Chicago
The mkSolaire is the latest sustainable design by architect Michelle Kaufmann, whose California-based firm specializes in prefabricated modular housing. Open, spacious, and loft-like, the mkSolaire is designed to fit into an urban-infill lot, but is suitable for other settings.
Clad in cedar and cement-board siding, the three-story prefab house encompasses 2,250 square feet and features a living room, kitchen, and courtyard patio on the main level. Bedrooms are set on the second story, and the upper level serves as a loft and library with access to a roof deck. Glass sliding doors and windows infuse the mkSolaire interior with natural light.
Each mkSolaire will be solar-ready with other renewable energy options: a geothermal system, a wind generator system, or hybrid systems. Other green elements include an open-cell foam insulation system, bamboo or reclaimed wood flooring, countertops containing recycled paper, recycled glass tile-walls for the master bathroom and powder room, on-demand water heaters, and water-saving plumbing fixtures. Non-toxic paints and formaldehyde-free wood cabinetry are also included in the design.
The first mkSolaire will be built in May as part of the “Smart Home: Green + Wired” exhibition at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.
