Glidehouse-Green Pre Fab Home

The Glidehouse-Green Pre Fab Home and one where Pre Fab stands for Pretty Fabulous!  Marin based Michelle Kaufmann first came out with her eco friendly, pre fabricated glidehouse in 2004 and it’s is still a beautiful and viable answer to modern home construction in our world today.

Glide Home-image via inhabitat

The Glidehouse was designed “to collaborate with nature.” Built with eco-materials and made for solar, wind, or geothermal power, the “glide” in the prefab house’s name refers to both the wall of sliding glass on one side of the building and the bank of storage opposite. Sliding wood panels give you the option to use the shelves either as display or as a hidden clutter-catcher.  Naturally, the glass wall helps out with lighting and heating, meaning the electricity bill will be lower even if you do connect the Glide to the grid. Some eco features of the Glidehouse include:   

• using healthy finishes such as non-toxic paints and formaldehyde-free cabinetry.
• meets the Energy Star® program standards for energy efficient homes and meets the performance standards of the American Lung Association Health House program.
• insulated with an air-barrier, open cell foam insulation, and all wood-to-wood framing joints are caulked, which makes the home airtight, energy efficient, and less likely to produce mold.
• uses water-saving plumbing fixtures, on-demand water heaters, and a mechanical ventilation system that is 30% more efficient than typical forced-air systems.
• energy efficient, dual-pane glass windows and doors are placed throughout the home maximizes cross-ventilation and natural lighting, minimizing the need for artificial lighting and climate control.

Since 2004, Michelle and other architects and designers have come out with other models that have expanded on, and hopefully are changing, the notion of what a pre fab or modular home can be. While Michelle has recently closed her company she has joined forces with BluHomes, a privately owned business that uses quality design, sustainable materials and leading technology to build pretty fabulous pre fab homes. There are many design elements that still need to be improved to be totally energy efficient. However, I am encouraged by the strides that Michelle and other designers have made to design beauty wholistically.  A design and construction model that is sustainable and more affordable then our traditional construction practices.  I believe that this is another way that our world is changing for the better as we move forward in the 21st Century. Take a tour and hear Michelles philosophy below.

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