Sensible desks are a bit like sensible shoes. In other words, they’re functional but not so pretty to look at. The design challenge: finding a desk that can handle a computer, office supplies, papers, cables, printers, and still look deliciously elegant. (Above, the Piu desk formerly offered by Design Within Reach beautifully fit our criteria but alas is no longer available). So here’s a few options that are still available:

If wires are your problem, we propose the Slot Desk (below) by Jennifer Newman. Red and shiny like a race car, this beauty provides a convenient slot that lets messy cables, computer and phone wires disappear directly into the table.

Or is your problem a lack of space? If a corner of your bedroom or living room also serves as a home office, check out Crate and Barrel’s Incognito Compact Office. Retailing for $999, the convertible desk also features a letter/legal file drawer, a storage drawer, an adjustable and removable shelf, as well as cut-outs for those darned cables.

The Jay Desk (below) by West Elm, is $199 and perfect for those who have only a small study or home office. What makes this desk cool is that a roll out extension can double your working space when you need it, but disappear when you don’t. The desk includes a shelf and small drawer for gadgetry and other necessities.

Finally, we just had to mention the Homework Desk by Robin Grasby. We’re not even sure if the desk of this London designer is on the market, but it meets home office needs beautifully and with great polish, providing bays for pencils and pens, felt storage slings and drawers, book support, an integrated wooden ruler, monitor shelf, cutting mat, whiteboard, space for vertical filing and charging ports for small gadgets. Now there’s a functional desk!

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Design Dilemma: Functional Desks that Are Cool, Too

So often buildings have huge view windows, but once the realization of the need for shade arises, they just get curtained from inside, blocking the views. It’s sad.

How much more useful it would be to use an awning to capture all that free sunshine, with adjustable solar shades. A shade that you could wind outwards from inside would be just perfect, like this Solar Awning design by xClinic to be tested at a pilot installation on the Bronx River Arts Center (BRAC) and NYU student housing.

But this design goes one better than a simple solar shade. It is a complete mini ecosystem…
…that makes its own complete closed-loop environment; providing not just solar power over the window to shade and power at the same time,  and a vegetable garden window box under the window.

In a commercial downtown area, with maybe fifty to hundred feet of a sheer vertical space, the solar generation could really add up, and in that environment birds really do lack alternatives for nesting spots because we are edging them out of our cities.

So, underneath the awning, a space for bird nesting and rehabilitation is created using the awning supports for structure, with a little netting strung between the two supports to create habitats for bird species otherwise being pushed out of urban areas. The bird droppings from the nesting area will nourish the little garden, instead of going to waste on the city’s streets.

And what to run off those three or four solar panels on each window? Here’s an Airconditioner that Uses Just 600 watts – 3 or 4 Solar Panels.

Image: xClinic
Source: Ecolect

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Solar Awnings-Plus for Commercial Buildings

Rammed earth walls that comprise both interior and exterior face in one integrated piece makes this building technology waste-free and easy on the environment.

SIREWALL has updated the ancient technique by including rebar, cement, and insulation inside. The rebar provides earthquake-proof protection, and a 4″ layer of insulation barrier prevents any dampness from traveling through the earth from outside.

A wall made in this way can include built-in windows with a very clean finish.

It costs about $6,000 per wall that is up to 22″ thick. However, that wall includes all the additional requirements that are normally provided separately, like framing, acoustical barriers, insulation, both the final interior and the exterior finishes – all as one integrated unit.

Rammed earth can even be used to build details within a house. Stairs and banisters and other internal details can be made using rammed earth. Modern construction techniques can be easily added with this technology, as in this stair banister-to-glass detail.

And an extraordinary variety of beautiful, subtle colors is possible, by mixing layers of shades of different earths.

The small amount of cement mixed in makes the building durable and waterproof, while keeping the beauty of the layers of rammed earth.

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New Rammed Earth Design: Tough, Eco-Correct, & Very Chic

Because the earth absorbs about half the energy it gets from the sun, ground temperatures about four to six feet below the earth’s surface remain relatively moderate and constant all year. In Massachusetts, summer temperatures can be very hot and and humid. Winters are chilly.With climate change, more extremes are predicted for the region.

But at Cold Spring Green, heating and cooling for each unit in these highly efficient condominiums will be delivered from wells dug into the ground at the front of the building during construction. The geothermal system will reduce the electrical energy that would normally be needed to heat and cool these units, offering up to 70% cost savings on the remaining electric usage.

