Every space, including the living and dining sections seen here, has “furniture, objects and artworks that bring us memories,” says Smud. The bench, coffee tables, and dining table are by the late Alejandro Sticotti.
The firm added a 60-square-meter annex to the existing 88-square-meter stone building to fashion a residence that’s now about 148 square meters (or around 1,500 square feet).
Solid brass spoons and combs by The Things We Keep, from $88
Each available in two different styles/sizes, these durable spoons and combs are hand cast from solid brass at Kay Wang's Brooklyn workshop. The delicate detailing is sure to make them longtime keepsakes.
A Seattle family tasked Atmosphere Design Build with creating a sustainable dwelling in Nevada City, California, the matriarch's hometown and a historic mining community. The firm's material-driven approach channels the pioneer spirit of the gold rush, without compromising comfort or high-efficiency standards.
The 8.8 earthquake that struck Japan prompted tsunami warnings all the way across the Pacific in California.
Simpatico Homes founder Seth Krubiner has lived in the prefab company’s nearly net-zero prototype since it was customized and lifted onsite in 2011.
Components for low-cost prefab homes designed by Habitat for Humanity and the firm Minarc for South Central Los Angeles were trucked in and assembled over three days. Photos by Art Gray.
Rice surfs the net at the built-in desk.
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Most impressive of all, a solar array on the roof empowers the residents to produce more energy than they consume on-site.
“We have described the house as an urban cabin and this captures the essential character we were seeking to achieve,” says architect Charles Thomson. “Because the plan is so tight, it was critical that every part was considered carefully. But we also wanted spaces that were simple and flexible to accommodate the typical range of family activities.”
Adorned with 3D glasses and accented with plush pom-poms, this fleece-lined ski hat from Kate Spade will deliver a playful dose for the winter season. ($88)
Product designer Alan Wisniewski's discreet Lena Bookends ($88) are the perfect landing spot for leaning books. Made from solid wood and sophisticatedly coated with a high gloss finish.
Stone and marble trivets in geometric shapes (with leather backing to prevent slippage) by Fort Standard. We fancy the nonagon and cool white marble versions. $88 each from AmDC.
At a net-zero home in San Francisco, the house's green roof is more of a brown roof: a desert-like array of native and non-native succulents that require minimal irrigation. The soil area is maintained with motorcycle tires (including one from a Harley hog), which control erosion. Composting takes place here as well.
Metal shingles cut from scraps of sheet metal mix with new material as well as odds and ends, such as a road sign Baker bought at the Alameda Flea market. Baker designed stainless steel clips that allow any tile to be easily moved or replaced without the use of tools. Planter box panels add functionality to the facade and can be swapped out or relocated throughout the year.
The Taraxacum '88 was named for the ethereal dandelion, and the 60 transparent bulbs that adorn the polished aluminum icosahdron are truly luminous when switched on. It's a showstopper, no doubt, not for the wallflowers (or energy-savers) out there.
88 underground sleeping pods fill the basement levels of two proposed apartment buildings in the Mission District of San Francisco. The 50-square-foot spaces are expected to rent for $1,000 to $1,375 per month.
The estate is also home to a model game preserve, 88 acres of vineyards, 13 acres of olive groves and an expansive trail system. The Castello and the surrounding estate were originally owned by the Bargagli family, an ancient and noble family of Siena.