Eco Design Apartment Challenge

What kind of home do you live in? Living in a cluttered environment with no space can be damaging to our mood and health, but bigger homes and houses generally require more energy, materials, and land.

On average, 80 percent of our carbon footprint is related to the buildings we inhabit according to Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger.com and VP of Planet Green. To help buck the “bigger is better” trend and reduce the carbon footprint, Hill created a contest for eco-innovation. For a grand prize of 70,000 dollars, Hill’s challenging designers to create the most space-efficient and stylish apartment, that he will live in once it’s created in New York.

The challenge: design a 420-square-foot apartment that can accommodate a sit-down dinner for 12, two overnight guests, comfortable lounging for eight, a home office, work area, bed, shower, and place to store a bike. The submissions will be judged by a panel of architects.

The submission period runs until January 10, and a winner will be announced ten days later. If you’re interested in submitting, head over to jovoto.com.

I’m in awe of seeing what designers and architects can do with space (one of the most impressive homes I’ve seen is this 330-square-food apartment which can be transformed into 24 different rooms!), so I look forward to seeing the submissions and getting inspired to make my living area more space-efficient.

What do you think? Is it possible to feel happy and free in a tiny space? Are you interested in downsizing your living space anytime soon?

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Danuta W.

12:31AM PDT on May 1, 2012

Thanks for sharing

send a green star

KS G.

1:59AM PDT on Jun 11, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Gordana R.

4:06AM PDT on Mar 29, 2011

nice artricle

Robert O.

3:20PM PDT on Mar 27, 2011

Very nice.

Brenda Marie C. C.

10:57AM PST on Dec 12, 2010

Thanks for the information.

Jewel R.

9:00PM PST on Dec 6, 2010

Great, I Think I'll Give It A Try!!!!! Thanks For The Info!!!!! (^_^)

Carol C.

11:15AM PST on Dec 6, 2010

Noted. Thanks.

Julianna D.

1:08PM PST on Dec 2, 2010

Thanks!

Sharon S.

8:50AM PST on Nov 30, 2010

Our space is a defining and expressive place we call home....and home is where the heart is. When all becomes cluttered it like having blocked arteries. Less is more.

Jennifer B.

6:13AM PST on Nov 30, 2010

I think a person can be happy living in a small space if it is usable. We moved from 3 bedroom house to a tiny one bedroom apartment. I like my apartment....I am getting used to the smaller space.