Can high performance and beautiful design coexist? This home cracks the code.

Civitas is many things to many people. It’s a study in sustainability and scalability. It’s a connection point for the surrounding neighborhood. It’s a test in pairing high design and high performance. And for Barry Yoakum, the architect behind the project, it’s also his family home and an opportunity to pay homage to a place that’s near and dear to his heart. And Barry is all too keen to welcome the community in to tell the story of the appropriately named home––Civitas, which is Latin for community or a social body of citizens.

Venture inside this stunning modern home and learn about how the team at archimania seamlessly blended high design and high performance and placed little "Easter eggs" throughout this Memphis gem.

Like all great movements, mindful MATERIALS grew out of a need. For many years, it existed as a database, but along that path, it began to attract stakeholders from all corners of the building industry who were passionate about proliferating healthy materials action. Architects, designers, engineers, manufacturers, and owners, to name a few, were joining in what was rapidly becoming an international movement.

Each year, mindful MATERIALS has a growing presence at the Greenbuild conference. And this year, they took us on a tour of some of their partners in the mindful MATERIALS pavilion.

Have you ever considered how many chemicals you encounter on a daily basis? It’s not something most of us typically think about unless there is a strong odor present or a warning label in eyesight. But the fact of the matter is, there’s almost no escaping them and you might be surprised to know just how many surround us and pose health and environmental risks.

Mike Johnson director of materials at the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) talks about how we can become more aware of these chemicals and turn toward a healthier environment.

Learn more about the Red List at https://living-future.org/red-list/ Learn more about Declare and Living Product Challenge at https://living-future.org/programs-overview/

Is organic architecture the key to sustainable building? This home in Scottsdale, Arizona, designed and developed by desert modernist architect Craig Wickersham, is an exploration of the principles of organic architecture as taught by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

This project, at the base of Pinnacle Peak, demonstrates how starting with a deep respect and love for the land and surrounding ecosystem impacts design decisions and ultimately the imprint on the environment.