Michelle Kaufmann Designs: Michelle Kaufmann

October 6th, 2008 by HowYouEco

Michelle Kaufmann Designs: Michelle Kaufmann

Michelle Kaufmann, founder and chairman of Michelle Kaufmann Designs, is happy everyday to just play with blocks. Her blocks though are five eco principles, modular technology and prepackaged green solutions her firm uses for architectural projects.

How do you eco?

My mission is to make thoughtful, sustainable design more accessible and to make is easier for people to live greener lifestyles. No one should ever feel that it’s too expensive, too complicated, or just too difficult to go green.

My design/build architecture firm uses off-site modular technology and prepackaged green solutions as a means to create beautiful, eco-friendly homes and communities. We design each one so that it incorporates our 5 EcoPrinciples: Smart Design, Eco Materials, Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, and Healthy Environment.

I also want to connect with people beyond the world of traditional architecture. That is why we take part in museum exhibits, like the upcoming Smart Home: Green + Wired at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. It’s why I started my blog. I’m always looking for new ways to reach out and educate people about how to go green in their everyday lives.

Why did you go eco?

Growing up in Iowa where people’s lives are so tied to the land, I developed a deep understanding of the relationship between humankind and the environment and an appreciation for the need to balance our demands on this planet. I think I was green before I even knew what it meant!

In 2002, when my husband and I relocated to Northern California, we looked for a house in which we could live a healthier, more sustainable life together. We instead found a sad lack of affordable green houses. So we built our own green home. Soon friends and colleagues were asking if I could also design a green home for them. I then decided to start my own architecture firm to fill the need for more affordable green homes.