Check out our new Brytan Photo Show!

What's So Great About New Urbanism?

Check out this fun YouTube video below on TNDs and new urbanism. Note the opening scene and the water color shown to the left. It is BRYTAN!! Michael Morrissey is the artist and he drew it for the Brytan Charrette in 2000. The video clip is under 3 minutes and worth watching to get a quick overview on why communities like Brytan are not only convenient and friendly but also sustainable.

Homes Inspired by Ecomagination

Today we are pleased to announce that homes inspired by ecomagination™ will be available in Brytan. Based on commitments to utilize the most innovative building techniques and to provide energy efficient features, the builders at Brytan have agreed that the GE program provides the best value in today's marketplace. New homes in Brytan will be certified to meet the stringent Environments for Living Green Building program, which incorporates the latest energy saving technology.

Today's decision to work with the Environments for Living program will allow Brytan to be a place where not only the designs of the homes, but also the design of the community work together to provide for a sustainable lifestyle. We believe that we have a responsibility to preserve our environment so we are working with a select group of builders who are committed to creating energy efficient homes for you and your family to enjoy. All homes in Brytan are certified green by independent third parties so you can be assured that your home is truly "green" not just a home with a few energy efficient appliances. Brytan is proud to be the first community in Alachua County to sell homes inspired by ecomagination™.

Brytan is truly Gainesville's greenest community.

09/09/09

On Wednesday, we will have another symmetrical date...09/09/09. We probably all remember the fantastic opening of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing that was held on 08/08/08. While it may not be as grand, at Brytan we will be unveiling a new program for the homes in our community that we are extremely excited about!

Tune in tomorrow for our special announcement...

A Value-added Summer

It's hard to believe that the summer is over and school has started up again! The summer months are often filled with vacations and events where we take some time to re-charge out batteries and reconnect with our families and friends. At Brytan, we used the time to research and learn about new technologies and ideas to make the homes in this community, the greatest value in terms of features, sustainable designs and economic benefits. We are excited about what we will be offering and look forward to sharing it with you!

Stay tuned!!

Hot in Gainesville but cool in Brytan!

Summertime is upon us! Hot, humid days punctuated by thunderstorms seems to be the daily forecast during the months of July and August. Along with the higher temperatures, many of us are seeing higher utility bills. Homes in Brytan have utility bills significantly below most homes in the area. These LEED-H certified homes are built to reduce energy demands and to provide a comfortable living environment. You should check out the homes and see how the insulation and other features make Brytan a "cool" place to live!

Green Living...how do you know you are doing your part?

I have yet to meet someone who is against the principles of green living and sustainability. People generally seem to want to do "their part" towards protecting our environment, whether it is picking up trash, turning off lights, turning up the thermostat and recycling cans and plastic bottles. The one point that is often made to me when talking about "green homes" is the fact that it really depends on the persons living in the house and their habits. Well, I guess the answer to that question is "yes" and "no." When people make the decision to purchase a LEED-H certified home, they are paying a bit more because they want the house itself to have an impact on the environment. LEED-H homes are built recycling materials, separating waste and using less toxic or non-toxic products. Those homes are more "green" just by virtue of how they were constructed. The "no" component comes about because of the behaviors and habits of the people that live in the homes. How do you know how "green" your lifestyle is?

How do you know when you are doing things that lower electrical consumption or decrease water usage? The lifestyle habits are a large component of truly being green.

Stay tuned as more information on understanding the impacts of your lifestyle habits on energy, water and air.

Green Certification...Good News!

Despite our disappointment with certification for the neighborhood, we are extremely pleased with how well the houses in Brytan are doing. We just found out that the most recent house may achieve LEED-H Gold certification!! We should know soon and will keep you posted. E.G. Gonzalez built a wonderful home with many green features. Not only does the house have icynene insulation but it also has a tankless gas water heater and dual-flush toilets in all of the baths. Dollar for dollar, this house is one of the most value-added buys on the market today.

