Shelter : Dwelling : House : Home

posted by Susan Weeks

Please join TruexCullins this Thursday December 3rd, from 5-8pm, for the opening reception of Shelter : Dwelling : House : Home, a new exhibit featuring the work of local artists Judith Rey and Denis Versweyveld. A portion of the proceeds from artwork sold will benefit COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter.

Happy Holidays!

Office Field Trip

posted by Matthew Bushey

Each year, the entire office embarks on a day-long field trip to see examples of great architecture and interiors projects in our area. The purpose of the trip is to get out of the office to experience new work firsthand, learning from some of the great examples of design that are right in our backyard. It’s also a chance for us to share some quality time on a chartered bus.

Recent trips have included visits to the Exeter Library by Louis Kahn, the Forest Conservation Center in Concord, NH, and the new music building at McGill University in Montreal. This year, we visited two of our own projects.

We first toured a residence in Shelburne that we recently completed with our landscape architect, H. Keith Wagner Partnership. The owners graciously opened their new home to us, and Lee Grutchfield led the group on a guided tour of the building and site.

The project is actually two homes, connected with a common entry. The larger of the two is the home of the children and grandchildren, while the smaller is for the grandparents. The building sits comfortably in the landscape, receiving light and solar energy from the south, and framing views of Lake Champlain to the north. The home features passive solar heating, a geothermal well, and sugar maple and oak wood harvested from the site that is used throughout.

The whole experience of moving through the house is thoughtfully planned, from the initial arrival, to the conscious movement through the house, and finally to the views and curved boardwalk leading to the lake beyond.

The bus then boarded the Charlotte ferry and we headed across the lake to New York, where we toured the rebuilt Lake Placid Lodge. After a fine lunch, Steve Rooney led a tour of the grounds and main lodge.

The original building dated to 1882 and burned to the ground in 2005. TruexCullins worked with the Garrett Hotel Group and interior designer Joszi Meskan to recreate the rustic luxury of the original lodge. The new building is a non-combustible structure, but is finished with elaborate wood and stone detailing throughout. The craftsmanship is evident everywhere you look. This is a building that is truly at home in the Adirondack mountains.

Ten Tips to Improve your Inn or Resort

posted by Matthew Bushey

At last week’s fall conference for the New England Inns & Resorts Association (NEIRA), we distributed a list of ten strategies that property owners could take to improve their facility. Attendance at the conference was high, and many Inn owners and operators appreciated these suggestions for improving their property or changes to their day-to-day operations that would hopefully lead to more satisfied guests and increased business.

Ten Strategies to Improve your Property and Enhance your Guest Experience

By TruexCullins Resort Studio

From our work with Inns and Resorts around New England, we know that many lodging owners would like to make improvements to their facilities, but are not ready for a full building renovation. We have compiled this list of ten easy things you can do to make an immediate impact on your facility, including simple updates to guestrooms, and ideas for operations and events to increase your business. From becoming a ‘greener’ resort to implementing strategies for bringing people together, these steps can help set you apart from the competition and strengthen your unique identity.

1. Join your state’s Green Hotel Association.

Many states have started programs that promote sustainable building and operations practices specifically for the restaurant and lodging industry. By joining these programs, you will develop your property’s brand as an eco-conscious resort or inn, and you could benefit from inclusion in the Green Hotel directories and marketing efforts sponsored by the various associations.

Many of these programs have two levels of participation: For a small annual fee, you can have your property listed as a member in the organization, supporting the green building movement. For a deeper commitment, you can also pledge to implement a number of green practices in the area of operations and maintenance and become certified as Green Hotel.

Programs in New England include: Vermont Green Hotels; the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging & Restaurant Program; and the Maine Green Lodging Certification Program. Boston-area hotels and resorts can participate in the Boston Green Tourism program. Once you join an association, display your membership prominently by the front desk to increase your green credibility among your guests.

2. Expand your brand.

If you have a brand or insignia that represents your resort, think of new ways to incorporate this graphic into products both in and outside of the guestroom. Towels and linens are a natural place to use your company’s logo. It adds a touch of luxury and reinforces your brand among your guests.

