Comments on: RENOVATION: A Home Built Around 3 Trees

By: Florida Contractors

Florida Contractors — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:47:18 +0000

That’s a really cool house!

By: Shropshire Architect

Shropshire Architect — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:10:02 +0000

A wonderful design and a noce mix of materials and inside and outside spaces.

By: sschultzela

sschultzela — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:09:35 +0000

I’ve been in Levine created homes. His architecture is a perfect example of how design meets nature. You engage his environments much like a walk in the woods. The texture and functionality insure that your experience, however long, is welcoming, inspirational and a renewing of the spirit. That is precisely why he will be designing my next home.

By: DesignJunkie

DesignJunkie — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:17:27 +0000

This design is a brilliant example of how to integrate a building with it’s environment. Here is a house that treats the existing trees as something to be preserved rather than a nuisance or a problem to be removed.

It is also quite beautiful the way natural light fills the interior and is shared between the spaces.

I would love to see the ‘before’ photos to compare.

By: amaljacob15

amaljacob15 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:13:18 +0000

Loved the feeling and usage of the sliding wooden frames in the exterior and the natural way of protecting the interiors from harsh sun by using huge stones…..and there is nothing more refreshing than bringing the nature into our homes and using the existing trees as a part of out architecture….. wow……. would love to have a house like this one…….

By: englished

englished — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:12:47 +0000

now i was going to come on here and rant about this BASED on the first picture

but seeing the rest of the pictures of the house it looks absolutely amazing

just a shame hes built around that tree in the first pic looks so stupid, green movement or not

By: Olivia Chen

Olivia Chen — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:25:44 +0000

Hi David!

Thanks for writing. I love the renovation as well.
I agree that the green movement often demonizes things that other people enjoy. I, for one, enjoy meat on a regular basis.
My issue with grass lawns is that they aren’t as environmentally sustainable in Los Angeles as they are in New England. I grew up in southern California so I know how much water they use. I also understand that besides astro turf (which is arguably not as soft as real grass) there aren’t any alternatives for green lawns. But I wonder why everyone needs their own lawn? I wonder if people would be willing to adjust to grass only in designated public park land. That way, homeowners could save money + water with their xeriscaping and leave it to city government to take care of the lawn. Haha. Well, perhaps that is wishful thinking. Anyway, my point is that the green movement doesn’t want to take everyone’s luxuries away, but I think to be more environmentally-friendly, everyone has to sacrifice a few things here and there.

-Olivia

By: David Gregg

David Gregg — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:11:02 +0000

Very beautiful design. I was just looking for a house yesterday in Eagle Rock with my wife and son.

I just want to address the writer’s beef with green grass. I do know that lawns require quite a lot of water, but let’s be honest. Green grass is not going away. In fact, a green lawn is a thing of beauty.

One of the great shortcomings of the green movement is its desire to demonize features of civilization like manicured lawns, meat, cars – stuff that other people outside of the movement happen to love.

Anything that can be done can be done better and with less dedicated resources. Why not push for lawns that use less water but still give you the satisfaction of a living, breathing, feels good on your bare feet ground cover? Why would I want to have a baseball catch with my son on a patch of crushed stone, rosemary, and lavender?

Reform does not need necessarily mean activism.

By: Alan Zulch

Alan Zulch — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:48:32 +0000

Outstanding design. I love the light, and the stone/wood/trees balance. Very nicely executed!