"Radical sustainability

The couple stockpiles wood under the deck.

Exploratory demolition revealed enough space in the kitchen for an Asko washer-dryer and a full-size refrigerator.

She was even able to squeeze in a compact stacked washer and a vented dryer.

A glass slider and a stackable LG washer and dryer maximize space in the laundry area, which includes a small utility closet.

W/D with aesthetic cat box enclosure.

The mud room in the shipping container offers plenty of space for the family to remove shoes and store sports equipment.

The laundry is tucked away beside the kitchen. A skylight floods the small space with natural light, and cat doors provide the resident feline with easy access to the litter box kept here.

Laundry Room

Bishop is an avid record collector—Rolling Stones albums are a sought-after favorite—and he keeps his vinyl in the shelving unit ”1.1,” a reproduction of Arbel’s first completed work. The kids can often be found playing video games at the desk in the great room.

"Custom cabinetry really made all the difference in this project," says Cheng.

The floor tile is the Zebra Terrazzo from the Cement Tile Shop.

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.

A communal laundry area.

Laundry Closet

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.

Being able to stow away extra seating is a necessity for small space entertaining. These lightweight Spin Stackable Stools stack up in a rainbow spiral for easy storage.

The Wally's price is especially competitive considering a one-time installation that will last over ten years—though, as connected home technology progresses so rapidly, it’s hard to know whether this kind of system will be relevant then. Inarguably, though, water damage will be a recurring issue for homeowners, making it likely that a prevention system is worth the spend.

Mudroom

Vintage bent plywood stacking chairs by Roland Rainer are purposeful and can be moved to suit any situation.

The Jumpr Stack By EnerPlex is a pack of three thin batteries capable of boosting the juice in most smartphones by 90 percent or more. Plug in the bottom battery, and the charge rises through the stack. The idea is that the batteries can be charged, then distributed among the members of a busy family. Photo courtesy of EnerPlex.

Once past the main threshold, the house opens up to the outside, literally and figuratively. Three courtyards built around existing trees flow seamlessly into a series of rooms with glazed walls and sliding glass doors.

Laundry room

master closet with laundry appliances

Laundry Closet

Stacked laundry at rear

Kitchen Dining and Laundry