A Gorgeous Green Modular Home Appears at the World Trade Center

Taking in a gorgeous sunset on New York Harbor, guests sipped organic cocktails, while steady sea breezes provided relief from the heat of the afternoon. Behind us were the walls of glass of the remaining buildings in the World Trade Center area, now burnished a brilliant gold by the light. To our right was an adorable farmhouse, temporarily placed on the picturesque Plaza at the World Financial Center, in a bid to promote new green modular designs.

We've written about modular homes before: they offer a number of benefits, including lower cost, shorter construction times, less disruption to the surrounding landscape, less use of materials and less waste, and they are often easier to supply with standardized and green materials. In this case, the gorgeous modular farmhouse is titled "Home Green Home," and it is a project between Country Living magazine (owned by Hearst, like The Daily Green) and builders New World Home.

The idea was to create historically inspired homes with all the modern conveniences, and with the benefits of the latest modular techniques. The 1,600-square-foot country-style Hudson cottage on display in New York is one of several designs being offered nationwide through the Country Living Collection, the first of its kind for the publication. The show home was erected in a matter of hours, but you'd never know it. It's beautiful and charming inside and out, with none of the old stereotypes of modular designs (cold, angular, institutional, etc).

The green house is warm and cozy, and expertly appointed with bright colors, energy-efficient appliances and natural products. It is based on a LEED-certifiable modular housing platform. According to the designers, it is expected to reduce overall energy consumption by more than 50% versus standard offerings, save thousands of gallons of water per year, and provide better indoor air quality.

Home Green Home is open to the public for free tours through June 17th, so hurry on over to the Plaza at the World Financial Center. Even if the country-themed decor isn't your cup of tea, it's worth seeing how far modular designs have come.

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