Sustainable Homes in the USA

We are proud to be in this fine book and I’m particularly happy that my pictures are getting published all over the place. I’m enjoying photography more and more, as I have been mentioning in this blog. I’m preparing an exhibition… I’ll post about it soon.

Anyway, the focus of the book is sustainability. I encourage you to review the Texas Architect article by Richard Wintersole, AIA:

 Conserving energy is important to Neal, thus the SIPs serve as a thermal umbrella and air is encouraged to circulate through the building from end to end. The Farleys plan to add a large, low-velocity fan to improve the air circulation. When ambient air breezes through the home, the Farleys and their guests are truly in touch with the natural world.”

or by going to the Dwell article by Sarah Rich

In a climate like this, air-conditioning seems indispensable, but to cool the entire structure artificially would be inefficient and costly. Neal devised a solution by building a 540-square-foot box nested within the superstructure, which contains the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, as the only air-conditioned space in the building. The two-story plywood envelope has sliding walls on all sides that can be closed to keep cool temperatures in or left open to the fluctuations of the natural ventilation throughout the building.”

 

Pilates Studio

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Pilates studio by MJ Neal, AIA

Check the Pilates studio out! It’s open for business. Ann Arnoult is an excellent Pilates instructor and a former dancer at Ballet Austin. This project was built by Living Art, Austin. John and Mike’s building outfit.

Update April 22, 2008

Foda Studio created the three illustrations for the project, I think they are our good luck charm:

We are proud to announce that this project has won the 2008 AIA Austin top Design Honor Award! This makes us the winners of the top local design award for two consecutive years! Stand by for celebration party:-)

Farley Foto Flurry

So here’s what you can get for a bit over 150k:-) Again, Kyle is an artist living in Clebourne, Texas. He needed a super economical painting studio where he could live too.

Metal superstructure with metal sips; exposed plywood, polycarbonate, galvanized corrugated metal skin. Formed within the slab are a fire pit and a channel for artist clean up. If anyone tells me again we’re expensive EVER…. I’m sending them here.

Photos by Viviane Vives and MJ Neal, AIA

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First pics of our WOOFA (A doghouse and/or a sofa)

Some of the first pictures I took before I run out of battery and changed to film camera. The light was really good at sunset so I shot a million rolls… I’ll be updating again. We’re exhausted but happy. Woof, woof, woofa!!!!

Oh and WOOFA won “Most Original Doghouse Concept!” yey

Just like we like it, we’lll take that one, over any other, any day;-)

VV