Other good news pertains to the home currently under construction by DMCS, Inc. Many of you have been following the construction of this home and attending the green construction series presented by the builder and area LEED consultants. The home is on track and may obtain platinum certification, which would be a fantastic achievement!

Brytan continues to be Gainesville's Greenest Community!!

Stay tuned and we will keep you informed!

Green Certification...not good news!

This week-end we received news thatwe would not be able to be certified as a LEED-ND community. It was very disappointing because the areas that we fell short in, are areas that can not be changed at this point. There is an environmental prerequisite and though we satisfied local, state and federal requirements, we could not satisfy the LEED requirement. Since it is a prerequisite, none of the other issues matter.

Overall, I think it is good that USGBC is trying to recognize neighborhoods but I think the program has many kinks to work out. If your project is in a dense, urban area surrounded by existing development and your buildings are already designed, you should probably pursue the certification. If your projext falls into Stage 2 under USGBC's guidelines, I would proceed with extreme caution. You likely won't have the information in the format (e.g., already built) that USGBC is looking for. When asked to provide estimates, USGBC did not accept our estimates. We were using the best information that we had to make a realistic and achievable projection. To be told that your estimate is not acceptable by a committee that is not located in the area nor that understands local markets, is frustrating.

Was it worth it? We spent ten of thousands of dollars and much of it was wasted on trying to guess what USGBC wanted. If you are considering the program, I would wait until USGBC provides concrete examples of what is acceptable and concrete examples of how they want the information provided. Too often, the existing examples only applied to Stage 1 projects so the other two stages did not have clear guidance. The program is probably best suited for Stage 1 projects. Knowing that, I would not pursue it if I had it to do over again.

Front Porch

Some people have asked why we have designed the Brytan houses with steps up to the front porch.

Raising the floor level of the homes accomplishes several things. The first is added privacy. As the houses get closer to the street, we can create a vertical distance that defines the private space of the porch as distinct from the public space of the sidewalk. Even if the house is only a few feet away from the street, people walking by on the street have a vantage point from a significantly lower eye level than that of the occupant - not dissimilar to being on a balcony. The result is that higher density living does not compromise privacy.

From the perspective of sustainability, separating the structure from the ground reduces the potential for moisture intrusion, susceptibility to termites and other insects and pests, and wood rot.

The height above grade does not prevent us from designing for universal accessibility. The configuration of the lots make it very easy to provide a level entry from a side or rear approach to the porch or directly from the garage. In this way, we can maintain the privacy and comfort level for all occupants.

A Greener Lawn, With No Grass

In 2007 a couple of students from the University of Florida finished up an 18 month project -- a documentary about our obsession with lawns -- with grass, with mowers, with fertilizer and water. Visitors to Brytan are often confused by the lack of lawn, and not sure they are ready to give their weekly foray around the yard with a lawn mower. This presentation may help you think differently about what has become an American tradition with questionable value. It is titled "Gimme Green" and you can watch it on the website: http://www.gimmegreen.com/updates/seeGG.htm

Window Comparison Examples

The upper image here shows a double-hung, traditional wood-style window installation. The lower image shows a typical single-hung aluminum window. You can see how the upper image shows the shadows created by the window being installed into the wall, rather than on the face. It creates a sill at the bottom and reveals the depth of the wall. Also, the muntins (grid bars) are dimensional on the exterior of the glass, creating another layer of depth.

On the lower image, you can barely make out the grid behind the reflection on the glass surface. The glass is pushed out almost even with the trim around the windows, giving the facade a very "flat" look.

