Bright and airy Sycamore tiny house hits the market for $90k

Wichita-based tiny house builder Made Relative recently unveiled its fourth custom home — Sycamore, a 320-square-foot dwelling that’s now available for $90,000. Crafted by cousins Reid and Kale, the new tiny home features natural timbers throughout the design in addition to an abundance of natural light and an open layout. The home also comes partially furnished with custom built-ins, select lighting and custom furniture pieces.

Named after the use of sycamore in the interior, the Sycamore tiny house includes a mix of timber types from the tongue-and-groove cedar siding on the exterior to the engineered and waterproof hickory tongue-and-groove floors found in the living area. The warm timber palette is complemented with copper accents peppered throughout, such as the two copper bar stools that pull up to the sycamore bar and custom copper railings for the loft spaces.

Related: The prefab Tiny Tetra House in Bali is made of recycled waste

For a bright and airy feel, Made Relative wrapped the interior with white shiplap and birch and inserted 11 windows that let in daylight and open up for natural ventilation. At the heart of the home is the kitchen, which features a 2-inch thick elm countertop and a 30-inch, full-size gas range. The bar and dining space sit opposite the kitchen. On one end of the home is the bathroom tucked behind a custom wood herringbone door and on the other is the living room. This living space is organized around an elm entertainment center and includes a custom peach-colored velvet couch that can be easily converted into a bed.

To maximize storage, the designers integrated three large cabinets into a switchback staircase that leads up to the main loft, an 80-square-foot elevated space with dimmable overhead LEDs and enough space for storage and a queen-sized mattress. A ladder leads up to the secondary, 32-square-foot loft that can be used as another sleeping space or for storage.

+ Made Relative

Images via Made Relative

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CRA reveals the worlds first compostable marker

Design and innovation practice Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA) recently unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first fully compostable marker. Scribit Pen cartridges are made of natural fibers and contain non-toxic, water-based ink.

Scribit Pen aims to help address the issue of plastic pollution, so each component making up this compostable marker is completely eco-friendly. In addition to its natural fiber cartridges, the main barrel of the marker is made of biodegradable plastic, and the non-toxic ink is so safe, you could eat it. The design was inspired by CRA’s eponymous drawing robot (named one of the best inventions of 2019 by Time magazine) that uses markers to draw visual content on vertical surfaces.

Related: Green Box — a hotel amenity kit made of compostable plastic

“We are proud of Scribit’s success, and how it has empowered thousands of people around the world to change the way they draw,” said Carlo Ratti, who led the Scribit Pen design team. “However we were troubled by the amount of plastic produced by the markers that the robot uses. By developing the new Scribit pen, we can turn one of humankind’s primordial acts — drawing — into a fully sustainable one.” According to the company, the global marker industry sends more than 35 billion plastic markers into landfills each year, an amount that could cover Manhattan over 11 times.

The pen barrel can be used indefinitely, as the internal components are replaceable. Buyers will have a choice between wood, bioplastic and anodized aluminum for the barrel material. These important features promote a circular economy, which replaces the “take-make-waste” linear model.

CRA has worked on several other sustainable projects in product design and architecture in the past, such as the Italian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020, which uses recycled components like orange peels and coffee grounds for construction materials, and the Circular Garden at Milan Design Week 2019, which was made from mycelium. The Scribit Pen project is currently under development, but those interested can stay updated by signing up for the newsletter.

+ Scribit

Images via CRA

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The top 7 amazing tiny homes weve seen this year

2020 was certainly one for the history books. But among all of the negativity in the news throughout this past year, there were also plenty of innovative and creative design solutions to the world’s problems shining through. While a large portion of Americans adjusted to life working remotely and others faced economic struggles due to the pandemic, tiny homes and inventive office spaces have never been so relevant. True to form, tiny luxury also flourished, with some of the best designs of the year combining space-saving minimalism with luxurious creature comforts despite small square footage. Read on to learn more about the top seven tiny homes we’ve seen this year here at Inhabitat.

Canada Goose

Brought to us by Mint Tiny Homes, the Canada Goose is a gorgeous, rustic tiny home on wheels that will make you feel like you’ve walked into a minimalist’s sustainable farmhouse. With a spacious kitchen and bathroom, an entire area dedicated to a living room, and a full-sized bedroom on the gooseneck hitch, it is clear that the designers at Mint put a lot of thought into space utilization. Plus, we can’t get enough of the reclaimed barn doors and the dark wood accents to complement the bright white interior. Available in 38 and 41 feet, the Canada Goose fits three beds and can house six to eight people comfortably.

