The entire cabin is powered by the rooftop solar system from Solarwinds Northernlights. "I still can't get over the fact that I can get an ice cube from the sun," Bruce says.
The entire cabin is powered by the rooftop solar system from Solarwinds Northernlights. "I still can't get over the fact that I can get an ice cube from the sun," Bruce says.
The Lai family—Mayuko, baby Shota on her lap, David, Maya, and Yumi sitting on a cushion on the deck—relaxes in their indoor-outdoor living space, made by opening the glass sliding doors to connect the living room and engawa deck.
The Lai family—Mayuko, baby Shota on her lap, David, Maya, and Yumi sitting on a cushion on the deck—relaxes in their indoor-outdoor living space, made by opening the glass sliding doors to connect the living room and engawa deck.
The most sustainable element of all is the Lais’ intention to make their first home their last home as well. “Some people have this mentality of getting a starter house, then upgrading from there,” David says. “We just wanted to find a place to live in and then stay there forever.” Eventually they imagine passing the home down to their children.
The most sustainable element of all is the Lais’ intention to make their first home their last home as well. “Some people have this mentality of getting a starter house, then upgrading from there,” David says. “We just wanted to find a place to live in and then stay there forever.” Eventually they imagine passing the home down to their children.
A new kitchen system by Nendo for Scavolini.
A new kitchen system by Nendo for Scavolini.
The house that Fleetwood Fernandez Architects designed for contractor Mehran Taslimi and his wife, Laila, embraces its surroundings. “They wanted doors that they could just throw open,” designer Hunter Fleetwood says of the retractable wall system from Vitrocsa.
The house that Fleetwood Fernandez Architects designed for contractor Mehran Taslimi and his wife, Laila, embraces its surroundings. “They wanted doors that they could just throw open,” designer Hunter Fleetwood says of the retractable wall system from Vitrocsa.
The rain-catchment system next to the outdoor shower collects and disposes of the first five gallons of rainwater to ensure that the cleanest water is diverted into the cistern.
The rain-catchment system next to the outdoor shower collects and disposes of the first five gallons of rainwater to ensure that the cleanest water is diverted into the cistern.
The open observatory.
The open observatory.
“Your first impression is that the house is very closed,” says David Barragán of the building he designed with Jose María Sáez in Quito, Ecuador. Stacked concrete forms, developed by Barragán and Sáez and used as planters along the front facade, offer privacy and integrate the building with the site.
“Your first impression is that the house is very closed,” says David Barragán of the building he designed with Jose María Sáez in Quito, Ecuador. Stacked concrete forms, developed by Barragán and Sáez and used as planters along the front facade, offer privacy and integrate the building with the site.
Geraldine and Kit Laybourne remodeled the kitchen in their High Line apartment with yellow and gray interiors. The kitchen features an Artematica Vitrum glass system from Valcucine, artwork by Craig Kucia, and banquette cushion fabrics by Hella Jongerius for Maharam.
Geraldine and Kit Laybourne remodeled the kitchen in their High Line apartment with yellow and gray interiors. The kitchen features an Artematica Vitrum glass system from Valcucine, artwork by Craig Kucia, and banquette cushion fabrics by Hella Jongerius for Maharam.
A pressed-steel Parallel shelving system by Terence Woodgate holds books and mementos.
A pressed-steel Parallel shelving system by Terence Woodgate holds books and mementos.
VIPP's kitchen line launched last year.
VIPP's kitchen line launched last year.
FlatBoxLed Contact Track Spotlight by Dinnebier + Blieske, produced by Mawa Design Licht- und Wohnideen GmbH.
FlatBoxLed Contact Track Spotlight by Dinnebier + Blieske, produced by Mawa Design Licht- und Wohnideen GmbH.
Albed's very chic closet systems put regular old coat hangers to shame.
Albed's very chic closet systems put regular old coat hangers to shame.
The United States' National Park Service collateral (which won the US Presidential Design Award in 1985). The Unigrid is a modular system meant to save costs by predetermining everything from "paper size to graphics to cartography and illustration."
The United States' National Park Service collateral (which won the US Presidential Design Award in 1985). The Unigrid is a modular system meant to save costs by predetermining everything from "paper size to graphics to cartography and illustration."
The Cocoon wireless sound system for Denon, whose form-meets-function shape is partially inspired by the work of Constantin Brancusi.
The Cocoon wireless sound system for Denon, whose form-meets-function shape is partially inspired by the work of Constantin Brancusi.
The Becerril family embraces stark modernism with a mute facade clad in Hardie board and acrylic panels. Access to the heart of the house is through the bamboo garden.
The Becerril family embraces stark modernism with a mute facade clad in Hardie board and acrylic panels. Access to the heart of the house is through the bamboo garden.
The rear facade. A system of sliding glass windows and doors underscore the indoor/outdoor nature of the house.
The rear facade. A system of sliding glass windows and doors underscore the indoor/outdoor nature of the house.
A rainwater catchment system feeds a cistern and outdoor shower. The Butterfly chairs are from Hayneedle.
A rainwater catchment system feeds a cistern and outdoor shower. The Butterfly chairs are from Hayneedle.
A defining green feature is the on-site stormwater infiltration system. The architect explains, “To comply with local regulations protecting the creek and beach, the house has an infiltration system that collects all the water from the roofs in the two large concrete rain-gardens, the stormwater is then filtered before soaking into the sandy soil.” The gutters channel rainwater from the roof down to an underground system.
A defining green feature is the on-site stormwater infiltration system. The architect explains, “To comply with local regulations protecting the creek and beach, the house has an infiltration system that collects all the water from the roofs in the two large concrete rain-gardens, the stormwater is then filtered before soaking into the sandy soil.” The gutters channel rainwater from the roof down to an underground system.
Elfa storage systems fit perfectly behind the sliding doors, and offered customizable options for keeping clothes organized.
Elfa storage systems fit perfectly behind the sliding doors, and offered customizable options for keeping clothes organized.
Two layers of aluminum woven-coil drapes hang outside the large, south-facing windows above the living area.
Two layers of aluminum woven-coil drapes hang outside the large, south-facing windows above the living area.
Custom cabinet system by Henrybuilt, price upon request 

