Brad Pitt and Bill Clinton joined hundreds of volunteers in New Orleans in preparing the Lower 9th Ward for a housing project led by Pitt’s foundation, Make It Right.Starting in 2006, Make It Right committed to building 150 environmentally-friendly homes to replace the homes that were destroyed in 2005’s Hurricane Katrina in one of the hardest hit areas, the Lower 9th Ward. The group has put an emphasis on ensuring that the homes they build are replicable, and hope to redevelop other hard-hit areas of the city.Working alongside other experts in the field of development such as the Cherokee Gives Back Foundation, William McDonough + Partners and Graft architecture firms and two advisors to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, Pitt hopes to “be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes…”.To learn more about the Make It Right foundation and the Lower 9th Ward project, visit the vision page of the Make It Right website.
Labels: Angelina Jolie, architecture, Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Cherokee Gives Back, development, Graft, Hurricane Katrina, Make It Right, New Orleans, rebuilding, The 9th Ward, William McDonough + Partners
If you get the notion to head to Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, you will see nestled on the periphery of the predictable craftsmans, bungalows and Martha’s Vineyard-esque properties a lone house that goes by the name of the Loblolly House.Architected by KieranTimberlake Associates, LLP partners Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake, and named after the tall pines that surround it, the Loblolly house serves one simple purpose outside of acting as a residence: Design for disassembly.Since the average home has a lifespan of less than 100 years, Kieran and Timberlake are seeking ways to build homes designed for disassembly. They believe that builders and architects should look at the future of the properties they design before building and look for ways to build responsibly using renewable resources.The house, which was assembled in less than six weeks, relies on a solid aluminum frame to keep it sturdy. Kieran and Timberlake claim that the house will come down just as quickly and efficiently as it was built.Architecturally, the design speaks to my inner art historian. It has the linearity of Mondrian, paired with the sterile but natural wooden influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, polished off with the modernity of Bauhaus’ Gropius. Perhaps redeeming the ugly ceiling fans, is the design team’s (or photographer’s?) use of the Eames chair in the interior of the house. The design inspiration for ‘Kit of Parts’ comes largely from the Eames’ aesthetic.The Loblolly House is made up of ‘smart cartridges’, which are floor and ceiling panels containing all of the utilities needed to make the home livable including electrical, heating and fire detection devices. The exterior and interior are completely made of wood (with the exception of the aluminum framing) that is Forest Stewardship Council-approved birch, bamboo or plywood. Its finish is entirely nontoxic.Another interesting feature is the home’s positioning and foundation. Because it is built on structural piles and raised off the ground, it does not damage the coastal land on which it rests, nor does it disrupt the animals living nearby, as they can still pass underneath it. I was encouraged to hear that the Loblolly House will go into mass production with Steve Glenn’s LivingHomes prefabricated development company, a milestone for the efforts of green developers worldwide. And investors take note: The idea of environmentally responsible, portable and prefabricated homes is an intriguing one, especially considering the amount of interest the Loblolly House has generated (they are producing a book in May, Loblolly House: Elements of a New Architecture). I expect we will hear considerably more about Kieran Timberlake in the near future.*All images are courtesy of KieranTimberlake Associates, LLPLabels: architecture, green investing, real estate, The Loblolly House
Treehouses conjure up a variety of images for different people. Some see ostriches and the Swiss Family Robinson. Others see tree lovers tied to sky-scraping Pine trees. Children see a playground.
But for me, treehouses conjure up visions of my childhood in Salinas, California. Protected by a fortress of poison oak (I’m immune), it was my secret hiding place where no one could pester me.
As consumers become increasingly energy-conscious, builders and developers are making efforts to appeal to the ‘green’ masses.
One such effort, treehouse communities, is rising in popularity. Some consumers are choosing to live in trees to protect the environment. Others are searching for sustainable ways to retreat from the everyday hustle and bustle of the world. Many people enjoy the sense of community that these developments offer. One such community in Costa Rica, Finca Bellavista, boasts “an opportunity for a sustainable and harmonious lifestyle for property owners in a rainforest environment.”
Personally, I find some of these treehouses, especially these by co-op Baumraum visually appealing.
But they all serve a common goal: Quality of life in a Sustainable development.
The dangers are numerous, of course. What happens in a drought? What about tree disease? And Bugs? Treehouses are not for the faint of heart (or those with acrophobia). In the wide world of lifestyle investments, treehouses are certainly paramount.
Would-be buyers should take notice: there is more to treehouses than meets the eye. If you can’t afford a house, or are wary to buy a treehouse, you can grow one. More on that tomorrow.
Labels: alternative investment, architecture, real estate, treehouses
