Alternative Living Spaces - Green Design and Re-Use

When Eugenia Perret and Elizabeth Oliver from Minima Gallery (www.acleanbreak.org) in Philadelphia approached us to take part in their critically acclaimed A Clean Break design show we did the proverbial ... "Who? Us?" But the curators were insistent that we were their choice to make use of a cargo container as part of the exhibition featuring innovative design solutions addressing issues of urban infill, 21st century development and sustainability. "It is our aim," says Eugenie Perret, owner of the Minima Gallery "to go beyond merely proposing innovative housing solutions, but to provide the opportunity for Philadelphians to experience them firsthand."

Ahh. Solutions. The Greensgrow throw down. How to create something useful from something deemed useless like an old shipping container (of which there are literally millions scattered around the country). The installation has found a new home at Greensgrow Farms where it changes seasonally from Santa's workshop at Christmas to an information hub and aquaculture system in summer.

Our refrigeration systems for Greensgrow Farms are an example of how we approach design and use upgrades of the same moveable field cooler Greensgrow built when when getting started. Using a simple to build system based on an air conditioner, we access all our cooling power at the lowest possible costs. The addition of a green roofs further reduces cooling of the thermo boxes resulting in lower electric usage and safely stored fruits and vegetables.

That galvanized water tub at the curb was engineered into a freestanding storm water filter, flow and retention system complete with, rock, sand and other natural elements.

Opening day slide show is here...