Invite your kitchen staff to incorporate your brand in unconventional ways, and you may find that your chef gains a new talent for drizzling chocolate in the shape of your initials along the edge of the dessert plate.

3. Bring life into your lobby.

One of the more effective trends we see in lobby design is the use of various styles of furniture in the lobby and lounge areas. Using a creative mix of furnishings can increase the flexibility and versatility of spaces that may normally be tailored to just a single use.

Instead of using strictly lounge seating to serve the bar, and tables and chairs for dining, try mixing it up a bit. At the Portland Harbor Hotel in Portland, Maine, we combined lounge seating and low side tables with dining tables and chairs. Taller bar seating added a third option for guests to use at any time of the day. Whereas previously, the bar area was vacant during breakfast and the dining area sat dark during Happy Hour, by blurring the line between the two, a much more appealing and versatile space immediately began to draw more users. The result was a dramatic increase in business for the bar and restaurant.

To continue reading this article, you can download a PDF version from the Resources Page of the Interiors Studio on the Truexcullins website.

The (funky) Office of the Future

posted by Matthew Bushey

There’s an interesting article in yesterday's New York Post about the trend in office design to "reinvent" the workplace and of the renewed focus on creating spaces that are funky and captivating. More companies are looking for vibrant offices that are not just comfortable, but are also engaging and promote collaboration and creative thinking. Gone are the days of dull cubicles and "hepatitis-yellow lights".

The Post article features a photo of the slide in Google’s New York headquarters, with the caption “Laptoppers leave their desks behind”. It’s an extremely effective image: in instant icon of the playfulness that defines the corporate identity. While engaging in the mundane task of going from one place to another, why not have a little fun at the same time? And in fact, you get to your destination even quicker.

This reminds me of our work with Ben & Jerry's, another openly offbeat company right in our backyard. When we renovated their corporate headquarters in 2006, we added a curved slide that connects the conference room above to the main floor below. After sitting through a tedious staff meeting, you can pop into the "escape hatch" and go on with your day, leaving the world of powerpoint behind you.

These companies recognize that this is about more than just making their employees happy. The image of their workplace reinforces their company brand. In the case of Google and Ben & Jerry's, these elements of whimsy fit right in to their corporate philosophy.

We are currently working with the Sabra Dipping Company, makers of hummus and other middleeastern foods. At their new factory and office building in Richmond, Virginia, we're introducing some other unique features that promote the company brand. Their message is more about global cultural awareness and the pleasures of sharing international foods. While there will be no slide in their corporate offices, you can expect some equally clever moves that celebrate the spirit of the place.

Keeping it Local with Sam Norris Furniture

posted by Susan Weeks

Check out these beautiful chairs made by local furniture maker Sam Norris.  We collaborate with Sam here at TruexCullins and always love to see what he's working on.  Here's a description of the Empress Chairs from Sam.

"When I took a break from furniture making several years ago to work on the restoration of a classic wooden boat I lightheartedly swore that I’d never again design a piece of furniture with curves in it.  Seldom in boatbuilding did I find a straight line, and the work grew from challenging and fascinating to painstakingly slow.  Predictably, every piece of furniture I have designed since is full of curves; the graceful lines and sparse structure of the racing sloop had sunk in.  The Empress Chairs are no exception.

Originally designed to complement a desk I built for the 2008 New Hampshire Furniture Masters’ Association auction, these chairs take their original design concept from two classic Chinese chairs—one a straight-backed, rigid appearing piece with ornamentation on nearly every component, the other a fluid design with hardly a straight line to be found.  I worked toward a contemporary look that combined the strongest elements of each chair and did away with the involved pierced carvings and other ornament.

The result leaves no question as to the historical referent of the chair but gives a more inviting feel.  The subtle curves of each component, the doming of the faces on each leg and the soft, rounded surfaces of the arms and the laminated lumbar support of the back splat all have comfort in mind. The hand-woven cane seat is another alteration from the original.  The Carolina close weave and the wrap around the split seat rail is a nod to Danish chairs, meant to give these chairs a more contemporary feel.

The Chinese originals were imposing pieces, meant to accommodate the robes or stature of their owners who were certainly members of the ruling class.  My intent with the Empress Chairs was to scale back the originals, softening their appearance, while maintaining their strong presence."

