Last year the presentation was about the results of almost a year’s worth of planning and preparation with three different Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout Ohio.  Giving our attendants the background of the competition as well as a more in depth look into some of our entrant’s submissions with incites from one of the participating habitat affiliates on how the competition would help them to move forward.

Again this year I was asked to present at the AIA Ohio Convention that was held these past couple of days in Toledo to provide a follow up to the results, as the intent was that each of the three category winning designs was to get built, and it is my pleasure to state that all 3 designs are getting built.  Two are well under construction, and one is awaiting a permit.  This year I was joined by one of our winning teams and habitat for humanity representative to discuss their experiences during and after the competition.  Because the intent of the competition was to give younger un-registered architect a chance to take hold of a project and work directly for a client and learn more about energy efficient design.  As well as provide habitat for humanity a new set of well designed prototypical homes that is more energy efficient and more aesthetically pleasing.  We had a good turn out with some good information being shared by our design team on how it helped them progress and learn as well as how the competition helped one habitat affiliate bring community members together as well as foster discussion with other habitat affiliates throughout the state.

Overall the competition exceeded my expectations.  Because I was able to create an opportunity like I had on the LEED Platinum home for someone else, giving them an opportunity to learn about high performance design and work with a worthy organization.  And not only did it help the three habitat for humanity affiliates, it helped all of the Ohio affiliates by increasing communication, coordination and a greater awareness of affordable high performance design.

So feel free to check out our presentations and follow the progress of the Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity affiliate as they track their progress.

CHfH Green Building Blog

2009 AIA Ohio Valley Regional Convention Presentation

2010 AIA Ohio Convention Presentation

The Case for Affordable Housing & A National Energy Standard
They must go hand-in-hand. ( October 2009 )

Certain items are needed for all people to live a decent (modern) life: decent housing, decent (safe) food, clear (safe) water & air; fair wage/job; access to health care.  All other things are possible (for a people) from there.

Making a (high end designer) commodity of any of the aforementioned, makes those items inaccessible by lower income people and the poor, and now we see, inaccessible to even the middle class in America.

Behind affordable health care, Affordable Housing is the largest problem facing our nation.  When jobs are harder to get, it makes it that much harder to maintain one’s health, and to maintain a decent place to live.  Basic, decent housing, healthcare and  food are a human right.

Continue reading the article at ShantyWorld

Granted this video is the next episode in the e2 design series, it speaks to a previous post (here) about my offices commitment to enter the 2009 Open Architecture Challenge and social responsibility.

The 2009 Open Architecture Challenge invites the global design and construction community to collaborate with primary and secondary school teachers and students to create safer, healthier and smarter learning environments. Teams can partner with a school of their choice or design a classroom for Orient Global’s school-building partners.

This year’s jurors currently includes Dave Eggers, Michelle Kaufmann, Hilary Cottam, Kigge Hvid and others. More will be added over the course of the registration period. The winning designer/school team will be given up to $50,000 in funding for classroom construction and upgrading, plus a design grant of $5,000 for the designer to help the school complete the project.