options, accessories and finishes. Not my favorite of the group, but definitely worth its weight in “better, cheaper, faster, easier, smarter, greener, cooler, customizable.”

I hope you’re as inspired as I am by these architects who push the envelope and strive for evolution and advancements in the art of sustainable living.

But tell me this, how does one choose which prefab to purchase when the options are so endless?

(Images and resources: prefabcosm, NYTimes, Dwell on Design, Arts & Architecture, fabprefab.)

The post Prefab: Sustainable and Stylish. Seriously. appeared first on EcoSalon.

Two new books being released by Rizzoli this fall prove that when it comes to a new direction in innovative sustainable architecture, this could be the start of something small. And not just small, but harmonious as well – the road less traveled in the past, but all pointers head in that direction now. Yes, scaling back and using less is the prescribed mantra for reformed McMasnion resource hogs, and perhaps these new reads will stimulate not only thought but action when plotting new dwellings.

Small Eco Houses: Living Green in Style by Chrintina Paredes Benitez and Alex Sanchez Vidiella, showcases prototypical sustainable lofts, repurposed barns, hip urban apartments and woodsy homes built by innovative architects. “It has a fresh perspective on how smart design can create stylish yet ecologically sound living spaces in small-scale homes,” says the publisher, adding that over 50 spaces are included in the pages. Accompanying the descriptions are color photos and helpful floor plans, supporting how in each case history the architect met challenges for reducing power with solutions such as natural light, cross ventilation and more efficient thermal insulation. They also maximized space with with high ceilings, collapsible furniture and sliding doors. $35, Universe Publishing.

Modern Natural/Natural Modern by Ron Broadhurst includes works by design luminaries across the globe that illustrate how the most creative architects produce structures that relate to their organic, natural surroundings. Among the harmonious examples featured: A square house by the architects Makota Teki and Chie Nabeshima of the Japanese firm TNA; Two ski chalets with contrasting shapes and finishes (one an open dorm with rough finishes and a refined modern take in the the mountain top House on the Rigi by Adreas Fuhrimann and Gabrielle Hachler, AFGH Architecture). We see the works of other known innovators like Kengo Kuma in China, Sean Godsell in Australia and Allied Works Architecture in the United States. This book, too, appeals with exceptional color photography, and takes into consideration the goal of a reduced carbon footprint by way of radically rethinking traditions materials like wood and stone in forging spaces that co-exist blissfully with the landscape –  the way nature intended. $60, U.S Rizzoli.

Image: AFGH Architecture

The post New Responsible Architecture Books Praise Humble and Harmonious appeared first on EcoSalon.

Just when I was starting to feel good about my DIY granola bars, along comes a couple with a do-it-yourself project that makes my attempt look small time. Portland, Oregon residents Mariah Morrow and Ryan Lingard built themselves a 130-square foot cabin in the mountains where they can retreat, relax, and go completely off the grid.

The couple named the cabin The Signal Shed and outfitted it with, well – nothing. There’s no running water or electricity and it relies on a wood-burning stove for heat. That said, this rustically luscious cabin is beautifully decorated and cozy.

Morrow and Ryan chose the location carefully so it would blend into its surroundings, then built it on a platform designed to protect the delicate foliage of the forest floor. Using recycled building parts and uncovered treasures on Craigslist, they built the structure in a mere two weeks. The cost? $57,000 which includes the price of the land.

For $1,000, you can buy the plans from Lingard and build the same cabin in your neck of the woods. Or, for $18,000, he’ll deliver a ready-built Signal Shed right to you. If you want a tiny, eco-responsible getaway of your own, you can’t top a cabin like this. While you’re there, you can practice making granola.

The post Tiny DIY Cabin Gets You Off the Grid and Back to Nature appeared first on EcoSalon.

Who says the pantry has to be a catch-all black hole for prolonging that shelf life? That’s what high school lockers are for!

It’s time to take stock in our most commonly used household storage nook, and make it as inviting as a vintage general store (with a modern green twist, of course).

Open pantries offer easy access for the organic gardener and cook, but also should look tidy since they are exposed to your visitors. Mine is en route to the powder room. Yep, that’s country life.

I find it’s easy to arrange a cool display of dry goods, serving dishes and other odds and ends containing them in boxes, baskets and jars. Not an organizer? Just read Catherine Pond’s The Pantry, chronicling the history of keeping every can and tin in its place.