Related: Tiny House Sustainable Living blog documents life in an off-grid tiny home

LaLa’s Seaesta

This quirky tiny house located only blocks from the beach has a design that’s just as clever as its name. Texas-based Plum Construction uses every inch of the property’s small square footage with a cute dining nook that converts into a sleeping area and a secret, hidden patio underneath. Just 410 square feet of space with an additional 80-square-foot loft inside, the home’s gable decoration is constructed from reclaimed cypress wood from a local house dating back 120 years. We think the best part of this property is the hidden patio, which takes advantage of the space left clear from the home’s stilts and features a hammock, a bar and an outdoor shower. The patio’s ventilated, slatted walls allows the ocean breeze to flow in.

The Natura

It might be enough for some sustainable design companies that the Natura tiny house is powered by 1000W-2000W rooftop solar panels, but not for U.K.-based The Tiny Housing Company. The firm goes several steps further by using natural materials such as cork and wood for the construction, as well as adding a wood-burning stove connected to underfloor heating, clean water filtration from an under-sink system, energy-efficient appliances and rockwool insulation (a rock-based mineral fiber composed of volcanic basalt rock and recycled steel or copper byproduct).

The Kirimoko

Looking at the interior of the Kirimoko in New Zealand, one would never guess that Condon Scott Architects would be able to fit all those amenities into a 322-square-foot footprint. This passive house boasts high-efficiency structural insulated panels paired with larch weatherboards to help keep out moisture as well as asphalt shingles and natural ventilation. This means the tiny home requires virtually no additional energy to keep temperatures comfortable in an unforgiving Central Otago climate. Characterized by a gable form, a black rain screen and massive windows, there is an abundance of natural light that makes this home look exceptionally bright and airy.

Denali XL

Denali XL, which is a larger version of Alabama-based Timbercraft Tiny Homes’ popular Denali model, features 399 square feet of floor space and a 65-square-foot loft. This tiny home may look like a rustic cabin from the outside, but once you cross the threshold, you’ll find a king-sized loft bedroom with powered skylights that open automatically on a timer or rain sensor, a large walk in closet, a luxurious steam shower and quartz countertops. Additional sustainable elements such as a trash compactor, high efficiency insulation and an incinerating toilet help earn this tiny home a spot on the list.

Oasis Tiny House

It’s easy to see how the Oasis Tiny House got its name. This 260-square-foot tiny home is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and features several luxurious touches that highlight the tropical ambiance of the space. An outdoor bar, for example, can be found directly below the curly mango wood kitchen window, designed to allow food and drinks to be passed through with ease. There is also a skylight in the bathroom to give the feel of an outdoor shower thanks to the home’s verdant jungle surroundings. The Oasis Tiny House is the creation of the sister-brother duo at Paradise Tiny Homes.

The Culp

A spa-like, walk-in hot tub is not something you’d expect to see inside of a 500-square-foot tiny home, but that didn’t stop Florida-based Movable Roots tiny home design company. When the client requested room for a soaking tub, the designers rose to the occasion and even added an incinerating toilet for good measure. The tiny home also has a galley kitchen and a primary bedroom with storage stairs leading up to dual loft spaces, which are naturally lit and spacious enough to be used as guest rooms, offices or storage. Another feature we love inside The Culp is its low-maintenance, two-tone metal exterior and the cork plank flooring.

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This artist turns paper waste into decorative vases

London-based designer Jacqueline de la Fuente is committed to turning trash into treasure. She’s the artist behind De La Jardin, which offers decorative vases made from a unique type of cardboard and paper waste clay.

Sourced from discarded or unwanted paper from local cafes and her own home as well as cardboard via everything from egg cartons to packaging, de la Fuente invented the clay recipe herself, taking hints from papier-mâché. The process begins after the artist collects old paper products, shreds the materials by hand and soaks them in water before making it all into a pulp. The result is a malleable clay very similar to ceramic pottery clay.

Related: Designers made this pavilion out of upcycled paper waste

“Paper clay vases came about organically through my slight obsession with shapes, form and my love for sculptures and vases,” de la Fuente said. “I had always wanted to work with ceramics but being a full-time mum to two young kids proved going to a studio was difficult. This is when I started [to] look at different materials to create objects.” Always conscious of waste, the artist said that the idea of finding a way to incorporate recycling came naturally.

