Next Generation Sunset Breezehouse Opens to the Public For Tours This Week

Want to see the next generation of the iconic <a href="http://inhabitat.com/blu-homes-updating-iconic-breezehouse-to-be-2012-sunset-idea-house/" target="_blank">Breezehouse</a>? It opens this week in Healdsburg, CA as part of the annual <a href="http://www.sunset.com/home/idea-houses/breezehouse-idea-house-00418000077111/" target="_blank">Sunset Idea House</a> campaign and is open to the public for tours during the weekends from August 3rd to September 9th. Blu Home's prefab Breezehouse was fabricated nearby at the company's new factory in Vallejo, CA and transported about 60 miles to its new location, where it was unfolded, finished and decorated. The <a href="http://www.bluhomes.com/sunset-breezehouse/" target="_blank">Sunset Breezehouse</a> was built with state-of-the-art prefab strategies and is filled with all the latest in sustainable design -- and you can see it starting this week!

Located in the heart of wine country in Healdsburg, CA is <a href="http://inhabitat.com/blu-homes-updating-iconic-breezehouse-to-be-2012-sunset-idea-house/" target="_blank">this year's Sunset Idea House</a>, which was designed and built by Blu Homes

Back in 2005, Sunset helped debut Michelle Kaufmann's iconic Breezehouse and now they are part of the next generation with the <a href="http://www.sunset.com/home/idea-houses/breezehouse-idea-house-00418000077111/" target="_blank">more spacious Breezehouse</a>.

The updated prefab home now features more energy efficient and sustainable technologies, advanced building construction and an even better interaction between the indoors and outdoors.

Fabricated locally in Blu Homes Vallejo factory, the home had less than 100 miles to travel before arriving at its final destination.

The Blu Homes installation crew <a href="http://www.bluhomes.com/sunset-breezehouse/videos/" target="_blank">unfolded the house</a> in just two days and then the interior was finished, painted and furnished.

The home features 2 bedrooms, 4 baths (with an additional den and home office that could be converted to additional bedrooms ) and features a recycled steel frame design that minimizes waste, especially compared to lumber-framed homes.

The tight envelope has a high R-Value with a rain screen, exterior insulation, and blown-in wall cavity insulation, which is then clad in a maintenance-free fiber cement siding product.

A solar thermal system provides domestic hot water and a Warmboard radiant floor heating system provides energy efficient heating.

Inside, the Breezehouse is painted with low VOC paints from Benjamin Moore, bamboo floors, low flow water fixtures and scores of other eco products.

The <a href="http://www.sunset.com/home/idea-houses/breezehouse-idea-house-00418000077111/" target="_blank">Sunset Breezehouse</a> opens this week on August 3rd for public tours from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until September 9th.

Purchase tickets online through <a href="http://www.sunset.com/home/idea-houses/breezehouse-idea-house-00418000077111/" target="_blank">Sunset Magazine</a>.

The lower level of the Sunset Breezehouse.

The upper level of the Sunset Breezehouse.