Houses with Value

The Parade of Homes is a great opportunity to see a variety of homes and features that can add value, comfort or fun to a house. This year, there was quite a variety of price points to review and I am really pleased at how Brytan measured up. I think the three greatest features of Brytan, besides the truly green aspect, are the great gathering spots in each home, the craftsman detail and the fiber optic network. I will start with the fiber network first because I think that is sort of a sleeper. It is not discussed very much because most homes don't have a true connection. But if you think of the impact on the internet and the speed at which communication is occurring, the one thing that we all know is that homes need to have this capability or be very "dated" in a short time frame. Why buy a home today that is not going to handle the conveniences of tomorrow? The other feature that I appreciate in the Brytan homes is the trim around the windows and the finish detail. EG Gonzalez built a wonderfully detailed home to feature in this year's Parade. Everything was high quality from the way the kitchen cabinet and drawer doors closed to the flooring in the garage. Talk about value for your money! Finally, there is what I like to call the great gathering spots in a home. Brytan homes have porches where you can actually have a chair, swing or rocker...not just a concrete slab that is barely large enough to set a potted plant. There is also grilling areas or enclosed patio areas that are more "private" than the front porches. Then there are the many benches in the parks and close to sit, relax and catch up with a friend. Go ahead, relax...you don't have to spend your afternoon mowing the yard or trimming the hedges!

Brytan does not feature the least expensive homes...that has never been one of the objectives of the community. Rather the objectives are to provide a great deal of value, regardless of the square footage and to provide a variety of price points in a variety of homes. If you are buying a home today, buy one that will retain and increase in value. In Brytan, you will get not only the home you can afford but the home that will truly improve your life and lifestyle!

Everybody loves a Parade

...especially one at Brytan! The BANCF Parade of Homes has begun and the weather could not be better. The attendees have been fantastic this year and are truly interested in the variety of green features that are in the homes and in the communities. People seem to understand that the homes of yesterday do not offer the technological components nor the efficiencies of many of the homes today. The value that is available is much higher in homes that have access to a fiber optic network and that already have green features built into the foundation and walls...areas that are more difficult to make "green" in the future.

Come visit Brytan and see why the homes here are great value for you, your family and for our community!!

Anybody ready for a parade?

Yes, it is that time of year again...the annual Builders Association of North Central Florida's Spring Parade of Homes. The Parade starts this week-end, April 18th and runs until Sunday, April 26th. Of course, Brytan is one of the sites that is in the Parade. The Parade is a wonderful time to visit the homes and see what new products are available for homeowners. With the introduction of numerous "green products," saving money on electricity, irrigation, and energy use is not only easy but stylish. At Brytan, the homes are verified green, meaning an independent third party tested, rated and scored the homes in several categories, not just energy consumption. I really like how the yards have been designed to minimize water requirements. With more water restrictions being placed on irrigation days and times, the design of yards is increasingly important.

When you visit Brytan, be sure and visit all 3 homes...each has unique features that are really worth seeing. From an apartment over a garage that could be used for a caretaker, renter or college student to open floor plans with lots of storage niches, there is lots to see!!

Enjoy Brytan, enjoy the Parade and enjoy the day!

Spring is here!

Not only are the houses green in Brytan, but the wonderful street trees are showing their green side! The many plants in the Butterfly Garden are beginning to bloom and the entire area looks great. This time of year is perfect for strolling on the trails and envisioning what your home could look like. Brytan is the place to live if you believe in sustainable design, energy conservation and walkable communities. Go and enjoy the wonderful weather!!

What's in a Window?

Brytan has detailed set of architectural standards for its homes. In a high density neighborhood where the buildings engage the street, pedestrians come in close proximity to the architecture. For this reason, it is extremely important that the buildings have a sense of authenticity. How many times have you seen a building from a distance and then, as you get closer, something just doesn't seem right about it? It looks "flat" or somehow just not "real." In fact, many buildings today are constructed relying on applied detail to provide interest. At Brytan, we emphasis an authentic depth to the facade, meaning that materials should look like they are really doing the job they were intended to do and that the facades have an appropriate depth to create the shadow lines and details that you expect to see when you get close the the building.

One of the most important features is the window. You will notice in Brytan that the windows on the front of the houses look a little different. The architectural standards require that the windows have exterior "muntins" or grids, which cast a shadow on the glass below them and emulate the original structural purpose of the those pieces. You will also notice that the glass and sash are set into the wall rather than being flush with the exterior of the siding. This too is an authentic look that gives the window openings a "realness" and provides a shadow line and a window sill.

