By: Johnny Hartsfield

In 2007, the City of Portland, Oregon, invited architects from around the world to submit design ideas on housing oriented to shared courtyards in the Portland Courtyard Housing Competition.  This is a new push to add an “infill” housing type to the urban grid that will provide solutions for how higher-density housing can meet the needs of families with children, while providing new opportunities for community interaction and contributing to environmental sustainability.

The winning designs all presented positive solutions that respond to the continual loss of families in Portland’s inner city due to affordability issues and high-density housing that takes away useable open space.  Emerging from the entries was a set of design principles that the jury and staff categorized into five goals…..

(more…)

By: Johnny Hartsfield

Displayed at the Salon du Bois in Grenoble, France, the Maison EvolutiV exhibits modular simplicity with sustainable functionalality.  Built from a chestnut wood frame, this two modular home rests intimately on the ground layer while supporting an elevated living space orientated for solar gain.  Sustainable features include: a vegetative roof, rainwater catchment, solar panels, and cellulose insulation integrated with wool wood.    

(more…)

By: Johnny Hartsfield

It is still more than two months away but we are extremely excited to start talking about Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling, MoMA’s new exhibition on the past, present and future of prefabricated homes.  The installation consists of the selected works of five international architects and will display full-scale prefabricated homes in the outdoor space to the west of the Museum’s main building.

Continue reading to see more photos of the five projects.

(more…)

By: Johnny Hartsfield

May is “Bike to Work Month” here in Seattle and thousands of people are strapping on helmets and pulling up their spandex to hit the streets for clean energy commuting.

This event is sponsored by the Cascade Bicycle Club, a non-profit organization serving 9,000 members and the Puget Sound bicycling community. Click here for a list of their events.

So, why is riding your bike good for you and the environment? There are actually a few good reasons.

(more…)

By: Johnny Hartsfield

Sharon Pian Chan of The Seattle Times has just written an interesting new article on the rise of townhome development here in Seattle.  This new “movement” has sparked some major debates in our city over the last few years - mostly focused on the dilution and denegration of design and craftsmanship.  These are the townhomes we all love to hate with poor materials and skinny asphalt driveways that replace usable open space.

To make things worse, most of these new developments are not subject to environmental or design review.  Vlad Oustimovitch, a West Seattle architect and a former design-review board member, sums up the effects of this process in his own neighborhood - “instead what we got was a very vanilla, cookie-cutter” development.

Developments like these are just one of the many reasons why GreenFab is determined to develop projects that provide healthy, inspired and affordable living.  We value private and community open space as well as safe and walkable neighborhoods. 

As the article points out, developers are not the only party to blame, our own planning department, permit and code review process almost encourage these types of developments.

GreenFab is following this trend closely and will be posting updates as changes develop. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE “TOWN HOMES SPARK NEIGHBORHOOD DEBATE”   

Source:  Seattletimes.nwsource.com

Related Stories:

Townhome Invasion

Townhouse Market Slows