Although a modern enthusiast, she grew up (and her parents still
reside) in a home built in 1801. A Virginia native, she appreciates
old farmhouses, cabins, Victorian brownstones, high modern design
and... little cabins in the woods (saw a rabbit hoppin' by, knockin'
at my door...).
Because
energy efficient passive solar prefab design IS timeless.
Here, passive solar house kits
can be modern! Or traditional!
A passion for environmentally-friendly, affordable housing and concern
over our earth propelled her to gather green building architects
to help other people achieve home ownership with green building beautiful
design; to invest in homes they can not just afford, but of
which to be passionate, for all their life stages.
We were thrilled to be included in the latest issue of Virginia Living, on stands now, and chuckled that we are in their renowned Forever Prep Issue (huh?). : ) Here's a glimpse!
I am currently preparing for my annual trip to New York, for ICFF, where we will be announcing the latest on our joint venture with Akemi Tanaka: a line of affordable modern furniture that does multiple things designed specifically for our prefab house kits!
If you have followed my own prefab house kit construction blog, you know that although the house kit went up in a week, finishing it was another matter. We decided to frugally walk through the economic uncertainty, which is my philosophy regardless, hence our completion was in even longer stages as it is not yet our primary residence, and that our contractor, plumber and electrician are all working on it part time themselves.
Hence, no Spring Open House will be held, but look ahead to fall when I will be throwing a MY PREFAB HOUSE KIT IS COMPLETED party! We are finishing up, adding the final pieces (rainwater cistern, finishing the interior of the SIP) now, so I will be happy to show it off to the public this summer / fall.
"We believe your prefab green home should not just be gorgeous but should function, and reduce your systems demands.
I think energy efficiency can be encouraged not with more regulation and certification, but with fashionable education, honeychiles. If people stop viewing cul-de-sacs along four lane highways as a pretty way to live, if people view smart growth and walkability as fashionable vs. bloated subdivisions eating up countryside... then maybe fashion can have a great impact on raising the gorgeous smart growth consciousness of many, quickly.
Sustainability does not just incorporate architectural efficiency; a home's design must be something with which people are in love, so that they commit to it, and pass on that structure to future generations.
Often people fall in love with our prefab house kits before they understand their intent to function; they love first and learn later.
But sustainability does not just encompass LEED certification.
Sustainability should question why ChemLawn drenched lawns are legal and allowed next to neighboring natural, food producing yards.
Sustainability should question why multiple barking Mastiffs are ok per zoning vs. a few laying hens that can provide a family with nourishment, connection to their food, and reduce waste and strain on our community's municipal services."
...Back in the office, I had a nice conversation with Will Johnston of the online sustainable product retailer, Grow And Make.
And where are we going this year? Well, as you know we have house kits underway in New York, West Virginia (from our prefab cottage line, Green Cottage Kits), Colorado and more. As I mentioned in the Grow And Make interview, I need to make sure those prefab projects are blogging!
In the meantime, I hope you all have a great summer. On my off time, I have been busy launching Pirates 2.0, i.e. our children, who can not only swim now but are sailing the Chesapeake Bay on their own! Here's the first pirate they chased and successfully captured:
Ps.:Zoning: Our illicit chickens are now gone. But in city yards everywhere, in a residential neighborhood near you... they're baaaaaaack.
Prefab Modern House Kit Architect David Day In The Wall Street Journal!
David Day, green building architect of our prefab modern house kit, casa ti, was featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal this week on his longtime collaborations with a couple; thought you might enjoy the read:
If you are getting weary reading just the Virginia prefab construction blog, I have good news: there will be more prefab house kit voices being added this month: several in Colorado (including the one who resumes after the winter we mentioned in the past), one in New York, and more on the way to an energy efficient, passive design, smart growth luvin' neighborhood near you. : )
To register for the Open House, send us an email with your name, email, and phone number so we can send you directions the week of the event. For planning purposes, know the prefab net zero modern house kit is located between Farmville and Appomattox, Virginia.
Like last time, we scheduled the prefab house kit open house to coincide with historic and fun events showcasing this rural, beautiful, and historic area of Virginia.
