michelle kaufmann designs

I was recently able to visit the LumenHAUS (designed by talented students at Virginia Tech for the Solar Decathlon last fall) while it was in a resting stop in between travels. Apparently it is headed to Times Square next week, and other locations around the country after that.

I was very impressed. The design was lovely, innovative and it was executed beautifully. I was hard pressed to find any flaws. And that is rare for a design curmudgeon like me. I fell in love right away from - first from the outside with the layers of slide-away glass walls and metal panels with rotated disks that are set at different angles allowing light to come in, but views out only where you need it, but privacy where you want it. The effect was elegantly simple, yet extremely functional. By sliding away the sunshades and windows, inhabitants can do much to moderate the temperature without having to turn on the mechanical system.

Then, when I walked inside I was ready to move in.

The house is set up to produce more energy than it needs (which, like our Glidehouse,  means we are giving back to the environment even on lazy days).

Here is a lot more info on all the beautiful intelligence in the home design: www.solar.arch.vt.edu