"Thoughtless, developer driven tract homes" vs. "Beautiful, thoughtful, architecturally designed homes".

Whoa… those sound like Fightin' words!

Actually, they're phrases spoken kindly by Sausalito architect Michelle Kaufmann who has created several outstanding eco-friendly modular style homes.

I don't know about you, but this global warming thing is beginning to bug me in a subtle but un-nerving way. In my lifetime I've been about as good about following ecological guidelines as I have about following healthy eating habits… That is to say, not very well. I've always preferred a nice juicy double bacon cheeseburger to a plate of rabbit food.

But gosh darn it I'm determined to change my way of thinking. And if the truth were to be known, I might even decide to go nuts and go totally green someday.
The thing is, it's gotta be easy. Most people, I would say, would choose the path of lesser impact on Ms. Earth as long as it doesn't cramp their lifestyle. Well I might have stumbled on a way in real estate terms to have your carrot cake and eat it too.

For years you might have seen those modular homes along side of Hwy 512 (near the Steele Street exit) built and sold by Evergreen Modular Homes. Recently however, Evergreen was purchased by a company called MK Constructs. Are you catching on to the connection here? MK = Michelle Kaufmann?

Yup. Yesterday I talked to the president of the company, Paul Warner, a delightful man who says the former Evergreen Modular facility is being converted to manufacture the MK Designs homes utilizing the latest techniques in modular technology. And according to the website, the Lakewood factory will build homes for the California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii markets.

For you architecture fans, Michelle K has some incredible educational roots as she was a student of internationally renowned architect Michael Graves at Princeton and also worked for Frank Gehry (Experience Music Project) in Los Angeles for five years before moving to the Bay Area to open her own office.

The whole idea behind the structures are to get as close as possible to that Holy Grail of ecology: "Zero waste produced and Zero energy consumed". I doubt if anyone has gotten any closer on a production level. I know that quite a few local builders are beginning to use Built Green standards in some of their construction, but it seems as though it's primarily marketing driven rather than a core part of their company philosophy.

All in all, this a refreshing trend in the building industry. And the builders who are participating in this worthwhile trend are to be commended.

I wonder if I'm still allowed to eat fries with my vegeburger?

Submitted by Steve Hurley

www.Tacondo.com

Let's say you have relatives in Northern Vermont but staying at their place always seems a bit "confining." Let's also assume that you've got an itch to buy some vacation property. What should you do? Why, buy a castle of course!

Here's one that's For Sale by Owner. Listed at $795,000.

This 16 year old Bavarian Style Castle-Home features a Grand Hall, dumbwaiter, (no not the guy who wouldn't stop cranking the pepper grinder on your Caesar salad), aircraft hangar, airstrip, trout pond, and even a moat. (where's the drawbridge and catapults???)

Hmmmm…. better yet, how about if someone from around here builds one just like it on American Lake. Then you can invite me over for a trout dinner. :)

Submitted by Steve Hurley

www.Tacondo.com