Turns out, Sam sold these chairs to Governor Sununu and his wife, Nancy, through the New Hampshire Furniture Masters' annual auction.  Check out his website samnorrisfurniture.com.

10th Annual Roland Batten Lecture

posted by Susan Weeks

Check out this upcoming lecture at UVM on sustainable planning and design.  Will Fleissig will  speak on Wednesday October 28th at 6pm, at 301 Williams Hall on the UVM Campus.  His talk, "Sanity Scenario," will challenge us all to consider the question "Can Burlington and its design community help to shape a more sustainable future?"  This intriguing talk is the 10th Annual Roland Batten Lecture, a series created in honor of our friend and colleague, architect Roland Batten who passed away in 1999.  This  event is sponsored by the Roland Batten Memorial Fund, TruexCullins, and the University of Vermont's Visiting Artists, Art Critics and Art Historians Lecture Series.  Hope to see you there! 

Energy Use in a Net Zero Home

posted by Lee Grutchfield, AIA

When I am talking to people about the idea of a “net-zero” home, I will sometimes say that we are now able to build houses that use no energy.  In reality, it is more appropriate to say that the houses create as much energy as they use over the course of the year. This is done by harvesting the sun’s energy, through the use of photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, as well as passive solar heat gained through south facing glass.  Often the next question will be, “How much energy can I use, and still have a net zero house?”

While there is no set answer to that question, I thought I would share a case study from a recently completed home in the South Farms development in Hinesburg, Vermont.  The house has approximately 1,800 square feet of heated living space, and utilizes a geothermal well for primary heat, with wood stove back up.

Energy use projection in kWhrs/yr: 

Refridgerator 383
Dishwasher 82

Microwave 50
Clothes Washer 153
Clothes Dryer 104
TV 50
Computer 20
Stereo 20
Lights 250
Garage Door Opener 50
Water Well Pump 100
Heat Recovery Ventilation 220
Central Vac 60
Domestic Hot Water 400
Phantom loads 100
Heat Pump 1,800

Total Load 3,842 kWhrs/yr

Energy production from PV panels generate 4,352 watts, which will give a total gain of 4,787 kWhrs/yr.

In this scenario the local power company will owe the owner $179.00 at the end of the year for excess power that is fed into the utility grid.

Vermont Foodbank's Kingsbury Farm – Part II

posted by David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

As mentioned in the last post, Phase I of the Kingsbury Farm project is the renovation of the garage into the center of agricultural operations. Due to a generous grant from Jane's Trust, that work is underway and should be complete this October.  The next phase includes the renovation of the house into office space, reception area and farm residence. Guided by the master plan, Yestermorrow is assisting the Vermont Foodbank, using the smaller scale house renovation needs for their design-build class projects.

The final phase involves the transformation of the historic gambrel barn into a community education center. The center will include an exhibit space, gathering space and community kitchen, all open to the exposed structure of the barn.  The focus of the center will be on education about hunger, food and agricultural issues.  The Foodbank envisions the barn project as a community resource, planned and funded with the strong coalition of community groups that initially joined forces to save the farm. 
The priority now is to make the farm operational and to produce food for needy Vermonters.  The education center is a longer term project, the success of  which will depend on the support of local community organizations, foundations and generous Vermonters. 

Vermont Foodbank's Kingsbury Farm - Part I

posted by David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

As a board member of the Vermont Foodbank (VFB), I have been continually impressed with the innovative approaches taken by VFB to solve the hunger problem.  It's not just about gathering and sharing food anymore, and part of the Foodbank’s approach is to nurture partnerships that promote positive change and education about hunger issues.
It was in this spirit that VFB acquired the Kingsbury Farm in Warren, Vermont. The Vermont Land Trust, working with a group of local community organizations, bought the farm with the goal of preserving the agricultural land and historic structures for community use and protecting the river while providing public access. They found the perfect buyer.  The Vermont Foodbank stepped forward to purchase the farm to grow fresh produce for its network partners and as a community resource to educate the public about hunger issues in Vermont,
the value of nutrition, and local sustainable agriculture.

