Sustainable Home Building

MkLotus Sustainable Pre-Fab Home by Michelle Kaufman

This small (one-bedroom, 725 square foot) sustainable pre-fab home may be diminutive in size, but certainly not in style. The team of Michelle Kaufmann Designs, XtremeHomes and Late Afternoon Garden Design succeeded in infusing this modern home with warmth and comfort. It’s difficult to imagine that MkLotus was built in just five weeks in an all-green factory in Oroville, California, then assembled and furnished in San Francisco across from the City Hall in just two days. Talk about instant gratification!

So, what makes this home green? FSC-certified woods are used for flooring and cabinet veneers in the kitchen, with lighting from (sustainable) rattan and bamboo fixtures. In the living room, a sofa bed with a frame constructed of kraft paper provides a comfortably practical sleeping/seating solution. Bamboo and silk bring green bling into the dining area with bio-degradable plates and utensils. A bowl created from reclaimed cork adds a sophisticated, artistic touch.

In the bathroom, the shower is tiled with soothing green recycled glass tiles and a low-flow showerhead helps conserve water.

Moving on to the bedroom, we find more eco-friendly choices in this sustainable, pre-fab home. The wood used to construct the bed is sustainably harvested cherry with an oil-and-wax finish. Fallen ironwood gives form to a side table while a recycled leather belt rug provides coziness and warmth. In the closet; translucent doors composed of 40% recycled plastic resin embedded with grasses let in light while adding a textural element to the interior design of the bedroom.

In the words of Michelle Kaufman: "The mkLotus was designed as an oasis. We wanted to create a house that provides a sense of tranquility. It is about connection. Connection to the natural, and to the landscape. It can be perfect for a vacation home, or a home where you feel like you're on vacation." All in all, this is 2007 West Coast Green Conference + Expo centerpiece is well-worth viewing.

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