The vases are sculpted slowly by hand, leaving traces of fingerprints and natural curves to create tactile, one-of-a-kind pieces. Some vases are left in their natural pulp finish, while others are hand-painted using environmentally friendly, water-based paints. Although the sculptural pieces won’t hold water like a traditional vase, de la Fuente suggests filling them with dried flowers instead to save water.

Truly unique, each vase is made to order in one to two weeks and ships from the U.K. De La Jardin also features original hand-line drawings on recycled, long-fibered cotton paper that the artist creates “organically” with fine line threads. She also offers her art in gallery-quality giclée prints printed on paper made from bamboo and cotton fibers.

+ De La Jardin

Images via Jacqueline de la Fuente

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Bamboo Compression Socks offer support via natural and recycled materials

Life is busy. Sometimes, it is so busy that it becomes difficult to take proper care of ourselves. One tool for handling long days on your feet or sitting at a computer is a trusty pair of compression socks. Now, Ostrichpillow offers the newly released Bamboo Compression Socks that are made to pamper and support your feet.

Ostrichpillow has already made a name for itself as a self-care brand with carefully curated, high-quality products focused on improving sleep and offering pain relief. The latest addition to the product lineup, these compression socks aim to prevent problems like blood clots in the legs by improving circulation, even when you’re not moving.

Related: These bamboo socks by Flyte are anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic

Pablo Carrascal, CEO of Ostrichpillow said, “We noticed how today’s sedentary lifestyle lacks movement, especially for the legs. The recommendation is to walk about 10,000 steps a day, however, in the US that average is lower than 5,000. We spend so much time still: commuting, in front of the computer, the TV, the tablet… This negatively affects blood circulation, increasing foot and leg swelling, fatigue, and the pooling of blood. In the long term that can be a problem. We thought then of a product which could help to supply that lack of movement effortlessly.”

The socks incorporate recycled and natural materials into an eco-fiber blend made up of 50% bamboo, 25% recycled polyester, 10% recycled nylon and 15% spandex. The product earned Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, which means it is free from harmful levels of more than 100 substances known to be damaging to human health.

The Ostrichpillow Bamboo Compression Socks are available in two sizes: S-M (shoe size 5-9) and L/XL (shoe size 9-14). They retail for $29.99 with two color options. Well, actually there are two color combination options, because each pair is intentionally mismatched. You can select from pairs of yellow and blue or red and olive green.

Bamboo Compression Socks review

The company provided a sample pair of compression socks for me to try at home. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I assumed they would be like other compression socks I’ve worn in the past. They’re not — in all the best ways.

These socks feel amazing, like a giant hug of support up and down the leg. I’m fairly tactile-sensitive, so I was happy to find that the fabric felt good against my skin. While I wouldn’t describe it as soft, it certainly was less plastic-like than other compression socks I’ve put on. This is also true when crossing my ankles or otherwise rubbing the socks together. There was nothing abrasive in the contact.

As for fit, the socks are much longer than I anticipated. For me (5’6” on a good day), they land a few inches above the knee. I thought that would be annoying, but the additional support throughout the knee region is welcome in alleviating the discomfort from joint issues. I appreciate that the fabric doesn’t bunch up behind the knee or crease when I bend the knee. The pressure is snug but not restrictive. This allows for easy movement without any sort of pinching. Although I didn’t hit the trails in them, I didn’t experience any slipping and never had to pull them up after putting them on for the day.

I wore the socks on a fairly cold day, with outdoor temps around 36°F. They feel thick, although they are actually quite thin. I would say these bamboo compression socks are thicker than dress socks but not nearly as thick as winter wool socks. They are equivalent to or even a bit thinner than typical athletic socks. This makes them easy to wear with a variety of shoe options. Due to this thickness and coverage, I thought they would be hot. However, there is a noticeable breathable quality in the fabric, especially where the stripes are located.

The construction of the socks felt durable, with a cushioned sole and reinforced heel. The toe seam is often an issue for me if it rubs, pinches or sits off-kilter. This toe bed seems very roomy, perhaps in contrast to the snug fit of the rest of the sock. This allows for plenty of wiggle room for the toes.

It will be fun to see if the company offers more color options for the stripes in the future. During my conversations with the company, Carrascal had remarked, “somehow they might remind [of] the kinesiological tapes.” That resonated with me, because they really do! Personally, I think the mismatched colors add character without being overly whimsical. However, the two-tone look might not appeal to some.