TruexCullins has been privileged to help VFB with master planning services for the Kingsbury Farm, helping the Foodbank and its partners define a vision for the farm as it evolves. Phase I includes the renovation of the garage into the center of agricultural operations for the farm. Phase II and III (blog post) coming soon!

Sneak Peak: Upcoming Exhibit to Benefit COTS

posted by Susan Weeks

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the home and studios of two wonderful Vermont artists, Judith Rey and Denis Versweyveld.  Judith, a painter, and Denis, a sculptor, graciously invited me out to their lovely home in Monkton to see their work.  What a treat, not to mention the fabulous lunch Judith made for all of us, straight from the couple's beautiful garden.

The two, who have worked separately for years, are now combining their interests in painting and sculpture in a collaborative show titled: "Shelter : Dwelling : House : Home," which will be on display at TruexCullins in early December.  Using conceptual house forms cast in plaster and concrete, Denis' iconic sculptures complement Judith's paintings of the same simple structural forms that shape our natural and built environment.  A portion of the proceeds from artwork sold will benefit COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter.  Opening reception and holiday party Thursday December 3rd at 209 Battery Street, on Burlington's historic waterfront. Stay tuned for more information.

Helen Day Arts Center Stowe Home Tour

posted by Susan Weeks, LEED AP

If you're looking for something fun to do in Vermont on Columbus Day Weekend, check out the Stowe Home Tour, "Home is where the art is," a Celebration of Art, Craft & Architecture.  TruexCullins is a proud sponsor of this event, which benefits the Helen Day Art Center.  The event is Saturday October 10th from 10:30am-3:30pm and features four homes, one of which is a TruexCullins Interiors Studio project, "Custom Trapp Villa #4", at Trapp Family Lodge, a collaboration with the Burley Partnership.  For more information visit www.helenday.com.  Another great way to support art, architecture and interior design!

So What’s an Eco-Lodge?

posted by David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

My colleague and I just returned from Ethiopia where we are working on LEED certification for several new buildings at the International Community School of Addis Ababa.  As part of the trip, we were fortunate to travel 4 hours south to Bishangari Ecolodge.

Bishangari is on the shores of Lake Langano and consists of 8 cabins, a dining pavilion and kitchen, and office.  All are solar powered and the kitchen uses bio-gas for cooking.  Bio-gas is created from solid human waste and food scraps mixed in a digester.  The mixture off-gasses methane that is then piped into the kitchen for cooking.  The setting is natural and remote. Getting there is part of the adventure and requires 4 wheel drive and nerves of steel -- one of the bridges was a metal container!

But it was worth it.  After we parked and started the walk in, we could here the grunts of the warthogs that live among cabins.  The lush setting includes baboons, monkeys, pelicans…we even saw hippos feeding at dusk.  We walked through forest villages where life has not changed for thousands of years.

So what is an eco-lodge? Well according to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), founded in 1990, ecotourism is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” An eco-lodge goes a bit further. The Nature Conservancy published Ecolodge Guidelines based on the work of Hitesh Mehta, one of the leading authorities on ecotourism.  They define an ecolodge as a lodge having minimal impact, that fits into the physical and cultural context, utilizes green technologies, involves and benefits local communities, and integrates environmental and cultural education into the visitor’s experience.

The integration of sustainability, economic benefit and education is a powerful combination. Our experience certainly brought us a deeper understanding and appreciation of a different culture and habitat.

Architecture & Design Film Festival 2009

posted by Susan Weeks

TruexCullins is pleased to sponsor of the first annual Architecture and Design Film Festival, September 24th – 27th, at the Big Picture Theater and Cafe in Waitsfield, VT.  With over thirty films -- including feature-length films, documentaries, and shorts -- the event aims to challenge viewers to understand how architects and designers think, work, and create.  The films profile visionary architects, the creative design process, environmental issues, and the brilliant designs that we see and use every day.  The program also includes conversations with filmmakers, architects, and designers; and, an architecture tour of Mad River Valley homes.  For an up-to-date listing of the films and program schedule, visit www.adfilmfest.com.

