| With the building resources available today, as well | | | | and no character but through sound design |
| as a struggling economy, it is no wonder that | | | | principles it has been transformed into a |
| unconventional, sustainable and less expensive | | | | comfortable and livable home. The home also |
| housing options are beginning to make a grand | | | | boasts low to no VOC paint, repurposed antique |
| appearance. People are shifting their way of | | | | furniture (as a bathroom vanity and closet |
| thinking from living in oversized, wooden frame | | | | solution), lighting acquired from second hand |
| boxes with vinyl siding, a picket fence and four | | | | stores, green kitchen cabinets and energy |
| car driveway to things such as old industrial loft | | | | efficient windows and appliances. As a final nod to |
| buildings, trailers and even shipping containers. It is | | | | the planet all materials that were removed were |
| all in the perception imagination to redesign these | | | | either recycled or donated to various |
| unconventional spaces into sustainable, green | | | | organizations. |
| homes. | | | | A shipping container may not immediately be |
| In the Boston area there is a new community | | | | thought of as a viable option for a home but |
| called Forbes Park that takes sustainable living to | | | | through conceptual innovation these small metal |
| the ultimate level of luxury. Built inside an | | | | boxes can be transformed into some very |
| abandoned printing facility from the 1800's, Forbes | | | | modern housing and on a tighter budget than one |
| Park dubs their homes as Hybrid lofts because | | | | might think. With a large surplus of such material |
| they garner over fifty percent of their energy | | | | simply taking up space at ship yards across the |
| from renewable resources. Most notably is their | | | | country it is possible to snag one of these |
| use of wind power from the turbine located right | | | | containers for as little as $900. In 2006 Peter |
| on the premises and passive solar through the | | | | DeMaria of DeMaria Design Associates took the |
| two walls of windows located at the end of each | | | | concept to the next level building a two story |
| loft space. In addition, the structure features a | | | | home in Redondo Beach, California from multiple |
| rain water collection system for use in toilets, | | | | containers. The home is inherently resistant to |
| radiant floor heat, thermal-mass passive heating | | | | bugs, mold and fire and in a location such as this |
| and cooling, low flow toilets, energy efficient | | | | where construction to withstand earthquakes is a |
| appliances and the use of durable, natural | | | | priority, it is comforting to note that a |
| materials lessening the need for replacement. | | | | pre-fabricated metal box is virtually indestructible. |
| Sometimes there is a negative stigma attached | | | | As evidenced in this small sampling of homes, the |
| to certain forms of housing, for example a trailer, | | | | opportunities are endless to create functional, |
| but Charmaine Manley Design has taken this way | | | | comfortable and gorgeous, homes that go far |
| of thinking and buried it so deeply beneath | | | | beyond the typical standard of normal. Due to |
| bamboo flooring and Paperstone countertops that | | | | their creative innovation each of these homes |
| the double wide trailer she renovated in Oregon | | | | display a keen attention to environmental |
| has been photographed as a show home. The | | | | awareness proving that irregular is just another |
| residence started out, as many trailers do, with | | | | word for exceptional. |
| chintzy carpet, paneled walls, aluminum windows | | | | |