Icon Buzz - Designs & Arts

It’s nice to see contemporary green homes that look like, contemporary homes. It means that the materials have evolved, clients are cluing in and architects have embraced sustainability as simply another way of designing and specifying a house - without creative limits. Do green cars have to look like a Prius? Do houses have to look green? Not any more it appears. The book features 23 good looking projects including some we’ve mentioned here before; Kieran Timberlake’s Loblolly House, Michelle Kaufmann’s Glidehouse, Chicago’s Factor 10 House. You’ll find the usual photographs, floor plans and detailed drawings that illustrate sustainable features, but you’ll also find topics that include climate regulation, drainage systems, and regional planning. Hardcover, 192 pages, well illustrated, $23.10 at Amazon.

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As awful as they are, natural disasters and people in trouble tend to spur Samaritans into helping their fellow man. This includes design, of course, and here we have yet another post-Katrina temp housing solution: a company called Martin House-To-Go’s “take-it-with-you portable house,” called the Fresh Start.

Fully equipped house-on-wheels can go where you go. No special permit or license required.

Designed to travel on any road, anywhere.

Have an extension cord and garden hose? That’s all you need.

Designed for ease of use. Everything you need at your fingertips. Simple.

These versatile houses are built to the highest standards to withstand rigorous travel, harsh climates, and constant use with little maintenance.

The owners of Martin House-To-Go lost everything after Katrina, then came up with the Fresh Start, which retails for under 30 grand.

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