With more than 220,000 killed in the January 12^th earthquake and an estimated 2 million living in temporary shelters, Haiti’s future is being discussed at both the United Nations and in Congress.

The United Nations has estimated the total building cost around $11.5 billion and Haiti was hoping to raise around $3.9 billion to cover the initial phase at the March 31^st International Donors’ Conference towards a New Future for Haiti at the UN Headquarters.  Other nations are stepping in to help as well, President Obama is asking Congress for more than 2.8 billion to help the nation recover and The European Union has pledged some $1.6 billion for Haiti’s reconstruction.

Below are the opening remarks Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at Haiti donors’ conference on March 31st,

As we move from emergency aid to long-term reconstruction, let us recognize that we cannot accept business as usual. What we envision, today, is wholesale national renewal … a sweeping exercise in nation-building on a scale and scope not seen in generations.

Making a difference in the lives of Haiti’s children is Trilogy Build’s own Michael Rath, who is headed to Haiti this month with HORP (Haiti Orphan Rescue Program).  Their mission is to support orphanages and build sustainable children’s communites in Haiti.  According to HORP’s website, “HORP plans to develop children’s communities to include durable housing, clinics, classrooms, gardens, and recreational space. Skills Centers and micro business development will encourage community involvement and funding. HORP volunteers in Haiti will work with local laborers.  Our skilled trades volunteers will spend as much time teaching as they do building.  Most of our contributions will go toward local purchases of building materials, supplies. Our contributors can take ownership in our program by sponsoring to build a kitchen for $400 or an entire complex for $40,000.”

Current living conditions in Haiti. HORP is hoping to repair mosquito netting before the rain sets in.

John and Dr. Mike

Please visit the HORP website if you’d like to make a difference in the lives of these children.

April is Colorado Architecture Month!

The month-long celebration of Colorado architecture and design, hosted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA Colorado), will have several free events and educational opportunities for the public.

You’ll find a list of events here.

Events and programs range from seminars on how to work with an architect to a merging of art and architecture during Architecture, Art and Appetizers. Some have sustainability in mind like the April 15 event at the University of Denver, with the theme, “Confluence: Social Responsibility > Sustainability.”

Here’s an interesting piece in the LA Times about the award-winning restoration of four Hollywood bungalows.

The homes were nearly demolished before they were restored, with housing for low-income and special-needs tenants in mind. The paper reports that original details include built-ins and pull-down dining tables.

It’s good to see existing properties getting an update and praise for their restoration.

We’re proud to share the story of this contemporary masterpiece we completed with assistance by Woodhouse Post and Beam.

In this case, the home of their dreams was a long time in the making. With thoughts of building a retirement home in scenic Colorado, the owners discovered the marvel of a timber frame home.

The Southern Yellow Pine timber frame is accented by the meticulous attention to detail paid to every aspect of the house. This home is a culmination of what it means to design beautifully, with sustainability in mind and affordably while showcasing the range of timber frame design.

At the heart of the home is a custom fireplace featuring intricate tile work and custom shelving. The windows look out over the Breckenridge Golf Course and across the valley to the Ten Mile Range. Simplicity in decoration enhances the inherent beauty of this house. The porches prove to be a peaceful place to relax and enjoy Colorado’s breathtaking views.

Trilogy Partners used the latest in building technologies and green materials including Murus SIP panels and a hybrid heating system.

We’re focused on our Net Zero Energy home and that focus on sustainability is seen around the world. In fact, skyscrapers may be the next big thing in green building.

Check out this Wall Street Journal story featuring an interview Malaysian architect Kenneth Yeang, winner of the prestigious Aga Khan Award in Architecture for his pioneering work in sustainable building. His insights talk about the challenges in sustainable building and how they’re being handled in Asia.

We build homes for people who appreciate a high level of detail and creativity. This home at 265  Long Ridge Drive is located on the Breckenridge Jack Nicklaus Golf course. Currently for sale, it features 2 stunning master suites and a much sought after location. 300 day a year of sun, world class golf out the back door and all the amenities combined with Trilogy craftsmanship make this a one of a kind, world class mountain retreat.

When you live in Colorado, it’s kind of hard not to be inspired by your surroundings. It’s amazing how much surroundings matter. It’s not only the temperature, wind, weather and altitude. It’s the trees, the mountains, the snow, and the amazing beauty that is the backdrop for everything we do.

Architectural Digest’s feature using one-sentence quotes by architects is a simple way to get inspiration for your own personal home.

Among some of the comments:

“The use of bold color in spaces that you only spend a short amount of time in, such as a foyer, breezeway or gallery, will make them more memorable and interesting.” —John Barman

Focus your energy and budget on the rooms where you and your family spend most of your time. The kitchen, family room and bathrooms should be as beautiful—if not more beautiful—than the living room or dining room. —Allan Greenberg

Allow for the “in-between” spaces to occur by employing light and shadow as a material. —David Jameson

And one of our favorite quotes, which we also have on our Web site, is from Henry David Thoreau: “It’s not what you look at what matters, it’s what you see.”

If you’re wondering about how to judge whether a product is green, here’s five good tips from Residential Design & Build magazine’s John D. Wagner.

1. Improves indoor air quality.

2. Uses recycled/recyclable materials.

3. Reduces water consumption.

4. Is sustainably harvested.

5. Reduces fuel consumption (carbon footprint) during manufacture, delivery, installation and use.

As Wagner writes, it’s easy to separate what’s “green” from what’s “greenwashed” if you keep these 5 basic green principles in mind: “When you do this, you’ll find that green building really is a rather old-fashioned approach to building. It produces tight, well-vented, low-maintenance structures that don’t use lots of fuel to heat and cool themselves, and contain nontoxic products and materials that don’t permanently deplete their sources when harvested.”

Shane Aschan, owner of The Foamers Inc., which is based in Silverthorne, managed the insulation process for Breckenridge’s first custom Net Zero home. He sprayed a high-density closed cell foam insulation under the slabs of the home before the concrete was poured.

We wanted to ensure that the inside of the home was insulated to the highest degree possible and that the in-floor radiant heat will perform efficiently.

The exterior walls of the home were insulated with 3 to 3 ½ inches of polyurethane closed cell foam. The roof was insulated with 6 ½ inches of polyurethane closed cell foam.

Ashcan says: “One of the builder criteria we needed to meet was to produce an event flat surface of the finished foam to help the other subcontractors do their work efficiently.”

Colorado Building Co. insulated the exterior of the home using Dow Building Solutions Styrofoam Residential Sheating.

Karen Durfee with Dow Building Services, which is based in Denver, says that one square foot of properly installed Styrofoam insulation of one inch thick can avert more than 1 ton of CO2 emissions during a building’s average life.