Design & Lifestyle...

For the next few months we’re going to design a small guest house in Indianapolis and blog the entire process. Even though I’ve spent my entire career designing spaces in the 5 boroughs, I’d like to use this opportunity to highlight the decision-making and trade-offs inherent in the design of a green home. The Owners, transplanted Brooklynites with a toddler and a new baby due to arrive any minute, bought a single family home in Indianapolis and want to add a separate office / guest house out back. They want it to live lightly on the land and be as “off the grid” as possible. We will be collaborating with a local Architect/Engineer to ensure that we comply with all local codes and statutes. A survey of the property is shown below. It shows the footprint of the existing house and an existing “shed” in the backyard which will most likely be the location of the new little house. Stay tuned.

Ellen Honigstock is an architect in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn who specializes in sustainable architecture and interior design. She is also the LEED for Homes Advocate for the NYC chapter of the USGBC (US Green Building Council)

Note to our readers: Ellen is reporting on the progress of this project and a variety of eco-architectrual issues at RiverWired and on her own blog. Check it out.