Page 38 - Green Builder Magazine Nov-Dec 2019 Issue

BY GREEN BUILDER STAFF
A lot of care goes into being a candidate for Green Builder’s Green Home of the Year, as these four
past finalists show. It’s almost that time again, when we get to see the best that green building has
A Winning Past to offer. Next issue is our annual Green Home of the Year Awards edition, featuring eye-popping

and forward-thinking structures that set a sustainability standard in single-family, multi-family,

contemporary and alternative living. For a glimpse at what lies ahead, Green Builder revisited
several of the entrants from our 2019 competition. Here’s what made these finalists so special.

The Andrew Avenue Residence B-Austin Community Project

What’s old—very old—is new again with this WWII-era beach house. Bringing the ‘green’ to this multipurpose dwelling is a family event.

HE ODD, ORANGE COLORED HOME on Andrew Street in the HE DEVELOPERS OF THIS PROJECT are not your average cli-
self-proclaimed “funky” beach town of Leucadia was once a single- ents: they are a family. Will and Janice Godwin had a vision of
level 1940s-era home that sat in its original state in the Southern creating a housing project on a site occupied by their marketing
California sun until early 2018. That’s when Bradley Schalacter company, Special Audience Marketing; a place where people could
T and Frank Ragen saw the diamond in the rough. T live a sustainable and community-rich lifestyle with amenities that
Soon, the home began its transformation from 1940s relic into a mod- embraced and furthered it. This vision included ideas of how the lives
ern/rustic masterpiece. The home was expanded from one story to two people lead impact the world, cities, communities and families.
stories, and upgraded from 1,400 to 2,100 square feet. Featured throughout The B-Austin Community Project, designed by Clark Richardson
the home is FSC-certi“ed 100 percent reclaimed teak ”ooring, decking, Architects and built by BPG Construction, was crafted to minimize its
siding, stair treds, tile, so•ts, custom cabinets and more. environmental footprint and maximize the health of its residents and
Why teak? Thank designer El Lovaas, who researched the history of the planet. The project has received a four-star Austin Energy Building
the wood and found that it was considered sacred in many countries. Its rating. Besides having low energy consumption levels—producing its
healing properties have been used for centuries. Also, the product had own solar energy with room for expansion—the project implements
gorgeous tones. The commitment to using teak—especially reclaimed several innovative measures.
variety—was therefore very important to the group. Developers believe B-Austin is the “rst multiuse-multifamily project in
The wood used comes from buildings, some 100 to 300 years old, in Austin and possibly Texas to have an integrated greywater system. The
Southeast Asia that were scheduled for demolition. All of the wood used greywater system is backed up by the rainwater system, which is then
is painstakingly recycled and reclaimed by hand, and no trees were cut backed up by potable water if needed. The edible gardens take advantage
down in the materials creation. Big pieces became ”ooring and small of a direct feed from the rainwater tanks in a fully integrated system.
pieces were used for decking. Tile and even the substrate used is made of
reclaimed teak. The last fragments are used to patch holes, and the teak
dust is used to fuel the furnaces for drying the teak, making the process

CREDIT: KEN LEWIS

Ancient renewal. Upgrading the exterior of this beach home with centuries-old
recycled wood gave it an up-to-date appearance.
as near-zero waste as possible.
An all-downstairs living area features the master bedroom, Jack and
Jill bedrooms and an o•ce, while the upstairs features an open ”oorplan
encompassing the kitchen, dining area and den. The house also features
white water views of Ponto Beach, and the eclectic stores and restaurants
of Leucadia are a “ve-minute bike ride away.
Other features of the home include custom concrete and a 100 percent
FSC-reclaimed teak “replace and outdoor bar area, a main bathroom fea-
Built to a ‘T’. Reclaimed teak’s gorgeous tones and adaptability made it turing walk-in shower and freestanding soak tub, a rooftop bird’s nest
suitable for use throughout the home, including as flooring, doors, stair viewing area with a spiral staircase, oŸ-street RV parking and utility shed Natural catchment. Decorative vegetation and edible gardens benefit from a
treds and wall tiles. or artist studio, and custom landscaping and slab stone pavers in backyard. direct feed from rainwater tanks in a fully integrated system.

36 GREEN BUILDER November/December 2019 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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