For those of you who have been following this blog for awhile, you are probably somewhat familiar with Michelle Kaufmann. She is one of the nation’s most recognizable green home designers. Her company (Michelle Kaufmann Designs) was Residential Architect magazine’s Top Firm for 2008, and in 2009 she earned the NAHB’s Green Building Award for Advocate of the Year and Treehugger‘s Best Prefab Architect Award (see her website for a complete list of her accomplishments).
Sadly, Michelle recently broke the news to the public that Michelle Kaufmann Designs (MKD) will be closing its offices. On her blog she states:
Despite our best efforts, the financial meltdown and plunging home values have caught up with us. The recent closing of a factory partner as well as the gridlocked lending faced by homeowners, has proved more than our small company can bear.
Although her company may be closing, Michelle is still very optimistic about the future. She assures everyone that although this chapter in her life is closing, there will be a next chapter. She insists that the mission of greener design cannot go away. It is something important and must not be lost. Healthy, efficient and well-designed homes really do need to be accessible for all. We simply cannot give up on it.
I just want to close with a quote from Michelle’s blog:
I want to urge all of us not to give up on this mission. I look forward to hearing about all the methods that you are creating in your work, in your homes and in your lives – different models of innovation and reinvention during these difficult, yet interesting times.
Good Luck!