April 08, 2010 – April 12, 2010145th Anniversary of the Surrender
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Appomattox, VA 24522
434-352-8987 www.nps.gov/apco
Special programs related to the surrender, including 1st person living history offered each day from April 8 to April 12.
April 09, 2010 – April 11, 2010
Appomattox History Weekend
Clover Hill Village
Appomattox, VA 24522
145th Anniversary of Lee's surrender to Grant to be held at Clover Hill Village. 1 mile from actual surrender site. Living historians will be portraying Generals Lee & Grant and their lieutenants will recreate historic moments of the final days leading up to and including the surrender. Activities include: Lee's last war counsel, General Gordon's attempted break-out, Lee-Grant meeting, stacking of arms and reduction of colors. Reenactors limited. Military host: Lee's Lieutenants, contact Al Stone at astoneasrelee@suddenlink.net or (304) 466-2030. Civilian host: contact Ms. Carolyn Davis at casonclee@aol.com Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12.
April 8, 2010 – April 12, 2010 Holiday Open House
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Appomattox, VA 24522
434-352-8987 www.nps.gov/apco
Join the park staff for an festive afternoon of music, refreshments and holiday activiies with a historic flare! Check the calendar to see the many events going on this week.
We hope you use the opportunity to travel to the passive solar prefab house kit to explore and see more of historic Virginia.
...Make a weekend of it!
(And hopefully it won't rain in torrents like last time!)
Vineyards:
Saturday, April 10th: Sans Soucy will be open for tastings.
Mrs. Esh's Store (ask directions from me): Amish jams, relishes, quilts, wood crafts.
[Note: NO PICTURES please. If you would like to visit, I recommend you do so before the prefab open house as I don't know how late she is open in the late afternoons.]
Richmond: (1 1/2 hours away, easy drive if you're driving from afar to stop here)
(list of some great museums to visit here, my faves include the Richmond History Center, American Civil War Center, Museum of The Confederacy, Virginia Historical Society... and lots of art gallery information can be found here.)
Like last time, we scheduled the house kit open house to coincide with historic and fun events showcasing this rural, beautiful, historic area of Virginia. So mark your calenders! Here's what's going on during that weekend that we know of so far:
April 08, 2010 – April 12, 2010145th Anniversary of the Surrender
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Appomattox, VA 24522
434-352-8987 www.nps.gov/apco
Special programs related to the surrender, including 1st person living history offered each day from April 8 to April 12.
April 09, 2010 – April 11, 2010
Appomattox History Weekend
Clover Hill Village
Appomattox, VA 24522
145th Anniversary of Lee's surrender to Grant to be held at Clover Hill Village. 1 mile from actual surrender site. Living historians will be portraying Generals Lee & Grant and their lieutenants will recreate historic moments of the final days leading up to and including the surrender. Activities include: Lee's last war counsel, General Gordon's attempted break-out, Lee-Grant meeting, stacking of arms and reduction of colors. Reenactors limited. Military host: Lee's Lieutenants, contact Al Stone at astoneasrelee@suddenlink.net or (304) 466-2030. Civilian host: contact Ms. Carolyn Davis at casonclee@aol.com Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12.
April 12, 2010 – April 12, 2010
Holiday Open House
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Appomattox, VA 24522
434-352-8987 www.nps.gov/apco
Join the park staff for an festive afternoon of music, refreshments and holiday activiies with a historic flare!
We hope you use the opportunity to travel to the prefab house kit to explore and see more of historic Virginia. ...Make a weekend of it!
For accommodations and more history, see here:
(Because if you're a design geek, you're also a history geek.
Welcome to the crowd!)
Regarding the Virginia prefab house kit, you can follow the latest progress on the house kit construction blog, here. The prefab passive solar house kit's interior walls were just completed this week... as soon as it stops snowing we will post those pictures... Please note it is a personal blog and silliness abounds in those posts... you have been warned.
Currently, we are all, humans, dogs, feral cat, and especially our chickens, officially snowed in.
The Colorado prefab green home begins this spring after their snow melts, sometime in mid-March... we will keep you posted on that house kit construction!