Most of Brtyan's windows are double-hung. That means that both the top and bottom sash are operable. Open the top sash and the bottom sash and it will naturally draw cool air in the bottom of the windows and push the rising warmer air out the top - a method that has been used for centuries to improve comfort level without air conditioning. Once you close the windows and turn on the HVAC system, though, you can take advantage of their modern advances: these are vinyl, high efficiency widows, with low solar heat gain and insulated glass. They have the best of the new and the old technologies.

When you think about it, windows are the primary way that occupants inside the building experience the outside. Doesn't it make sense to make them both beautiful and functional?

Front Yard Challenges

Probably one of the most frequent comments that you hear from people the first time that they visit a new urbanist community is, "the yards are too small." I am pretty sure that I said that the first time that I visited Kentlands ten years ago. As you learn more about new urbanism, you tend to understand more about the different "spaces" that people use during the course of the day. There are public spaces and private spaces and we clearly need to be able to access and use both types of spaces.

Starting with public spaces. It is pretty easy to see that parks, walking trails, sidewalks, plazas and alleys are public spaces. These are places where you expect to interact with other people. Okay, but what about private spaces? The private space is accomplished by the spaces in your home and perhaps office. Your home is considered your private realm and good design should allow you to have private spaces that are located inside as well as "outside." People don't want to have to spend all of their "private" time indoors. Good design should allow courtyards, garden areas and outside social areas within the structure of the home that allow the homeowner to be outdoors in a private space.

The key is not the size of the space, it is whether it is well-designed for how it is intended to be used. As I noted in an earlier message, people often say they want a yard...actually they want to be able to plant some flowers. They don't really want to have to mow the yard and pull the weeds or pay a lawn service each month to care for the yard. These interior courtyards and patios allow people to have areas where they can plant flowers or herbs without having the responsibilities of large yards.

I call this post, the "Front Yard Challenge" for a reason. I was asked to do this about 8 years ago and it was a good exercise. When you drive around different neighborhoods, see how many people are really playing in front yards, especially if there is a park nearby. In my neighborhood, most people exercise on the trails and take their kids to a park to play rather than in the front yard. Yesterday, out of about 32 homes, I saw people in the yards of two homes. One was mowing the yard and the other was pulling weeds and pruning bushes. The other 30 homes did not have activity in the front yard though I did see one mom with her two kids riding their bikes and parking them in the garage. Think about how you really want to use your outdoor spaces and I bet you will be surprised to find that a small yard can meet all of those needs.

Who Knew an Energy Audit Would be This COOL?

Check out this great music video made by some students at Stanford.  I am sure it will go LEED Platinum! 

Who lives in this house???

Listening to Andres Duany discuss the evolution of town centers and housing options over the last 50 years, one is amazed at how we have established our lifestyles around our housing choices. Often we look at neighborhoods of yesteryear and admire the large porches or the beautiful streetscapes. It seemed that each house was a unique structure and was often referred to by the name of the family that first lived there. The "McKinley house" or "Smith house." When you referred to the "Smith house," everyone knew exactly what house you were referring to. Over the years, we moved to the suburbs and houses started to look more and more alike. You can drive into some subdivisions and row after row of houses will look alike. Also, the garage started to appear on the front of the house. It certainly cost less if you did not have to build a driveway from the street to the back of the house. Alleys disappeared and fenced in back yards became popular. People would come home from work, enter the house and not leave again until the next day when they back out the car and headed off to work. You didn't really know your neighbors and they didn't know you. The only thing you knew for certain was that a car lived at that house because the garage was the largest feature of the front of the house.

Today, we are seeing an increasing demand for some of the "neighborhood" communities of yesteryear when people actually were neighbors. People want a home that has an inviting feel from the street. The garage is back where it belongs, in the back of the home. The house is designed to allow people to interact with the neighborhood when they want and to have privacy when they desire it. Homes in Brytan are designed to allow choices in how you live rather than in dictating how you must live. For instance, in traditional subdivision homes with the garage doors across most of the front, there is not a place to sit on the front porch, nor is there a beautiful street to look out upon. Start to look around at the different communities and see if you notice some of these design features.