Blue Steel is a new low-energy, live/work prototype located near Freeport, Pennsylvania intended for industrialist, Randy Edgar, and his wife Bonnie. Home_work: The argument that multi-family homes use fewer resources than single-family homes doesn't carry much weight in this part of the United States, where citizens are fiercely protective of their independence. Homes, like cars, are representations of success. These homes WILL be built. Our intent is to provide a carefully designed, energy-efficient, live-work option to compete with the commuter model, saving both driving time and all the costs associated with cars.

The local woodlands are being displaced here as new homes are constructed. But 95% of this lot will remain untouched. Our plans include instructions to save every tree possible and to bury more than half the buildings area below grade. No fences will separate this home from its neighbors. Despite the home's unconventional appearance, the neighbors support the construction because their walking paths will be preserved and their street views will remain unimpeded.

Ideas transcend style: We are reinforcing the building's connection to nature by employing a variety of sustainable products and methods. The interior plan is flexible and open, resulting in light-filled spaces that can be used for different purposes as needs change. This is 'bottom-up' architecture, in which affordable, easy-to-build strategies are employed to create extraordinary experience.