Above photo of Quik House by Adam Kalkin.
I just discovered the amazing prefab Kithaus units on Treehugger and I feel like a kid in a candy store. Well, more like a child in modular Lego Heaven. Imagine being able to quickly add on an extra guest room, a zen escape, a gardening shed, a yoga pod, a jamming space or an artist studio to your existing home? Or in a sustainable pinch, have it be your home? Ā
My utter fascination with prefabricatedĀ homes and sustainable designĀ started during my years at Parsons School of Design. Living in New York City, I was surrounded by water tanksĀ on the rooftops of every building that I peered at. I saw them from my apartmentās fire escape, from my schoolās studio windows and from aboard the many flights returning to NYC after my holiday breaks. They were everywhere.Ā
I had always loved the industrial aesthetic, the lofts of Soho, the art direction of Blade RunnerĀ and BrazilĀ and the works of industrial landscape photographers such as TorontoāsĀ Edward Burtynsky. So being intrigued by these water tanksĀ seemed natural. This led to an urban exploration of silos, shipping containers, breaker panelsĀ (my Dadās an Electrician; I had seen themĀ my wholeĀ life)Ā and a trip to the AndrĆ©e Putman-designed Hotel im Wasserturm in Cologne, Germany. This is a hotel/restaurant magnificently converted from a traditional brick water tower, once the tallest in Europe. As a new design student, I immersed myself in industrial exploration.
At school, I was inspired to somehow recycle and refurbish all of these industrial objects in my design projects,Ā aiming to makeĀ themĀ thought-provoking andĀ feasibleĀ for everyday use in homes, hotels and restaurants. I didnāt realize at the time that I was embracing the ideas of āsustainable designā or the āreclaimingā of objects and materials and surprisingly, of the many architect professors that I had, not one of them even mentioned the green merits and potential involved in these ideas.
That was in 2002. How farĀ weĀ and eco-media coverageĀ have come in a short six years, withĀ Parsons' parent New School UniversityĀ now doing a great job of actively promoting eco-design via their Sustainability Committee. Furthermore, GreenDesignGirl.com is now proudly syndicated on the Parsons Sustainable Design Review site. Yes, it's an exciting time at the New School these days and Iām sure that their profs would be raving about my converted shipping containers now! Well, maybe not ravingā¦Ā
During my research for one of the many projects that kept me awake for three days straight, I came across a German architectural company called Graft Lab Design. They blew my mind with their innovative work. They were the first design firm that I had seen take on freight-size shipping containers and modify them for interactive everyday use. In short, they were reconfiguring shipping containers and completely refurbishing the inside of each unit with comfortable padded leather walls, bench seats, tables, sleek shelving units [including a wall-mounted bar!], etc.
In a project for the office of Neue Sentimental FilmĀ in Santa Monica, California they created a sophisticatedĀ meeting space, within an existing office, using connected modified shipping containers. I thought I had found my design soulmates. Thanks toĀ Graft LabĀ and my Parsons experiments, my love for sustainable design was born. First in the form of converted shipping containers (with which they've builtĀ entire housing communities in The Netherlands)Ā and thenĀ on to all kinds ofĀ modern prefabricated units. I am prefab fascinated, in case that isn't clear by now.Ā
What are Graft Lab up to these days? More of the same eco-design goodness that I would expect, but on a much bigger level, as part of Brad Pittās Make It Right Nola initiative in New Orleans.
So what was it that prompted this reminiscing of my junior experiments in green design? Ahh yes, the brilliant prefab Kithaus!Ā My ultimate dream studio space. My future prefabulous oasis. A green design girl can dream, canāt she?Ā
Photos below: Graft Lab's design for the Santa Monica offices of Neue Sentimental Films, including photos of the converted shipping containers discussed above. Graft Lab worked with award-winning Production Designer Jan-Peter Flack on this project, who has created videos for the likes of R.E.M., Janet Jackson and Madonna'sĀ āRainā.
The shipping containers used as a meeting space within the vast office.
Inside the shipping container meeting space.
Another view inside the shipping container.
The sleek coffee bar in a closed position.Ā
The opened wall-mounted coffee bar.
A dramatic central stair case in the main office area.
View of the individual, elevated office spaces.
View of the meeting spaces tucked under the elevated offices.
Just when you thought the space couldn't be any cooler, right?