The Bathroom Reinvented: Hyphae Design

Didn’t even know about these guys who happen to be neighbors in West Oakland! Kudos to them….not only for their products but for their nod to the hyphy music scene.

Marvin Deal Identity System by DK Design

A home is more than just the house where we reside. It is where we are inspired, where we recharge, where we escape from the hectic demands of work, where we live, play and love.

No one understands this better than Marvin Deal of Marvin Deal Construction.

Marvin has a true artisan approach to fine home building and remodeling using natural and reclaimed materials for their beauty and to respect the environment. His philosophy is that a home should be both functional in layout and design and equally beautiful in every detail no matter how small.

DK Design Studio approached his identity in much the same way that Marvin approaches his projects. After a thorough discovery phase we decided to focus on his attention to detail, his modern and classic style, and to use natural, earth-friendly processes and materials. The full project included his identity, business system, a brochure, a direct mail postcard marketing program, and his website.

Stimulus Funds Locator Map

The General Services Administration has received $5.5 billion in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The GSA has designated more than 250 projects that will utilize these funds to build new federal buildings (courthouses and ports of entry) that are energy efficient, as well as weatherize existing buildings to improve efficiency and reduce water and energy consumption.

It’s pretty cool. Check it out here.

Earthship Seminar ~ Building Homes Out Of Trash

This past weekend was spent at a seminar learning how to build sustainable, off-the-grid homes at the Earthship headquarters just outside of Taos, New Mexico.

The homes are not the run of the mill green homes that we are getting used to. Architect Mike Reynolds has been building these structures for about 40 years and they are, in large part, made out of trash – specifically used tires, cans, and bottles.

Since he started back in the 1970s, the homes have been refined to allow for recycling all waste [grey and black water], organic greenhouses, water collection and purification, power generation, and temperature regulation….even in extreme weather locations.

We got hands on experience learning how to pack tires into the load bearing and thermal mass foundation for the homes, can and bottle walls, and how to plaster interior walls with a mixture of mud, sand, and hay. In addition, we got to tour many of the homes on the site in Taos. Mike has developed several models over the years and we were able to get inside and explore the size and benefits of each option.

I recommend anyone interested in green build to visit them and take the seminar. You can find more information here. A good article here. And the trailer for the Michael Reynold’s documentary, Garbage Warrior is here.

Many more photos here.

Greensburg Kansas Update – 2 years after the tornado

Remodeling Green

“BRINGING SUSTAINABLE, STYLISH LIVING TO A 19TH-CENTURY CLASSIC, JEFF KING & CO.’S SAN FRANCISCO REMODEL IS INFUSED WITH DAYLIGHT, ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS, AND LOW-MAINTENANCE UPGRADES.”

Our client, Jeff King & Company, was featured in Ecohome Mag. Here’s the full article.

Todd Jersey Architecture ~ Marketing and Collateral Templates

We just finished up a template project for Todd Jersey Architecture, a client based here in Berkeley, CA. They are a green firm….the first in the world to design a LEED gold certified hotel!

The templates were designed to target their vast audience base. TJA’s work covers new homes, schools, commercial buildings, remodels, multi-family homes and developments, churches, retail, historical buildings, hotels, and environmental buildings. These templates, along with their other presentation materials, provide a clear communication of their capabilities.

“Used the templates officially for the first time and they are great. Makes our overall package look so professional. We now have some solid, forward-looking marketing materials.” ~ Susan Andres, Director of Marketing

We also designed MS Word templates [see below] so they can simply add photos and copy and then run these templates thru their office printer. This is an ideal solution for architects and builders who want the flexibility to personalize correspondence for their high-level client base without losing the professional consistency of their brand. In addition, we’ve found a green paper and printing source that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg!

blank printed template

template showing MS Word images and copy in place

DK Design New Website LIVE!

Check out our new website!! It focuses on Green Build, Organic Foods, and Sustainability which are the projects and companies we target.

West Coast Green, San Jose

West Coast Green concluded yesterday at the San Jose Convention Center. It’s the largest conference and expo on green innovation in green build.

Al Gore’s keynote speech yesterday focused on the lack of attention that the climate crisis is getting in comparison to the financial meltdown. He said that Americans are avoiding and/or ignoring the problems and the rest of the world is watching. They all point to the United States and say, “If the united states isn’t doing it, why should we?”

He proposed that in 10 years the US should get 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

The crowed was moved by the speech, at times giving him a standing ovation.

In the exhibit itself there was a SG Blocks shipping container home which was made out of 5 containers. Apparently, the world has an abundance of these containers and using them can prove sound [they will stand thru hurricanes and earthquakes], inexpensive [$500-$200 per container], and green since they are being reused [as they like to call it Value-Cycling]. The home itself was beautiful. The 1700 sq ft home did not look like shipping containers but more like a modern pre-fab house. The interior and exterior were designed by several partners who took advantage of forward-thinking sustainable ideas and products like Ecofabulous and Modwalls.

Here’s more shots of the show on my Flickr site.

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California Adopts Green Building Code for All New Construction

“By adopting this first-in-the-nation statewide green building code, California is again leading the way to fight climate change and protect the environment,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement released Thursday.

More information here.