Eco-Remodel, 2004
Designer: Ben Haggard/Palo Santo Designs
Builder: Palo Santo Designs
This ecological remodel in the heart of Santa Fe was a fun job for Palo Santo Designs. The owner, Ben Haggard of Regenesis, a permaculturalist and naturalist to the core, requested that all the materials used in the remodel be totally non-toxic, sustainable harvested, and natural.
We used SCI certified lumber and formaldehyde free MDF plywood material, FSC certified flooring and decking. All the glues, paints and sealers are low VOC and ecological products from Bioshield. All the interior plasters are all natural clay plasters from Clayote. We used adobe and recycled red brick for thermal mass elements within the design. All the insulation added to the building was a recycled newspaper product from Cocoon known as blown in cellulose. We also utilized Low-e glass in all the windows for better heat efficiency. All the wiring was done according to the low-EMF specs of Bau-Biology (with the help of Bristol Stickney and Peter Page).
The beauty, lightness and simplicity of the design, with these natural textures and warm tones really makes it a wonderful and healthy living environment.