The geothermal system at Cold Spring Green is supplied by Hydron Module Pumps Geothermal Technology located in the lower level of each unit. Geothermal units (sometimes called ground heat pumps to differentiate them from utility-scale geothermal power) are now eligible for a 30% tax credit in the US, as one of the green incentives in the Obama administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The windows are double-panel, tinted windows from Germany with glass insulated with high-performance Low-e glazing.

The roofs of the condos are solar ready, with roofs angled perfectly for the azimuth in Newton, Massachusetts. As panels will be installed by the developer, owners will be able to reap the cost saving benefits without incurring additional expense. Solar in Massachusetts is eligible for rebates of $2,000 per kilowatt under the Commonwealth Solar plan, which would take $10,000 off a 5 KW system that is capable of producing X kilowatt-hours a month of electricity.

The kitchens boast energy efficient appliances that cost a little more, but in the long run save many times their initial investment in energy costs. The 30% tax credit for solar that is in the ARRA would more than offset these appliance investments.

The Geothermal Heat Pump System in tandem with the efficient windows and insulation eliminates the need for any air conditioning 10 months a year and heating.

The open floor plan, large windows, and electronically-operated skylights, allow air to circulate and natural light to penetrate throughout.  The design allows for the return of old fashioned natural ventilation instead of AC, because the wraparound atrium space between each pair of duplexes generates significant ventilation with no energy cost during these two months.  Even without solar panels these units save about $16,000 over 20 years.  With solar panels as well, that might well be close to $100,000 in savings.

Source: Cold Spring Homes
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Massachusetts Condos Tap Geothermal Power for Cool Summers, Warm Winters

1) Hallway as gallery. What about transforming your hallway into a home gallery of photos or paintings? Because many hallways are narrow, it usually works better to hang smaller works that require close-up viewing rather than huge dramatic paintings.  However if the hallway is large enough (four or five feet wide) a colorful painting that reaches from floor to ceiling can have A LOT of impact, especially if the painting is situated at the end of a hallway.

2) Hallway as library. Books are so cozy, and a hallway filled with them automatically feels warm and inviting. If you go this route, opt for built-in shelves that naturally flow with the space. Consider bookshelves that run from floor to ceiling and include doors to help keep the hallway feeling clean and uncluttered.

3) Hallway as lounge. Hey, if you’ve got the space, why not lounge around in it? A hallway, especially a hallway with a window or good light, can be the perfect place to set up a narrow bench, a few chairs or cushions which can serve as a place to sit while you’re putting on shoes, reading a good book, or sipping tea.

4) Hallway as storage room. Don’t have enough closets in your house? Use your hallway as extra storage space. You’ll want to provide closed storage in most instances to keep the hallway from feeling cluttered. If you have open shelves, remember to keep them well-organized and not too packed with knick-knacks and tchotchkes.  The hallway below incorporates closed storage bins that can also function as seating, as well as open shelves for displaying artwork and books.

5) Hallway as elegant transitional space. Two or three simple steps can make a hallway stand out in elegance. These include pendant lamps, which can serve as a simple but dramatic focal point, as well as bold paint colors and wallpaper. Paint the moldings the same color as the walls and ceilings if you want the hallway to seem larger. Paint the ends of the hallways a darker color if you want the hallway to appear wider. Go for dark colors if you want the hallway to seem cozy. As these photos prove, there’s no reason why a hallway has to be simply a bland, boring way to get from one room to another!

Images: via Apartmenttherapy.com, Notebook Magazine.com, LivingEtc

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Design Dilemma: Help for Hallways

Gypsum mining is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions because manufacturing it requires that it be intensely heated using fossil fuels. Every building in the US has gypsum in its sheet rock or dry wall. A typical gypsum drywall plant can consume up to two trillion BTU’s of natural gas a year.

By comparison, Serious Materials EcoRock needs no heat to cure. It is made using 80% post-industrial recycled waste, even waste from steel and cement plants. These changes cut EcoRock’s carbon footprint 80% over the ubiquitous gypsum dry wall.

Nevertheless, traditional builders balk at any change, especially one this disruptive.

The US did not sign the Kyoto Accord, requiring nations to reduce their carbon footprint, so it has yet to create the cap and trade market that creates funding to pay for energy efficiency tech, as Europe did with the European Trading System, so the US now lags a decade behind Europe in developing energy efficient technology.

As a result, Serious Materials has virtually no competition in the US for its energy efficient residential building products. But that is beginning to change. The US is finally getting serious about insulation and retrofitting its buildings to go from gas guzzlers to energy misers.

