Photography by Nicholas Yarsley

Simple. Clean. Sustainable.

That is how architect Alexander Kolbe describes his design philosophy, which he’s been spreading with his wife, Michelle, one prefabricated home at a time, since the couple founded their architecture company evoDOMUS in 2011.

With a belief that home owners should be able to enjoy the speedy construction and economic benefits of prefab homes without sacrificing style or sustainability, the Kolbes offer clients panelized houses primarily inspired by the Bauhaus, a school of design founded by German architect Walter Gropius in 1919, and defined by its modern, geometric and simple aesthetic.

“We wanted to build homes the way we did in Europe,” says Alexander Kolbe, who, along with Michelle, worked abroad in Germany and England before returning stateside in 2009. “Modern homes inspired by a mid-century, modern architecture style, but rooted in green design.”

But their biggest challenge in doing just that was finding a manufacturing partner who could understand their green message in construction. This February, evoDOMUS named Bensonwood, a New Hampshire-based company that builds energy-efficient homes, as its exclusive manufacturer. Among Bensonwood’s green designs is a LEED Platinum, Net-Zero resi- dence—the Maine home creates as much energy as it consumes.

“It was love at first sight,” says Alexander Kolbe, about their relationship with Bensonwood. “When we toured their factory in New Hampshire, we were blown away. It was thrilling to see a spitting image of the manufacturers we saw in Germany, which reached the highest level of quality in their designs.”

The Kolbes design and conceptualize each home before send- ing the idea off to Bensonwood to erect and finish. The couple then comes back to perfect the interior, such as fixtures, tiles, plumbing and wiring, among other facets.

That evoDOMUS found the perfect match in Bensonwood is not surprising. After all, sustainability is at the heart of theKolbes’ work, and they work with materials with high-recycle content as well as wood and bamboo certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Each air-tight home is built facing south—to maximize periods of natural light and reduce electricity use—with triple-glazed windows to optimize thermal qualities. Elsewhere, their design work incorporates photovol- taic systems to convert sunlight into electricity and air-water or geothermal heat pumps. Green roofs, low-flow water fixtures, non-formaldehyde plywoods and low-VOC paints are just some of other green elements evoDOMUS offers to its clients.

Customization is key, and, rather than using modular construction, in which companies build cookie-cutter room cells that are then shipped on trucks to the construction site, the Kolbes opt for panelized construction, which gives them the freedom to craft a home to its surroundings. “We’re unlimited in flexibility, from walls to the ceiling span,” Alexander Kolbe says.

In fact, first meetings with clients often includes discussion about sunlight, locale, surrounding nature—as well as how they plan to use the space that day, five years from then and 20 years down the road.

“It was important for us to incorporate how people will live into the design of the home,” says Michelle Kolbe. “And to offer a product that had environmental qualities from the walls and ceilings to the windows and fixtures. You can do basically anything with design, but if you build a beautiful house that’s not substantive under the skin, it’s a missed opportunity.”

ALOE

This nourishing plant, which has been a regular ingredient in after-sun products for ages, is now bringing those same comforting qualities to clothing. Tao Freedom uses the ingredient with a Meryl nylon in their Spring line. “It is so luxurious,” designer Dorothy Szeto says of the fabric. “It’s like butter. It drapes beautifully on the body, like a second skin.”

BAMBOO

Although the plant is grown without harmful fertilizers and pesticides, some degree of chemical processing is still required to derive textile fibers from bamboo. Despite this fact, this woody plant is popping up more and more in designers’ green lines, including Toggery by Kate D’Arcy.

COLORGROWN FABRIC

This new form of organic cotton is grown and cultivated in a socially responsible manner by artisans in Brazilian cooperatives. Used by designer Bonnie Siefers in her Jonäno collection, the colored-fiber cotton is strong, but soft to the touch, and has a natural light brown tint. Thus, the fabric is chemical free—Colorgrowns do not require any harmful processing or dyes.

