Hello!

Happy Friday! I hope this note finds you well and enjoying the summer. It has been a whirlwind month of August.

For a lot of people, I've seen a lot of challenges being met with perseverance and new projects taken on with tenacity. I've also been inspired by many different people doing incredible things. For this edition of the newsletter, I would like to acknowledge some of these people and organizations that have inspired me.

One inspiration is Colleen Wainwright's 50for50 project: a fundraising campaign to empower teenage girls through creative writing. Her goal is to raise $50,000 for these girls for her 50th birthday. I admire her selflessness, and it truly shows the spirit of giving by helping others.

Think Globally, Act Locally

I also want to support small local businesses and organizations like the Ojai Bubble by Nancy Gross, VCCOOL by Rachel Morris, the Ventura Breeze by Sheldon Brown, WordChef by Tea Sylvestre, EcologicLife by Cynthia Grier, Raindancers by Caprice Pitcher, and Women's Business Socials by Jodi Womack, who connects so many amazing women to grow and flourish. In Jodi's words: we're smarter and better together.

In a similar spirit, I have been an active member and supporter of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition to promote positive change in our local community. OVGC is a grass roots organization consisting of caring citizens who empower themselves to create a greener community.

We invite you to come out and play with us! There are a number of upcoming events sponsored by OVGC, such as a presentation by Mark Lakeman on Community Building and a Green Home Tour in October (see "Events" on the right). There is also a new Resource Center in downtown Ojai open to the public at 327 E. Ojai Ave.

It's inspiring to see the work that's being done out there in the world. With all the current challenges we face in the world, these acts of radical generosity lifts my spirits, and I hope it does the same for you.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and please feel free let me know your thoughts on the newsletters. If you prefer not to receive the emails, I'd like to know that, too. I always welcome your feedback, and truly appreciate your interest and support in my humble little business.

Warm wishes,
v i n a l u s t a d o

As of Monday August 29th, I will be on a journey to places near and far: Chicago, Austin, Cologne, Munich, Vals (Switzerland), and finally to Budapest (whew!). I have been busy preparing for this extended trip, primarily to reconnect with some of my architectural colleagues.

One in particular, Arne Steffen, is an architect with whom I worked during my research fellowship in Germany many years ago. Arne is a principal at werkum, an architecture firm with a focus on green building. After several visits to Germany, Arne and I have since become good friends.

One of reasons for my trip to Europe is to further my research on the Modular Eco-Prototype concept. Arne and his firm have been working on a project which uses prefabricated modular construction. The individual units are small structures that can be used as a flexible module to create different configurations, which is similar concept to my prototype idea (see their modules below). Arne and I will be taking a trip to the factory, and I hope to gain some information that can be used here in California.

In addition to my visit to Germany, I will be traveling to Vals, Switzerland to see a building from one of my favorite architects, Peter Zumthor. It is a stone thermal bath situated in the Swiss alps - just a beautiful expression of simplicity and evocative spaces.

If you're interested in following along my journey, I will be staying in touch with pictures on Facebook (see the link to the right). And if you haven't already, please "like" our page and be my "friend". I would be so grateful!

The construction for the cottage guesthouse in Ojai is well underway, thanks to Reggie Wood from West Wood Construction. Ever since the grading was completed and concrete slab was poured, the framing went full speed ahead! The pre-manufactured roof trusses (above) shows the vaulted ceiling in the living area for an open plan concept, allowing lots of daylighting.

In the next month, electrical and mechanical work will be completed, as well as the framing for the exterior patios. More photos to come.

A new project for a new deck remodel is underway in Ojai. The owners have requested a design solution to shade their existing decks from the strong southwest facing sun, as well as a new roof structure to clearly identify the main entry.

The project has been fun, and I've enjoyed working with the clients Laurie and John. I look forward to finalizing the design with them upon my return.