Beautiful decor isn't the only thing on display at the ASID Showcase Home. This year, it's also a place to pick up green design ideas.
For the first time, design professionals were asked to incorporate at least one green principle into their space, said Jackie Millea, ASID chapter president-elect. This year's event also is the first to offer "green tours," focusing on the home's eco-friendly features.
Eco-friendly may sound like an oxymoron when describing a 7,300-square-foot house, but its size fits its inhabitants, said architect Gabriel Keller: a large, active family that includes two adults, five kids (three at home full time, one part time and one adult), two dogs and a cat. The private spaces are scaled down, while the gathering spaces are sized to accommodate family life.
Eco-minded design features include:
Reuse of existing housing stock. Renovating an existing home instead of tearing it down and building from scratch decreases the energy footprint of a project and reduces urban sprawl, Keller said.
"Socially sustainable design," which refers, in this case, to a traditional exterior that fits the character of the neighborhood, increasing the odds that the home will survive another 100 years of changing tastes, Keller said.
Recycled waste. During demolition, all salvageable materials including cabinets, built-ins, trim and lighting were removed, then sold or reused in other projects.
Sustainable materials, such as kitchen cabinets by Valcucine, which uses renewable wood sources and green-certified design and manufacturing processes.
