sustainability + designing for all

It all started when…

we realized that sustainability and designing for everyone of all ages and abilities is not only required of an architect to bring joy and functionality to our homes, but also of our world. These two “topics” by our definition are not separate but intertwined. By creating a long term plan of your home we explore how we can design for a fulfilled life throughout your entire lifetime. When we design and plan in this way, we minimize the amount of energy and resources that are used for a relatively short period of time and maximize the longevity of the home and the life you build within it.

For our world, there are technical metrics available that help us achieve sustainability that our environment so desperately needs. Programs such as Minnesota Green Star, Energy Star, LEED, Passive Haus, Architecture 2030 Challenge and others, PLUS design can give us measurable results. Well placed windows, a tight building envelope, forgoing gas-fueled appliances, installing solar panels, and using non-toxic, natural, and recyclable materials are one side of the technical equation. The other side of the equation are design based techniques that facilitates connecting indoor and outdoor spaces to make a home feel larger, small additions, accessible fixtures and appliances, wide doorways, and even levers for door handles.

For ourselves, there are also the intangible metrics that are just as crucial. These can be a beautiful view, a caring neighborhood, a love of books, a desire to be with family, and a place to set groceries, a car-seat, and the dog out of the rain while you unlock your front door.

There is no detail that is too small. Individually each one of these details will make a small difference for our environment and for our families. Yet, when we combine each one of these details to the larger whole, the benefits compound substantially that spreads from our families to our neighborhoods, cities, countries, and world for generations to come.