In addition to an innate reverence for that which is of, or pertains to the earth, Ohana Art Environments takes this appreciation of our natural world to the next level. Our wondrous passion for the shapes, hues and textures in nature’s flora are not limited simply to that which can be planted into the ground. By combining nature and the art of pottery, our designs are an overt showcase of both. With nature and human ingenuity, the art of our pottery will take your design to the stars.

Benjamin Benschneider
Example of an urban open staircase design in Seattle

Photos by Matthew Williams
Example of a danish light wood floor kitchen design in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

BEFORE Photo - Due to faulty workmanship of a previous contractor, D-Trac Construction was contracted to address the rock work issues pertaining to the fact that scratch coat was not applied prior to the rock work being installed. This resulted in the rock work falling off the front and back of the home. Parging around the perimeter of the home was also not completed, siding install had to be corrected in areas and a basement window was installed upside down. D-Trac Constriction addressed above issues on-time and on budget.

AFTER Photo - Due to faulty workmanship of a previous contractor, D-Trac Construction was contracted to address the rock work issues pertaining to the fact that scratch coat was not applied prior to the rock work being installed. This resulted in the rock work falling off the front and back of the home. Parging around the perimeter of the home was also not completed, siding install had to be corrected in areas and a basement window was installed upside down. D-Trac Constriction addressed above issues on-time and on budget.

AFTER Photo - Due to faulty workmanship of a previous contractor, D-Trac Construction was contracted to address the rock work issues pertaining to the fact that scratch coat was not applied prior to the rock work being installed. This resulted in the rock work falling off the front and back of the home. Parging around the perimeter of the home was also not completed, siding install had to be corrected in areas and a basement window was installed upside down. D-Trac Constriction addressed above issues on-time and on budget.

BEFORE Photo - Due to faulty workmanship of a previous contractor, D-Trac Construction was contracted to address the rock work issues pertaining to the fact that scratch coat was not applied prior to the rock work being installed. This resulted in the rock work falling off the front and back of the home. Parging around the perimeter of the home was also not completed, siding install had to be corrected in areas and a basement window was installed upside down. D-Trac Constriction addressed above issues on-time and on budget.

AFTER Photo - Due to faulty workmanship of a previous contractor, D-Trac Construction was contracted to address the rock work issues pertaining to the fact that scratch coat was not applied prior to the rock work being installed. This resulted in the rock work falling off the front and back of the home. Parging around the perimeter of the home was also not completed, siding install had to be corrected in areas and a basement window was installed upside down. D-Trac Constriction addressed above issues on-time and on budget.

THIS PROJECT CREATED THREE NEW RESIDENCES AS PART OF A MASTER PLAN TO REVITALIZE A VACANT INFILL LOT IN CHARLESTON FARMS. THE HOMES BOASTED DETAILS AND TYPOLOGICAL DESIGN PERTAINING TO THE HERITAGE AND CHARM OF THE LOWCOUNTRY. COMPACT LOTS WITH THOUGHTFUL DESIGN AND LAYOUT CREATED AN ABSOLUTELY CHARMING SENSE OF PLACE.

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.

Rich Pharaoh
Beach style l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, blue backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.

After Photo: D-Trac Construction Inc. was recently contracted to provide full renovation services including interior design consulting pertaining to a master bedroom and ensuite renovation. The scope of work included re-painting the main and upper level of the home and full carpet replacement on the upper level. Renovations consisted of removing an existing walk-in closet to expand the ensuite bathroom, custom tiled shower, tile floor with WIFI in-floor heat system, custom vanity, WetStyle trough sink, Rubinet bathroom fixtures, custom barn door with track system and a custom trimmed closet unit in the master bedroom.