The Architecture and Design Film Festival is being presented by Bergman Design Team, and all the proceeds of the festival will go directly to benefit Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vermont.  Yestermorrow inspires students to create a better and more sustainable world by providing an architectural education that integrates design and building into one continuous process.  Hope to see you there.

LEED Goes International!

posted by David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

These days many people are familiar with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.  Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is a credit-based system that addresses 5 categories:

Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.  There are also Regional Priority and Innovation in Design credits available as well.  In each category, there are prerequisites that are mandatory and an array of available measures to be considered, each with their own documentation required.  LEED Version 3.0 relies on certification by GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute), an outgrowth of the USGBC.  Because of both its flexibility and rigor, LEED has become the de-facto green building standard in the U.S.

And it is growing rapidly.  Currently, there are over 35,000 projects participating in the LEED system.  More and more clients are requiring LEED certification for their new projects. TruexCullins' experience bears this out, having completed 2 LEED projects to date and with 2 more undergoing certification.  Virtually every RFP (Request for Proposal) we see these days includes LEED certification as part of the project.

Despite its U.S. roots and U.S. based standards, LEED is now growing rapidly overseas. According to Alex Palmer of Nielsen Business Media, international projects now account for “…27 percent of all square footage registered for LEED qualification.  The number of registered projects outside of the United States went from only 8 in 2004…to 1,120 in 2008…There are currently LEED projects in 114 of the world’s 195 nations.”  The highest concentration is in Scandinavia, where 43 LEED projects are underway.

Our work with international schools has made us acutely aware of this trend.  For several years, we have been using LEED as a framework for evaluating environmental design opportunities on our international school projects.  Recently, however, we were retained by the International Community School of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to coordinate the LEED process and certification for 5 new campus buildings to be built over the next 10 years.  That the standards have not been converted to metric or European equivalents is the least of the challenges.  Some of the prerequisites, such as energy modeling and commissioning, are new concepts, and local consultants are not yet experienced with these activities.  On the other hand, other credits, such as Daylighting and Views, are easy to achieve in Ethiopia's benign climate.

As LEED goes international, it will be interesting to see whether USGBC will adapt its standards to the metric system or European equivalents.  Currently, all documentation must be in the U.S. based “imperial” system.  Similarly, regional credits and climate zone choices are all based on North America.  With its growing popularity overseas, perhaps it is only a matter of time before LEED adopts standards that are viable across the globe.

Art Hop 2009

posted by Susan Weeks, LEED AP

Hey - if you're looking for a little culture in your life, check out this year's South End Art Hop September 11-12th. Voted one of the Top 10 2009 Fall Events by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont's largest art festival, it's a weekend you won't want to miss. Plus, it's a great way to support locals artists as well as SEABA, the South End Arts & Business Association. Check out all the sites, from Burton Snowboards to Red Concrete, Flynndog Gallery to JDK Design, and there's even a fashion show. And hey, if you're hopping around on September 11th, make sure to stop by TruexCullins' office at 209 Battery Street (Site #44) and check out our Architectural Photography exhibit. Visit http://www.seaba.com/ for more details.

Green Schools: Impacts on Health and Learning

posted by David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP on August 27, 2009

Recently, my colleague Steve Kredell and I attended the School Building Expo in Pittsburgh, PA. Many of the sessions focused on creating sustainable schools. Of particular interest to us was the keynote speech given by Vivian Loftness, FAIA of Carnegie Mellon University on the impact of green schools on health and learning. She was part of a team of researchers at the National Academy of Science who reviewed the scientific literature related to this subject and reported their findings, which are summarized below.

Quantifying the benefits of green building typically focuses on life-cycle costs. This approach looks at the cost of materials, the energy or resources they consume, and the cost and timing of maintenance and replacement. While many green building rating systems, such as LEED and CHPS, suggest improved student performance is a benefit, it has always been difficult to point to hard evidence in support of that claim. The notable exception (that we are aware of) being the “Daylighting in Schools” study by Heschong Mahone Group, 1999, which demonstrated increased student performance in day-lit schools.

So we were eager to hear the findings, as health and learning is of critical importance in an educational environment, and making the case for green schools, at least partly based on this criteria, while sensible, has not always been substantiated by readily available data.

