parkhouse Design's first full-time
model home will be a three-dimensional exhibit of modern design and healthy living. Jack's vision for parkhouse Design, one that is
unique among homebuilders and which already has received the endorsement and financial backing of leading venture capitalists,
was born of his frustrated desire to combine his love of Architecture and Interior Design. Realizing his talents lay in the
business of innovation, the technology entrepreneur, set his sites on redefining the residential development space. Marrying
his passion for the environment and business acumen with guidance from a team of experienced advisors, Jack has spent the
last two years making his parkhouse Design dream a reality.
Our mission is to create homes and communities that inspire people and foster family and community
interaction, making modern life easier, healthier, and more comfortable," says Jack. "We're developing homes that combine
world-class architecture with environmentally responsible design to offer an unprecedented level of form, functionality, and
sustainability, at a cost that is considerably less than a similar custom architectural home."
Jack designs every detail of parkhouse Design. Founder of acclaimed 901interiors, Jack's paper-theory and
work has been much lauded by colleagues and the general public over the last 8 years.
Nature Made - Factory Built
What sets parkhouse Design apart from its competitors is the fact that the company will
incorporate environmental considerations and energy systems that are unparalleled in production homes.
We are designing our homes to create the healthiest living environments and to radically reduce
the impact they have on soil, water, air and energy use. We are following the four core tenants of good sustainable design:
to reduce, reuse, recycle and reclaim. Our goal is 'zero energy', 'zero water', 'zero carbon', and 'zero emissions'."
Jack's model home is slated to be a part of the LEED for Home program, and is expected to garner
the highest level of LEED for Home certification - Platinum. "People are sometimes confused about what it means to be a 'green'
home," says Jack. "As a result, we're using LEED for Home to help to give them some context, and provide a basis for comparison
to other homes." parkhouse Design is committed to only building homes that are at least LEED for Home silver qualified.
To meet the high standards set by LEED and to respond to the market's appetite for healthy, sustainable
living, each parkhouse Design includes an extensive environmental program. The model home will be 'zero energy,'
meaning that it will produce all the power that it consumes. Photovoltaic cells on the roof will produce the home's energy
and an active solar system on the roof will use the sun's energy to heat the home's water. A radiant heating system embedded
in the floor of the home will warm the space more efficiently and healthfully, rather than forcing air laden with contaminants
throughout the home. While the home is 30% glass, a building material that is generally not considered to be very energy-efficient, parkhouse Design uses
double-paned glass from Fleetwood and Polygal polycarbonate fenestration that has three times the thermal properties of regular
glass, allowing the model home to sacrifice neither the aesthetic nor the practical.
Another goals is 'zero water,"' -- the home will not use city water for irrigation; instead, a rooftop
garden insulates the home and absorbs sunlight (reducing the heat island affect of standard black roofs), and features a storm
water management system that will collect rainwater in a cistern to be used for landscaping irrigation. A grey water system
will also collect and recycle water from the sink and shower to be used for irrigation purposes. To achieve 'zero emissions,'
the home features formaldehyde- and urea-free millwork and no or low-VOC paint. Each parkhouse Design purchase includes
an allotment for a carbon-offset to cover the manufacture and first-year operations of the home. Through key partnerships
with companies that are equally committed to sustainable design, the model home will feature appliances by Bosch, LED lighting
by PermLight, photovoltaic cells by PermaCorp, fixtures by Kohler and certified lumber by Eco-Lumber Co-ops.
"Since building in harmony with nature and environmental considerations have always been important
aspects of my work, I was thrilled begin parkhouse Design and design a line of sustainable prefabricated homes," says
Jack. "I am proud to be part of a companies that seamlessly fuse modern design with green design."
In addition to the use of sustainable materials and the incorporation of environmental systems, parkhouse Design has
optimized its construction and purchase process to minimize material usage. Rather than demolish and contribute to landfill, parkhouse Design deconstructs
and reuses materials from existing structures. To makeparkhouse Design more affordable than similarly constructed custom homes, parkhouse Design is
standardizing its designs and engaging in community development.
Form and Function
The parkhouse Design model homes represents one of four base models designed by Jack in his trademark modernist
style. They boast clean lines, indoor/outdoor space, extensive natural light and built-in furniture. Known for designs that
are 'clean, inventive and playful' Jack has always believed firmly that modern architecture can be warm, earth-friendly, site-sensitive,
and very livable.
"I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to understand how people live in their homes
and how homes need to respond to their changing needs," says Jack. "As a result, we include a number of features that make
it easy for homeowners to change and grow their space, including movable walls, changeable millwork and a structural system
that allows rooms to be added."
Currently parkhouse Design is completing only custom projects for homes that range from
800 to 1,500 square feet. In the future, parkhouse Design will offer standard floor plans and customers will be able
to choose between basic packages, personalizing their home to their specific needs by selecting different floor plans, materials
and environmental packages. The four parkhouse Design will range from $64 to $250 per square foot. The moderately
priced homes are designed for trailer parks, rural and second-home venues. parkhouse Design will offers affordable home with
many of the same features as the other models, but on a smaller scale.
