Good & Green: Thoroughly Modern
A promising model of eco-prefab rises in California
As a boy, Steve Glenn built pint-size dream houses out of wooden blocks and Lego bricks. As a young man, he became enamored of the work of California modernist architects like Ray Kappe and David Hertz. As an adult, he developed an interest in the environment. Then, after working several years as a technology-company entrepreneur, he decided to fuse his three passions with his business experience and start LivingHomes, a pioneering Los Angeles–based real estate development endeavor. His goal: Blend efficient prefabricated construction, designs by his architectural heroes, and sustainable building techniques and materials—and then market the resulting dwellings to style- and eco-conscious consumers.
With the completion this past July of a 2,500-square-foot Kappe-designed model house, Glenn is off to a commendable, if somewhat local, start. The two-story structure, which doubles as his living quarters and LivingHomes’ by-appointment-only showroom, is the first residence to receive a platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating—the highest of four possible designations—from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
MORE GREEN ARTICLES
| Re-Use Muse | DESIGNER FINDS: Reclaimed Furniture |
| How to Switch to a Green Power Provider | Designer Secrets: White Webb |
| Solar Power 101 | Paint Trends |