The Wall Street Journal awarded the company its Environmental Leader Award last summer, and the Obama Administration has just awarded the small start-up one of its green manufacturing tax credits to add permanent  jobs running production lines to make the environmentally clean sheet rock that could build a much lower carbon America for the next 50 years.

Image: Maschin Arhitektur
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Serious Materials Could Cut US Carbon Footprint

This new building houses Sipea headquarters. It was designed so that…

the operating cost would be negative : the selling to the grid of the electricity produced by the solar roof incorporated into the south-facing side on the roof more than offsets the running costs of the buildings energy use for heating and cooling.

The  rooftop solar produces 9,000 kilowatt-hours a year of electricity, and manages to use far less than that itself.

Due to PassivHaus construction (basically; lots of insulation)  the heating and cooling requirements of the building are negligible, thanks to careful design and construction. The roof is a kind of see-through solar that is not yet available in the US. Then it is sandwhiched between layers of glass to be super energy efficient: not lose heat or gain it.

The roof does let natural lighting in though, affording a dappled protection against direct solar glare, while reducing the heat loss and producing electricity. The cells are spaced out between two sheets of glass, mounted in between the double-glazed sun-roof.

The yearly operation of the building requires very little active heating, thanks to PassivHaus  insulation (22 cm of cellulosic wool in the outer walls) and it needs no active cooling at all, just ventilation.

Even with this highly efficient design, the  construction costs were only $207 a square foot and the yearly operating costs are lower than their previous – much smaller headquarters.

Images: Flikr user paspog
Source: Sipea
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Here’s a Building That Makes Money Selling Electricity

Buying a couch is already daunting enough, but when that couch is leather, things get even scarier. Leather is so expensive. Is it worth the expense? Will leather really be more durable and practical than fabric? Will it be comfortable or cold to the touch in winter and hot and sweaty during the summer? Following, a few of your questions, answered:

Is leather practical?

Yes and no. It’s true that leather can wipe clean with a damp sponge, thus eliminating the costly upholstery cleaning bills that are just part of life with a fabric sofa. On the other hand, leather can easily scratch, depending on the quality of the leather. (Some of the highest quality leathers are actually more vulnerable to scratching than those that have been treated.) Before purchasing a leather couch, evaluate your needs and choose your leather accordingly. If you have pets or children, choose a coated leather that is resistant to scratches. It may not feel as soft as uncoated leather, but it will likely stand up to a beating. And if you’re looking for that aged and distressed look that comes with time, purchase a high-quality, uncoated leather and rest assured that your leather couch will only look better with time.

What kind of leather choices do you have?

Most leather couches will come in a variety of grades. Aniline is the most natural form of leather with a soft, supple feel that will retain all the natural characteristics of the hide. Just the best hides are used and the leather receives  no chemical treatment or pigmented finish. Semi-aniline leather is a soft top grain leather combining the supple feel of  untreated hide while providing some stain protection through a light surface coating. Semi-aniline leather is dyed in a dyebath to acheive an even coloration and is finished with a thin layer that keeps the hide feeling soft. Coated leather or “corrected leather” has been sanded, treated and embossed to correct blemishes and often has a high-gloss finish resulting from the application of a film of colored polyurethane. This coating makes the leather more resistant to spills. “Corrected” leather is usually less expensive than uncorrected leather because hides must not necessarily be of the highest quality for a uniform, beautiful look.

How is leather maintained?

Some people are under the impression that leather requires no maintenance whatsoever. That’s not true. In fact, most leathers benefit from regular treatments with leather conditoners to keep the leather from drying out. Before applying a leather conditioner it’s probably not bad to swab down a couch with a gentle barely damp sponge.  Commercial leather cleaners also exist for the same job. Avoid oil soaps that can stain and darken leather and be aware that dishwashing soaps can change the color of the leather. When you purchase your couch, be sure to inquire about recommended cleaners for the type of leather you’re buying.

Is leather cold… or too hot?

Leather will definitely feel colder than fabric in a cold room, and is likely to feel hotter when the temperatures rise. Usually, however, those temperature adjustments last just a minute or two and the leather will warm to your body temperature, or feel cool even on a hot day. Vinyl and faux leathers, however, are a whole different story. Be sure to keep your leather couch out of direct sunlight, which can lead to cracking. Also, avoid placing leather couches near extreme sources of heat or cold like radiators or air-conditioners.

What color choices are most practical?