Lines that can be architecturally integrated make it easy to add storage to tight spaces—like this Corian unit tucked under the stairs in a New York kitchen.
Custom cabinet system by Henrybuilt, price upon request Lines that can be architecturally integrated make it easy to add storage to tight spaces—like this Corian unit tucked under the stairs in a New York kitchen.
Their systems include award-winning components like the Drawer Accessory System, shown here with a construction of Paperstone and solid surface acrylic—both materials traditionally used in countertops. This addition extends high-performance function to the interior of a system, where users actually interact with it the most. As homeowners’ needs evolve, they can arrange the reconfigurable dividers in any way they desire. The pieces simply snap back together, thanks to a number of small magnets that are carefully embedded.
Their systems include award-winning components like the Drawer Accessory System, shown here with a construction of Paperstone and solid surface acrylic—both materials traditionally used in countertops. This addition extends high-performance function to the interior of a system, where users actually interact with it the most. As homeowners’ needs evolve, they can arrange the reconfigurable dividers in any way they desire. The pieces simply snap back together, thanks to a number of small magnets that are carefully embedded.
Smart Home Automation Systems–Call it the central control, the brain, the hub or what have you, a home automation system integrates all of your smart home technologies (see above) and places them under one convenient master control—namely your smartphone. Although a number of companies specialize in the sales and installation of complete home automation packages, other companies, such as Smart Home USA, offer more affordable do-it-yourself alternatives to better fit your needs and budget. Regardless of which route you choose to make your home smarter, given all the benefits you’ll soon discover that putting a brain in your home is a “no brainer.”
Smart Home Automation Systems–Call it the central control, the brain, the hub or what have you, a home automation system integrates all of your smart home technologies (see above) and places them under one convenient master control—namely your smartphone. Although a number of companies specialize in the sales and installation of complete home automation packages, other companies, such as Smart Home USA, offer more affordable do-it-yourself alternatives to better fit your needs and budget. Regardless of which route you choose to make your home smarter, given all the benefits you’ll soon discover that putting a brain in your home is a “no brainer.”
Canary cameras detect motion and send Willson alerts with a video clip of the activity. From the app, he can summon law enforcement if desired.
Canary cameras detect motion and send Willson alerts with a video clip of the activity. From the app, he can summon law enforcement if desired.
The Alfred wall system by Harto is both functional and playful, allowing you to organize its modular shelves in a variety of ways.
The Alfred wall system by Harto is both functional and playful, allowing you to organize its modular shelves in a variety of ways.
RainXchange helps manage storm-water runoff and has provided safe drinking water for many communities around the world. Beneath a scenic, seemingly passive water feature is a revolutionary hidden system that stores and filters rainwater for reuse while providing a habitat for wildlife.