The results of the study are documented in “Green Schools: Attributes for Health and Learning” by the Committee to Review and Assess the Health and Productivity Benefits, National Research Council, 2007. Below is the summary of their findings:

“After evaluating the research literature, the committee concluded that a green school with the following attributes would support student and teacher health, learning, and productivity:

• Dryness: Excessive moisture, which has been associated with adverse health effects, particularly asthma and respiratory diseases, is not present.
  
  
• Good indoor air quality and thermal comfort: Ventilation rates, air pollutants, humidity levels, and temperature ranges, which have been linked to human health, learning, and productivity, are effectively controlled.
  
  
  
  
• Quietness: The acoustical quality, which has been shown to affect student learning and the development of language skills, meets the newly released Standard 12.60, “Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools,” of the American National Standards Institute.
  
  
  
  
• Well-maintained systems: Building systems are commissioned to ensure that they perform as intended, and their performance is monitored over time. Routine preventive maintenance is implemented throughout a school’s service life.
  
  
  
  
• Cleanliness: Surfaces are disinfected to interrupt the transmission of infectious diseases, and measures are implemented to help control indoor pollutants that have been associated with asthma and other respiratory diseases.”
  

Within the report are more detailed findings and recommendations, with discussion. In some cases, there simply was not enough evidence to support a finding. In other cases, it was not possible to associate a cause with an effect. Ironically, the committee was not able to include daylighting as a benefit to health and learning. According to the study, the available literature did not adequately differentiate between artificial, natural light and corrective eyesight issues. The evidence of non-visual benefits of daylighting through the circadian system was noted, but also did not meet the “sufficiency of data” threshold.

In regard to the complexity of their task, the committee rightly notes that a building is a “system of systems” and that the focus of green school guidelines should emphasize these interrelationships, so that health and learning benefits are maximized along with energy and resource efficiency.

The Green House

posted by Matthew Bushey & Susan Weeks, August 10, 2009

Earlier this summer, TruexCullins was approached with a unique proposal: Cercone Brown & Co., a Boston based PR firm, requested that our firm host a group of journalists and editors at one of our green house projects in order to demonstrate "green living" methods.

South Farm Homes, a community of 6 net-zero energy residences located in the village of Hinesburg, VT, was perfect for the occasion. One of the houses was just nearing completion, and the owner graciously allowed the use of the home before moving in. The homes truly are "net-zero", producing as much energy on-site as the buildings consume. The house used for this event has a 4,300 watt solar PV system, a solar hot water system, and a geothermal heat pump for space heat.

For three weeks in May, a group of 20 top consumer, green and business editors from regional and national publications lived the "green lifestyle", rotating through the house in small groups, living in Hinesburg and travelling to events around the area. They included writers from InStyle/Early Show green segments, Shape Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and a number of green design blogs including Eco Chic, Huffington Post & Greenopia.

Dubbed "The Green House", the project aimed to show that building a green house and living the green lifestyle need not be expensive or inconvenient. The guests gathered and slept at the house, participated in events at places such as Shelburne Farms, dined on local food at the Inn at the Round Barn, toured Seventh Generation and Green Mountain Coffee and even test drove the new Honda Insight Hybrid. While they were staying at the house, it wasn't all rest and relaxation. One day, the guests participated in Green-Up Day, helping to pick up trash and clean up the neighborhood around Hinesburg while another group participated in a community service garden project to aid local families in need.

TruexCullins outfitted the house with furnishings and accessories from vendors we regularly work with for many of our projects. The interior items contributed to the sustainable qualities of the home and made for a comfortable, healthy interior. Finely crafted furniture using FSC-certified wood was supplied by furniture makers Beeken Parsons , Lars Larsen and Pompanoosuc Mills. Hand-woven area rugs were provided by Beaver Meadow. Table lamps using efficient lamping and recycled materials were donated by Conant Metal & Light. Other companies that graciously offered their wares included Seventh Generation, Bennington Potters, and the Vermont Flannel Company as well as Lake Champlain Chocolates and maple syrup from Square Deal farm. Artwork was provided by Tom Cullins, Sally Reiss, Judy Minadeo, Rolf Kielman, and Doris Weeks, among others.

