From Tract to Tres Chic

Annette Wiley: Tract house made modern

"Architect Annette Wiley turned her 1950s tract home in Corona del Mar into a contemporary residence remodeled with environmentally friendly materials and practices. The siding is ipe wood and cement board with recycled content. The steps leading to the entry are decomposed granite. Sculptural succulents are poised out front, a low-water alternative to lawn. The entry path guides visitors past the round planter to the ipe wood gate. The design was conceived by Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture of Culver City. The 2,600-square-foot house has Energy Star appliances, a tankless water heater, rooftop solar panels and other green features. But Wiley's goal was for visitors to step through the front door and see a house that looked modern but still warm and comfortable."

via LA Times

Eco-Friendly Earthquakes!

Portola Valley, California has taken an innovative approach to earthquake proofing their town. Built atop the San Andreas Fault they stepped up to the unique challenge of adding a Green element to the mix. In the time it takes to say -oh-so-sustainable, Portola Valley achieved LEED Platinum certification and is now a role model for other organizations. On 11 acres of native landscapes rest 3 community structures with every eco-trick in the book. Made 33% more efficient than local regulations and experiencing only a 2% increase in overal project costs is expected to save the town a 20% savings over total production costs over 20 years. Whoa.

Get more story at: Archi.Tech
More insight via Portola Valley: Sustainable Building in Portola Valley