A     Non-Potable Water

B     Pump to Graywater Basin

C     Rainwater Downspout Filter

D     Drain Pipe

E     Pump Vault

F     High-Flow Pump

G     AquaBox Reservoir

H     Gravel Bed

I     Liner

J     Geotextile

K    Small Pond Open to Air; Flows into Reservoir
RainXchange helps manage storm-water runoff and has provided safe drinking water for many communities around the world. Beneath a scenic, seemingly passive water feature is a revolutionary hidden system that stores and filters rainwater for reuse while providing a habitat for wildlife. A Non-Potable Water B Pump to Graywater Basin C Rainwater Downspout Filter D Drain Pipe E Pump Vault F High-Flow Pump G AquaBox Reservoir H Gravel Bed I Liner J Geotextile K Small Pond Open to Air; Flows into Reservoir
Home security system by Canary, $249 at canary.is

This all-in-one security system "learns" the rhythms of your home and monitors activity and noise levels, air quality and temperature, notifying you by text (with an accompanying high-definition video) when anything seems out of sorts.
Home security system by Canary, $249 at canary.is This all-in-one security system "learns" the rhythms of your home and monitors activity and noise levels, air quality and temperature, notifying you by text (with an accompanying high-definition video) when anything seems out of sorts.
REBAR Shelf System by Jonas Schroeder, produced by Joval GmbH.
REBAR Shelf System by Jonas Schroeder, produced by Joval GmbH.
For now, the sensors can only detect temperature changes, humidity fluctuations, and the presence of nearby water, so a separate detection item like the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector is necessary to keep your home safe.
For now, the sensors can only detect temperature changes, humidity fluctuations, and the presence of nearby water, so a separate detection item like the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector is necessary to keep your home safe.
Morrison was awarded a contract to redesign the tram system for Hannover, a half-billion Deutschemark project, and not only did he succeed, but the industrial designer won awards for his new transport system.
Morrison was awarded a contract to redesign the tram system for Hannover, a half-billion Deutschemark project, and not only did he succeed, but the industrial designer won awards for his new transport system.
Sugar cubes “printed” by the Sugar Lab for 3D Systems.
Sugar cubes “printed” by the Sugar Lab for 3D Systems.
High Tide Shelving System.
High Tide Shelving System.
Amplifi Hose Powering and Storage System by Briggs & Stratton, $199 

Besides neatly organizing a 75-foot hose, the Amplifi lets you change the power of the stream using controls on the nozzle. Turn it on full blast to clean second-story windows or on low to water the garden.
Amplifi Hose Powering and Storage System by Briggs & Stratton, $199 Besides neatly organizing a 75-foot hose, the Amplifi lets you change the power of the stream using controls on the nozzle. Turn it on full blast to clean second-story windows or on low to water the garden.
Just Venting

Though a tight thermal envelope is critical to the E+ Home’s sustainability, 

Kolon’s heat recovery ventilation and air filtration systems (above the desk) help ease the load.
Just Venting Though a tight thermal envelope is critical to the E+ Home’s sustainability, Kolon’s heat recovery ventilation and air filtration systems (above the desk) help ease the load.

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