Our friends over at LoveTomorrowToday were at the Open House, and they filmed this video of Rolf Kielman and builder and collaborator Chuck Reiss of Reiss Building & Renovation talking about the project.

You can also read about the South Farm Homes/Green House on CasaSugar under Green Living, where editor Elka Karl highlights the renewable and energy-efficient features of the house.

Paper or Plastic?

posted by Matthew Bushey on July 30, 2009

As an architect in the Interiors Studio, I’m always keeping my eyes open for new materials that are truly sustainable, durable, and beautiful. (And, I should add, affordable.) One material of particular interest is what we use for the kitchen counter. It’s often the most visible feature in the room and establishes the character for the whole kitchen. At the same time, it receives a lot of abuse and must meet some pretty tough performance requirements.

One new product that we really like is Paperstone. It came on the market a few years ago and quickly gained popularity as an alternative countertop and cladding material. I first tried it out in my own house, installing new kitchen counters, in part to “test-drive” the new product before offering it as a suggestion to others. Our office has since used it on other projects, including the new guest suites at the Portland Harbor Hotel.

The product is green because it is made of recycled paper, held together with a natural resin binder. While conventional solid surfacing is a petrochemical-based plastic product, Paperstone is the eco-friendly alternative. Even stone, which may be a natural material, is hardly sustainable. After all, it takes a million years to make, and it is very energy-intensive to extract.

We like the look of PaperStone. It’s been compared to soapstone, and has a soft feel. Unlike stone, it is warm to the touch, and is a friendly material that invites use. It holds up perfectly fine to heat (up to 350 degrees) and water (undermount sinks are fine). After a few months of heavy use, it can get a little dull, but all it takes is a little wood oil or mineral oil (or their PaperStone Finish) and it will bring back that satin sheen.

The inventor of the product has since sold the PaperStone brand and has gone on to develop the next-generation of sustainable composite surfacing. They call it EcoTop, and they’ve added some bamboo to the recipe to make it even harder and more durable. We’ve taken a look at it in our office. The first thing we noticed was that it doesn’t have the same nice matte finish as PaperStone. However, the color line is much improved.

The jury is still out on EcoTop, but for now, I would continue to recommend PaperStone if you’re looking for an eco-friendly material for your kitchen counter.

Seven Shades of Green

posted by Matthew Bushey on July 30, 2009

Building on our continuous exploration of architectural and interior materials, we recently compiled a checklist of the pros and cons of the most popular green building materials and products that are on the market today. These were presented at a talk I gave at the Residential Design and Construction conference in Boston, for a presentation to homeowners on 'How to Green Your Home'.

It seems everyone is claiming they're 'green' these days, and homeowners are overloaded with information on green products and materials for the home. It's often hard to make a simple comparison between products, and it's unclear which one is the 'greener' option.

Anyone can spend days on the internet and uncover reams of information, but what we wanted was a concise checklist that clearly presented the green attributes of various materials so you could quickly compare your options and choose the greenest product that made sense for you.

There are seven pages, each on a specific topic:

• Structural Systems
• Roofing
• Thermal Insulation
• Renewable Energy
• Lighting
• Flooring
• and Countertops

Some of the products are included for comparison purposes, like the incandescent light bulb and stone countertops, but most of the materials and methods described here are being marketed as eco-friendly “green” products. However, it’s not always as simple as you are led to believe. There are a number of environmental factors, pros and cons, that you have to weigh, from the manufacture, the use and maintenance, and eventual reuse and disposal.

You can download the checklists, Residential Green Building in the Northeast, as a PDF file from theInteriors Studio: Resources page of the TruexCullins website.

Welcome to the TruexCullins Blog

In 2008 TruexCullins began its fifth decade of design excellence. Our focus remains constant… to provide design leadership to our clients and communities. This focus demands skill, passion and effort from dedicated people. At TruexCullins, our people define and empower us to be creative and thoughtful, to provide insight and imagination. We listen and engage the people we work for and with. We embrace dreams and respect budgets. We enhance lives as well as the natural environment.We enjoy our work, and look forward to each new design project with curiosity, pride and passion.

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