Known for showcasing the latest innovations in architecture, construction, design, and green-building practices on the West Coast,
Sunset magazine’s Idea House program recently debuted its latest project, the Modern Cottage, this past weekend at the magazine’s annual Celebration Weekend. Created and designed by Norwegian architect Casper
Mork-Ulnes, Co-Founder and Director of Design of the San Francisco-based pre-fab building company
Modern Cabana and Co-Founder and Director of Building, Nick Damner, the house incorporates green design with affordable living spaces.
Offering a creative and sustainable solution for extending living spaces, the Modern Cottage allows people to “do more with less,” says Ed Deleski of Modern Cabana. Composed of two small spaces, a 10-foot-by-12-foot and 12-foot-by-25-foot model, adjoined by a TimberTech deck, the house maximizes space by using both outdoor and indoor areas to their fullest.
Designed and constructed for sustainability, individual homes are assembled on-site using locally sourced FSC-certified clear inland cedar siding panels from Natural Forest Distribution with recycled denim insulation. According to Deleski, “all of our models use standard sized pieces of lumber which virtually eliminates waste.” Inspired by architect
Mies van der Rohe, metal details were added to the exterior of the building to provide visual contrast to the cedar siding as well as promote energy efficiency. The angled metal roof is waterproofed with recycled tire rubber and is available with an integrated solar laminate to power the unit. Metal embellishments trickle down the facade to create corrugated partitions and even an outdoor shower.
Once inside, the space is decorated with a simple palette, clean lines and eco-friendly finishes and materials including Benjamin Moore’s no-VOC Natura paint and engineered bamboo flooring from Armstrong. While the interior boasts a kitchen, bathroom and all-purpose room, don’t forget the exterior spaces, designed by Peter Whiteley of Sunset magazine, which feature a multipurpose deck, cool outdoor room, and lounge area complete with sculptural plantings and a vertical green wall designed by Flora Grubb Gardens that is comprised of low-water succulents of varying shapes, textures, and colors.
The models on display at Sunset are upgrades that price at $16,375 and $72,500 (including appliances), respectively. The Modern Cottage is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays June 12 through July 19 at Sunset Headquarters, 80 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California.