If your home is filled with children and pets, or if your couch will get heavy use, you’re probably better off sticking with darker colors. A cream or white leather couch will show dirt with time and can be vulnerable to stains. On the other hand, you don’t necessarily have to go with dark brown or black to gain a measure of camouflauge from dirt. Any color beyond stark white or cream — particularly tans, olive greens and taupes — will provide more mileage as far as dirt and stains go.

Can leather be repaired?

Yes, rips and tears can be repaired, but it doesn’t come cheaply. You can try it on your own with a leather repair kit but it’s not easy to do well unless you have lots and lots of practice. Clear liquid compounds on the market can be used to repair small rips and scratches. These sorts of repairs are not lasting, however, and the rip will open again in time. Larger repairs are best handled by a professional. Photograph the rip and send the photo to a leather repair professional for an estimate of repair costs.

What are the best style options?

Because a high-quality leather sofa is a durable choice that may last you years — or a lifetime — you’re better off choosing classic, elegant shapes that will endure for the ages. Beware of ultra-trendy two-toned models or shapeless couches that will lose even more shape with time.

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Design Dilemma: Choosing A Leather Sofa

MyFab has an innovative idea that solves a real problem. One of the scariest things for anyone starting out in product design businesses is not knowing how many to make of any  new product design. It’s always a leap of faith that your brilliant idea will be appreciated and actually sell. Especially if you make very high-end designer furniture; each piece can be quite an investment in time and money.

A possible solution is in MyFab’s new site that is launching in California next month and will provide an online venue for start-up designers to get feedback on the popularity of high end furniture designs before committing to production runs.

It’s like taking viewers into the studio of your design office and saying to your potential future customers – which of these ideas on the drawing board now would you prefer to see developed. It takes the R out of R & D. If you get the research done first and find that nobody cares about the idea you thought was your winner this season – you won’t waste time and money developing it.

And it’s all as easy as the click of a mouse. Site visitors come and vote on the pieces that they would like to buy most. When there is a clear trend, then only the most obviously popular pieces are built. It is a great way to jumpstart design businesses. Designers would get the real-world feedback than generally only comes in the form of the school of hard knocks, once you have committed to production lines.

Then MyFab sources the production of the high end furniture directly from the factories in China that supply private-label furniture to European retailers. The designer does away with the middleman. By producing only the most popular ones on demand, this eliminates inventory, showroom, and catalog costs, resulting in Myfab’s prices being 50 to 80% lower than comparable retail prices.

Image: MyFab

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MyFab.com – R & D Made Easy for Design Biz Startups

The Wisdom Way Solar Village homes  show just what can be done: you can have a $300 a year energy bill, even in Massachusetts. The solar equipped Zero Energy homes will be certified through the EnergyStar Homes program and DOE Builder’s Challenge.

Most of the homes in the Wisdom Way Solar Village development are being sold to low-income buyers. A smaller percentage of units are being designated for moderate-income buyers, while two will be sold on the open market.

The reason that Swedish houses use wood floors is that they are easy to keep clean in snowy climates. Wet soaked carpets harbor pathogens and rot the underflooring. So Wisdom Way used locally-harvested, Forest Stewardship Council certified wood flooring. Because it is locally harvested, it used few carbon miles.

Solar electric panels and solar thermal collectors on the roof provide electricity and domestic hot water. Other energy saving features include high-efficiency water fixtures and toilets, instantaneous water heaters, programmable thermostats, and mechanical ventilation and distribution. These homes are up to 92% more energy efficient than homes that meet the most recent building codes in the region.

Even now, and even in Massachusetts, solar is cost-effective compared with paying for utility energy. Since you are going to pay for electricity anyway, it is foolish to worry about “payback” for solar. Your other option: utility electricity never achieves payback. There is no date by which you will have paid off your utility electric supply: you will pay for electricity every month till you are dead.

Solar Village homeowners would pay only about $300 a year for energy in a region where energy can cost ten times that.

“These Platinum homes resulted from a talented project team that included multiple energy specialists, superior craftsmen, and a developer with an incredible vision for the future of affordable housing” said Maureen Mahle, LEED for Homes Program Manager at Steven Winter Associates, Inc.

The focus was heavily on reducing energy use. Each unit has a very tight, super well insulated envelope: an incredible R-42 (using blown cellulose). On the Southern exposure; units have high-solar gain insulated windows and triple-glazed, low-e windows elsewhere, and each unit has high efficiency lighting, and all that is needed for heat after all those thermal efficiency measures is a tiny, sealed-combustion heater.

Images: Austin Design
Source: US Department of Energy
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Solar Villagers Would Only Pay $300 a Year for Energy – in Masachusetts!