Hive Modular, a prefab company out of Minneapolis, recently completed this custom modular home on a sloping corner lot in St. Paul. Sandwiched between mid-century modern neighbors, the 1,864 square foot prefab features contemporary oak finishes and landscaping from none other than Rosenlof/Lucas. Check it out below from a few different perspectives. This is the X-Line 012 model with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Hive aims for airtight construction and uses 2×6 exterior wall framing, R19 insulation, and R44 engineered…

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Seattle allows backyard cottages — legally referred to as detached accessory dwelling units (DADU) — in certain single-family situations. These structures aren’t without controversy but can helpful when taking on a renter or housing extra family. BjarkoSerra Architects designed this DADU for a family in Beacon Hill, and it will be built in the next year or so to a Built Green 5-Star rating. As shown in the rendering above, Beacon Hill DADU will have abundant windows for natural lighting,…

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Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Kevin Romano of SquallCo Development about his new website and modern green homes offered on Long Beach Island. The development company has two home plans, the smaller called Akamai and the other called Ohana, which have been designed in a joint venture with Steve Midouhas. With these, SquallCo hopes to make warm, modern, sustainable homes more approachable to folks in the area. Akamai, pictured in the first three renderings, is a 1,250…

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If Apple were to sell a homes, perhaps they would look something like this. The v100 Mod Box is a 10′ x 10′ x 10′ cube made with green materials, state of the art appliances, and stylish fixtures. It’s a new kind of structure that can be assembled by anyone — no tools required — and lives comfortably despite the fact that its footprint is so tiny. Shown is a pair of Mod Boxes. One box has the kitchen and…

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It’s been a great week for prefab enthusiasts — with news from LivingHomes, KitHAUS, and Blu Homes — but there’s still more. Recently, developers at Kootenay Lake Village completed this LVL prefab near Nelson, British Columbia. The new home has double insulated walls, high grade energy efficient windows, low-flow bathroom fixtures, and a green roof, just to name a few of its green features. The LVL is about 25 x 60 feet and has approximately 1,453 square feet. Included in…

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Last weekend, I had the opportunity to tour this newly-built net-zero energy home in Park City, Utah. The Sungazing House, built by Tall Pines Construction and designed by Jean Yves Lacroix, is home to the O’Meara family of four and features impressive views of the surrounding area. Perhaps more impressive, however, is the fact that it’s pursuing Passive House, LEED Platinum, and NAHB Emerald certifications. Sungazing House was designed and built to minimize the need for energy. It does this…

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Yesterday, LivingHomes announced that this modern prefab in Newport Beach received LEED Platinum certification. Designed by KieranTimberlake, the KTLH1.5 model home was a showcase for TED 2009 and features stylish, contemporary interiors from Kristin Kilmer Design. Steve Glenn, CEO of LivingHomes, said the home “uses far less energy, water, and materials resources than most homes and … has far better indoor air quality.” The Newport Beach prefab was built with blown-in insulation, high performance windows, low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets, bio-composite…

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Blu Homes continues to dominate the green prefab world. Today the company announced the relaunch of Glidehouse, a gorgeous home originally made famous by Michelle Kaufmann. Glidehouse will be available nationally and built in Blu’s own factory using the company’s proprietary steel and wood framing system. The new Glidehouse retains all of the signature features of the old design and can be purchased for $360,000+. When constructed, Glidehouse will be airtight, energy efficient, and built to the standards of the…

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