Because I spend much of my day sitting in front of a computer, I expect to get a lot of use out of these bamboo compression socks. They would also be great for air travel and use in jobs that require long hours on your feet. I can’t personally imagine wearing these during exercise, although I can see how they could offer support and a layer of warmth during a morning fall run. Even if you do break them in with a good sweat, bamboo is naturally antimicrobial, which should keep away foot odor.

If you decide to gift the Bamboo Compression Socks to the desk jockey, road warrior or respected elder, know the company responsibly packages shipments with recyclable paper.

+ Ostrichpillow

Images via Ostrichpillow and Dawn Hammon / Inhabitat

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored by Ostrichpillow. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

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Award-winning Jewish primary school gets a sustainable expansion in Chicago

The Blue Ribbon School-recognized Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School (BZAEDS) in Chicago, Illinois has elevated its unique identity with a sustainable expansion that celebrates the private K-8 day school’s Jewish values and cultural heritage. Designed by local architectural practice Wheeler Kearns Architects, the recently renovated BZAEDS has most notably gained a secure, light-filled entry with a plaza, a variety of gathering spaces, flexible classroom areas and a series of environmentally friendly features, which range from a solar array to permeable paving throughout for responsible stormwater management.

Opened in 1946 with the motto “You Shall Teach Them Diligently,” the Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School is located next to the Anshe Emet Synagogue, with which it formerly shared a small and nondescript entrance accessed from the parking lot. The new, 32,000-square-foot Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School Expansion, completed last year, provides the school with a secure and independent entrance dedicated to the students. The entry vestibule is fronted with south-facing glass to promote connection between the school and the community. Full-height glazing also provides views to the school’s varied functions from religious classes held in the “Makom Rina” (Place of Joy) to the outdoor recreational fields.

Related: This modern art museum was once a cheese factory in Arkansas

“The addition embeds timeless Jewish principles and ideas into the structure and experience of the building, while providing an efficient, sustainable innovative learning environment for future generations,” the architects explained. “The building uses daylight, open space, visual connection, and material cues so visitors can intuit their way through the building. Most importantly, the building makes all visitors, staff, faculty and students feel like they have a place to call home.”

In addition to providing a more attractive entry and flexible gathering spaces, such as the lushly landscaped entry plaza, the expansion optimizes the environmentally friendly aspects of the solar-powered school. Ample glazing lets in natural light and reduces dependence on artificial lighting while deep overhangs mitigate solar heat gain. A VRF mechanical system was installed for on-demand heating and cooling. Recycled, renewable and low-VOC materials were selected for much of the interior palette, such as the ceilings, linoleum floors, tile and athletic field composition.

+ Wheeler Kearns Architects

Photography by ​Steve Hall, Hall + Merrick Photographers via Wheeler Kearns Architects

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CLAE launches vegan cactus leather sneakers

Independent footwear brand CLAE will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year with the release of its newest shoes made from vegan cactus leather. The Los Angeles-based company is committed to conscious and sustainable fashion, with some of its previous eco-minded sneakers made of materials like hemp and recycled mesh.

The cactus leather shoes are a collaboration between CLAE and DESSERTO, highly sustainable, plant-based vegan leather creators who won the Green Product Award in 2020. According to the sneaker company, this will be the world’s first shoe made from a perennial cactus.

Related: Oliver Co. makes vegan leather wallets from apple waste and wood

The leather is made in Zacatecas, Mexico from the mature leaves of the nopal (also known as prickly pear) cactus without damaging the plant. Cultivated only with natural minerals and rainwater at 8,000-foot altitudes, Nopal is known for its low ecological footprint and is 100% organic. The leaves are harvested every six to eight weeks to give the plant ample time to regenerate and help preserve the local biodiversity. After the mature leaves are cut, they spend a few days drying under the sun before undergoing DESSERTO’s patented process that transforms the plant into a soft yet durable vegan leather.

CLAE doesn’t stop there; the Bradley Cactus sneakers are also fitted with laces made of recycled nylon from plastic waste, while the sole is made using 100% natural rubber. This natural rubber comes from the latex sap of Hevea trees and is harvested on sustainably managed forests that help maintain the global balance of atmospheric carbon. The shoes also come packaged in environmentally friendly materials such as recycled cardboard.

Bradley Cactus sneakers are currently available for pre-order at an exclusive rate of $130, which is $20 less than the original price. They are available in white, black and green, colors inspired by the Nopal cactus plant.

+ CLAE

Images via CLAE

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