Think about this...how about recycling a home in it's existing footprint? Tearing it down entirely or changing it beyond reconnection by expanding it into an impossibly large home is the industry standard. Sustainable? Not at all!
That this small, plain, chopped-up house that lived small, now has drama, open spaces and lives big is amazing! But, what's even more amazing is that this was done without adding even one additional inch of square footage. Sustainable? Yes, indeed! Footprint? Unchanged!
In the typical remodel, square footage is used to add livability when all too frequently it can be achieved by creative use of the existing spaces. Opening up rooms by eliminating walls; adding light with the use of skylights, more windows or glass doors; changing traffic patterns; and creating indoor/outdoor relationships are all ways to achieve "big" while staying small.
Sustainability requires that we carefully and creatively examine the spaces we use in our homes. More square footage adds to more cost, more materials, more land, and more space to maintain. Why? When, making better use of space is really what matters. How efficient does a home live? How much privacy can be created in small spaces? How can one work at home comfortably? How can one enjoy openness and light while having cozy spaces at the same time?
Although this project is not yet finished, one can already see how this home has blossomed and grown from an ugly duckling into a swan.
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