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Home > 'Communities'

Communities

ariaDenver

ariaDenver

Feb 16, 2012 | Discuss

Super excited that the next phase of the ariaDenver project is (finally) happening! This includes 13 town homes along 52nd Avenue (that we designed and shown here) as well as two co-housing communities. On February 21st at 6:30pm you are invited to be part of the first session to explore the Living Options at [...]

Casa Chiara project wins first place

Casa Chiara project wins first place

Oct 12, 2010 | 1 Comment

The Casa Chiara project (which is the first phase of the ariaDenver project we have been designing) was selected by a jury of representatives of ColoradoBiz magazine, AIA Colorado, ULI Colorado and the US Green Building Council Colorado as the first place winner of the Colorado Sustainable Design Awards Residential category. This is very exciting [...]

modest materiality

modest materiality

May 21, 2010 | 7 Comments

This recently completed residential care building for The New Camaldoli Hermitage (the coolest monks I have ever met) in Big Sur is a great example of the use of modest eco-materials used in elegant ways. The monks of The New Camalodoli Hermitage have made a life commitment to stay at the monastery and their cells [...]


sisters of sustainability project

sisters of sustainability project

May 17, 2010 | Discuss

PROJECT INFORMATION
COMPLETED PHOTOS
MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
NEXT PHASE: ARIA DENVER

sisters of sustainability

sisters of sustainability

May 10, 2010 | 8 Comments

As an architect, one of the most rewarding things is working with a truly special client on a truly special project. I feel so fortunate and honored to be able to work with some of the most amazing people I have met in my life to co-create beautiful dwellings with them. One such example is [...]

multifamily modular

multifamily modular

May 01, 2010 | 2 Comments

I am looking forward to visiting the Casa Chiara project (that we designed) in Denver later this week. This is the first phase of the ariaDenver project by Urban Ventures LLC. This 8-home project consists of one and two-story townhouse homes for an extremely cool group of Franciscan nuns. This is the first [...]


california townhouse homes

california townhouse homes

Apr 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

Michelle Kaufmann Studio is designing townhouse homes in California that have a mix of 2 and 3 stories. The homes also include a roof deck that has a garden as well as a shaded section covered by a solar panel trellis. There are private screened balconies and vegetable gardens. The homes are 2 [...]

a recent design almost completed

a recent design almost completed

Apr 06, 2010 | 4 Comments

I have just returned from another amazing Easter weekend spent with the monks of the New Camaldoli Hermitage, for whom we have designed the new buildings to replace the older ones now at the end of their life cycle. The day started before dawn with a sacred bonfire, around which the monks sang, dressed [...]

Aria Denver - Another day, Another 8 modules get set

Aria Denver – Another day, Another 8 modules get set

Mar 03, 2010 | 1 Comment

It has been an exciting morning so far. First, I woke up to the Denver Post and read the article titled “Denver nuns go green and modular” and included a fabulous quote from Sister Sue Artone-Fricke “Our heritage as Franciscan sisters is that we take responsibility for the Earth and see all creation as our [...]


Aria Denver - Snow for Sisters Prefab

Aria Denver – Snow for Sisters Prefab

Mar 03, 2010 | Discuss

The Casa Chiara project is being finalized, and the Sisters are moving in. Moving day in the current Denver snow has turned out to be quite an adventure. However, these are very strong women, and piles of snow are not going to stop them from moving into their homes.

This photo below was taken just a [...]

AriaDenver - Co-Housing

AriaDenver – Co-Housing

Mar 03, 2010 | Discuss

Now that Phase 1 of the ariaDenver project (the sisters housing) is almost complete and the sisters have moved in, the Co-housing portion of the project is starting. Tomorrow there will be a presentation by Jim Leach on the benefits of co-housing and a description of living in a community with a vision of a [...]

Aria Denver - in the snow

Aria Denver – in the snow

Mar 03, 2010 | Discuss

I just saw this photo taken by AriaDenver Project Manager Kate Hilberg of the first phase of homes (Casa Chiara) recently in the snow. This almost makes me miss the winter snow.
more on this project
www.ariadenver.com


ariaDenver - next phase officially beginning

ariaDenver – next phase officially beginning

Mar 03, 2010 | 1 Comment

Last week was an exciting one. I was in Denver to see the final 8 modules get set for the first green/prefab multifamily project that I have worked on, and actually the first one that I am aware of that has been built.  The project consisted of 16 modules, and the final 8 were set [...]

A very special group of monks

A very special group of monks

Sep 17, 2009 | 1 Comment

Seeing these photos of the modules successfully being shipped and set to the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, CA couldn’t make me more happy (and also extremely thankful). The monks at the Hermitage are honestly some of the most special people I have ever met and the site of their monastery is nothing short [...]

another day, another 8 modules get set

another day, another 8 modules get set

Aug 05, 2009 | Discuss

It has been an exciting morning so far. First, I woke up to the Denver Post and read the article titled “Denver nuns go green and modular” and included a fabulous quote from Sister Sue Artone-Fricke “Our heritage as Franciscan sisters is that we take responsibility for the Earth and see all creation as our [...]


whoa. miss and few weeks + miss the entire construction

whoa. miss and few weeks + miss the entire construction

Jul 24, 2009 | Discuss

Wow. I missed a few weeks of seeing Kate Hilberg’s photos on the progress of Casa Chiara, and I almost missed all the construction. This is the time when the modular construction just sings. Things move fast, and the excitement grows.

Kate (Project Manager with Urban Ventures LLC on the Casa Chiara project) takes photos weekly [...]

Eco Principles


EcoPrinciple One: Thoughtful Design

EcoPrinciple One: Thoughtful Design

Feb 22, 2010 | 1 Comment

In our practice at Michelle Kaufmann Studio, “thoughtful design” means designing to use less, collaborating with the outdoors, using techonology to improve quality while reducing quantity, and designing for longevity, flexibility and a joyful living environment. Homes should be built to human scale, using only what is needed, but remaining open and airy. High [...]

More

  • EcoPrinciple Two: Efficient Materials
  • EcoPrinciple Three: Energy Conservation
  • EcoPrinciple Four: Water Efficiency
  • EcoPrinciple Five: Healthy Spaces
  • EcoPrinciple Six: Systems Built

blog


the story of the smart home

the story of the smart home

Apr 08, 2012 | 1 Comment

Michelle Kaufmann from After Black Hammer on Vimeo.
My talented and dear friend Garret Curtis made this beautiful video of the story behind the Smart Home in Chicago. I love his eye and gift for story telling. Lord knows I am no easy subject to deal with.
More of Garret’s work is at After Black Hammer and [...]

More

  • the best with the most for the least
  • Extreme Architecture
  • designing for better
  • builder’s tips for green
  • Best Of Green 2012

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Design by YoungNomadBrand
Photos by John Swain Photography
Video and Photos by Jim Thompson / Destination Productions
Photos of MSI by JB Spector / Museum of Science + Industry
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