Buy the Green House for those who love A) being green B) good design C) pretty books D) gifts that keep giving

By Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne. Princeton Architectural Press, $45

A lime-green prototype for a temporary ecological dwelling perches on top of a warehouse in Rotterdam. In Manhattan, a six-story glass town house is heated and cooled by a geother-mal pump that runs 1,100 feet below the city, the length of the Empire State Building. And in Helsinki, a housing development is underway that will produce 100 percent of its own energy while collected rainwater hydrates its communal gardens. Covering six different climate zones around the globe, <i>The Green House</i> explores a broad range of homes, all aesthetically interesting, technologically advanced and environmentally sound. If you already know the basic elements and history of sustainability, then skip the introduction and move along to the houses. Designed by renowned contemporary architects including Steven Holl, Shigeru Ban, Brian MacKay-Lyons and Rick Joy, they will provide inspiration as well as ideas. If you are a novice on the subject, prepare for a pretty thrilling education. (via Elements of Living)

John Matlock "Gunny" wrote:

"The design goals of a green house are:

1. Harmonize with the site.

2. Build as small as possible.

3. Use natural heating and cooling

4. Be beautiful as well as ecological.

5. Located close to there the dwellers have to go (work, school, shopping).

6. Refurbish older buildings where possible.

The thirty or so houses described in this book fit these criteria as best as possible. Some of these are in remote locations so fail in that criteria (unless you work at home and do not have children in school). But a surprising number of these dwellings are in cities: New York, Vienna, Stuttgart, Melbourne, San Antonio, Phoenix.

The houses are striking in appearance, inexpensive to build, totally functional. As with other books of home plans, these houses serve as idea books for architects and potential owners to use in their new designs. "

A must see for those who would build a new community.