Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/02/06/a-new-green-boutique-sp…

Destination design firm WATG provided complete architectural design services for Bardessono, a 62-room boutique luxury inn and spa opening this week on a 4.9-acre site in Yountville, California, in the heart of Napa Valley.

The inn includes a spa with four treatment rooms, a 75-foot-long rooftop infinity pool, a fine-dining restaurant, and meeting space. The design reflects a blending of the Valley’s agrarian character, the high refinement associated with its wines, and the indoor/outdoor character of local living.

The project uses solar and geothermal energy, sophisticated energy management systems, sustainable building materials, and organic landscape management practices. The project is pursuing a LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council.

Some of the unique elements of the inn include a lobby without a front desk - guests are greeted in the foyer by the staff; every room has its own courtyard that allows for absolute guest privacy; and spa treatments will…

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Author: Jean-Paul
Website: http://www.thechicecologist.com/2009/02/mission-one-street-s…

It wasn’t too long back that I wrote about the British built TTX01 GP electric super streetbike as becoming the fastest production electric motorcycle out there with a top speed of 125mph and a range of 50 miles. The new Mission One electric motorcycle pretty much blows that away. Based in San Francisco, Mission Motors [...]

Related posts:

1. Worlds Fastest Electric Superbike Motorcycle - The TTX01
2. Another Really Fast Electric Sportscar - McLaren Supercar Style - JJAD P1E
3. The Fastest Car in the World - and its Green!

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Let’s face it: timber frame homes are gorgeous. In addition to their inherent beauty, timber frames have several advantages over homes built with conventional materials. Here’s our list of the top five advantages:

1. Timber frame homes never go out of style. While other building fads phase in and out, timber frames have lasting beauty and can be easily adapted for new uses over time. Timber frames allow you to create every type of space in a home you could want – from grand and expansive to small and cozy, public or private, recreational or functional.

2. Timber frames with SIPs (structural insulated panels) are energy efficient in all climates. A structural insulated panel enclosure system creates a thermal envelope around the timber frame, keeping your home warm in the dead of winter and cool in the hot summer months. Bad weather? Bring it on!

3. Posts and beams can be recycled from old factories, barns, and historical buildings, adding character and a unique history to the… (Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PostAndBeamTimberFrameHomesBl…