I have staged many pantries of  homes, finding prospective buyers are sold on nicely organized utility spaces, especially when they also reflect some style with a pop of color, especially red. Yes, panache even extends to the shelves of rice and cereal.

Here are some ideas for ordering and celebrating your own healthy green pantry:

First, sort by category: If you haven’t done so already, clean and designate shelves for categories, i.e. stack tea and cereal boxes side by side on one shelf, canned goods on another, bulk items like rice, pasta and beans on another. Make sure the opened items remaining in original packages are well sealed to preserve them. I use painter’s tape to reseal cardboard boxes to keep items fresh.

Reuse glass mason jars: Mason jars from pasta sauce, jams and other goods are great to reuse for storing and displaying dry goods from quinoa and baking ingredients to various herbs and spices. I love reusing an array of food jars in my pantry because they look cool and help extend the shelf life of the dry goods.

Reuse plastic take-out containers: If you are stuck with plastic, spare the landfill and clean out some of the small containers to store items. Below, they work well when reused for cake decorating sprinkles and beans.

Store packaged items in boxes: You can recycle your old shoe or gift boxes or locate eco-friendly storage to place on the shelves along with the jars and cans. Boxes, especially those with fun patterns from the Container Store and other organizing outlets, add flair even when the cupboard is bare.

Canisters add flavor: Mix in canisters (an easy second hand store or garage sale find) to hold organic flour, raw sugar, baking soda and other items you use for baking those healthy treats every day after work (yeah, right). I have a collection of canisters given as gifts or found in various towns. I love how they look in an open pantry, especially red ones like these from Amazon. These are also great for animal kibble which you might want to buy in bulk to avoid the large paper bags.

Stackers for shelving help you squeeze more in and add depth: Locate metal stacking shelves, like this one from Oraganizeit, to lift and separate cans and other packages. These work really well in both small and large pantry nooks.

Baskets add charm and warmth: Good natural fiber storage, like these water hyacinth nesting baskets from Cultural Elements, work well for onions, potatoes and other perishables, especially in an enclosed pantry. These fresh foods tend to last best in darkness and under wraps. Baskets are great for all loose food items and add that creature comfort organic appeal.

Design tip: Remember, even if your pantry consists of one cupboard in your apartment kitchen, you can still make it look fun and appealing – you might even hang cups on hooks inside.

For me and many of you, ordering clutter reduces stress. When I don’t have to spend an hour searching for taco mix, I don’t scream as much on taco night. Can a neat pantry save on therapy? Try it and see.

Images: The Book Depository, Container Store, Stevie Rocco, La Fattina, Container Store, la fattina, Organizit

The post Flash in the Pantry: 8 Ways to Make Storing Less Boring! appeared first on EcoSalon.

Here is another good argument for prefab versus towers.

In southwest Florida, a 32-story, 200-unit condo building has a single tenant, the Vangelakos family of New Jersey, which purchased their $430,000 unit four years ago in the midst of the Fort Myers housing explosion.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the recession has made it tough to be neighborly at the building when there are no neighbors. The family of five is the sole occupier of the Oasis Tower One. When they visit to escape the cold back home, they have their run of the pool, game room and gym, but it’s sometimes scary to be alone in the often darkened tower.

This is not what Victor Vangelakos banked on. The 45-year-old fire captain made a $10,000 down payment and watched an empty lot become the home of an upscale development. But as the report points out, the massive structure, one of many going dark in Florida, symbolizes the foreclosure crisis as an increasing number of residents look for jobs or ways to cut costs.

“The future was going to be southwest Florida,” Vangelakos told A.P., adding he planned to retire and live permanently in the condo.

Apparently, most of the other tenants opted not to close on their contracts. Those that did have transferred to an adjacent building owned by the same company. That building actually has tenants so you aren’t so alone. But Vangelakos says his mortgage lender won’t let him do the same.

“It’s a beautiful building,” said attorney, John Ewing, who is representing 27 others who made deposits on units. “The problem is, it’s a very lonely building.”

Ewing adds that it seems time froze at the building six months ago when the last person signed-in at the front desk located in the lobby.

Will hungry developers keep building towers in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area despite deserted buildings like this one and others? Lee County has some suffered some of the nation’s worst economic stress from foreclosures, unemployment and bankruptcies, according to The Associated Press’ monthly analysis of more than 3,100 U.S. counties.

Perhaps Vegas is next.

Image: Tim Patterson

The post Where Have All the Towers Gone? appeared first on EcoSalon.