Page 47 - Green Builder May-June 2018 Issue

The Align Project:

A Rendezvous With Reality

This one-year demonstration project will challenge entrenched ideas about how we
live in the United States.

BY JULIET GRABLE

REEN BUILDER MEDIA and Austin-based builder Kasita are
partnering on a one-year demonstration project, the centerpiece
of which is Kasita’s smart, modular, net-zero accessory dwelling
unit (ADU).
The precision-engineered design takes advantage of every one of the
home’s 374 square feet, and it comes ready to roll with Kasita’s integrated
smart home technology platform, which seamlessly integrates the
home’s devices, appliances, lighting and mechanical systems.
Like anything that comes off looking inevitable, there’s a lot of
G sweat in the backstory. Motivated by what he saw as an impending
urban housing crisis, Kasita’s founder Jeff Wilson explored the question of how to live
better with less by living in a 33-square-foot dumpster for a full year. Working under
such severe constraints instructed him on the best way to optimize every cubic inch
of space. After the “Dumpster Experiment,” Wilson and his team developed a series
of prototypes, incorporating feedback from real people who spent time in them into
each iteration.
“One of the first things people say is that Kasita feels bigger and better than they
expected,” says Benji Miller, Kasita’s chief of operations.
With its clean, modern aesthetic, convertible spaces, abundant natural light and
friendly smart home platform, Kasita promises an inspiring user experience for people
who will visit the home at one of the three upcoming conferences (see page 50). But The
Align Project seeks to expand the agenda beyond the demonstration home, questioning
deeply-held assumptions about what we want and offering suggestions for how we
can align our lifestyles with our changing socio-economic and environmental realities.
“Whether we like it or not, the changing climate is demanding a sweeping overhaul
of the way we live,” says Sara Gutterman, Green Builder Media CEO. “The Align Project
®
will confront some of today’s biggest challenges, including how we live in our homes,
and how we can revamp our cities, energy infrastructure, mobility solutions and finances
to align with our moral compass and ensure a flourishing future.”

www.greenbuildermedia.com May/June 2018 GREEN BUILDER 45

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