COTTON

Unlike traditional cotton, organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. The end result means higher thread counts and a finer, softer fabric that is just as strong. Blayne Siegel, president of Kinetix, uses a version called Pima in his eco-friendly line. “In the contemporary clothing business, quality needs to speak for itself,” Siegel says. “I found that by using Pima cotton fabric, the inherent features of the cotton gave my products the softness many companies tried to achieve by multiple washes. It is by far one of the softest cottons in the world.”

HEMP

The original eco-fabric, hemp is highly versatile and has been used in the softest of soft T-shirts, as well as sturdy denim wear. Patagonia and Giorgio Armani are just a couple of the fashion houses who are incorporating this renewable, natural fiber in their collections. Hemp is harvested from fields that don’t require the use of pesticides and grows quickly, giving this already eco-friendly fabric additional benefits.

JUTE

One of the cheapest natural fibers, the jute plant matures in just four months, making it highly renewable. Commonly known as burlap, this tough textile has been used in bags, shoes, and jackets. The material is also 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable.

MODAL

A smooth, water-absorbent fiber, Modal is made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from Beech trees.  Because of its silky finish, the material is often used in intimates and other clothing worn close to the skin. Oscar de la Renta and Calvin Klein have used the material in their sleepwear pieces.

SOY

Soy fabric is so soft and silky that designers often call it “vegetable cashmere.” Grown from soybeans, this renewable resource is durable yet biodegradable. BECCA designer Rebecca Virtue says, “We all know how important it is to be conscious of our environment. Soy fabric brings a whole new level of comfort and luxury to my swimwear.”

TENCEL

The trademarked brand name for lyocell, this natural fiber is made from wood pulp cellulose. Tencel combines some of the most attractive qualities into one fabric: the material is soft, yet strong; luxurious, yet lasting. The fiber is highly absorbent, allowing it to be dyed without a great impact on the environment.

YAK

Similar to cashmere in its physical properties, this luxury fiber comes from Yak, a large, long-haired bovine indigenous to the Himalayan mountains. Stewart + Brown designer Karen Stewart uses and loves the material because it is socially conscious as well as environmentally conscious. “We buy our fiber from a co-op in which over 200 herder families participate,” she says. “The co-op means the herders and their families pool their resources to control their distribution in order to procure the majority of profits from their sales instead of being exploited by middle operators.” This incredibly sustainable fiber doesn’t itch like some knits and can even be tossed in the washing machine. No dry cleaning necessary.

This is one of the more elegant options we’ve seen. Made from organic cotton, it drapes like a dream. Nice touch: the company plants a tree for every item sold. $168; www.kateorganic.com

Creem Grace Dress

Crafted from bamboo and organic cotton, this short and sweet number comes with a pretty criss-cross detail on the back. $97; www.iloveryann.com.

CMarchuska Leslie Dress

A classic wrap dress designed with a sustainable bamboo blend. $184; www.cmarchuska.com

Sara Shepherd Gabrielle Dress

Made with organic knit jersey. “We are an ethical fashion company—small, local, and aware of our environment,” says designer Sara Shepherd. “We focus on quality rather than quantity and work to be a responsible member of the community we are in.” $625; www.sarashepherd.com

Hand crocheted by Brazilian artisans with more than 200 post-consumer recycled aluminum tops. $45, www.escamastudio.com

Blowfish Small DJ

A spacious carryall made from recycled vinyl billboards—guaranteeing that no two bags are alike—that have been saved from landfills. $34.99, www.blowfishbag.com

Sakroots Artist Circle

The original prints of several artists decorate this weekender bag, available in eco-canvas and eco-nylon. $99, www.thesak.com

Nahui Ollin Ritual

A classic tote with leather straps created from recycled candy wrappers. $144, www.nahuiollin.com

Green Changes

Organic cotton tees in a variety of catchy slogans and prints. $28, www.greenchanges.org

Revenge Is

Support Haiti while sporting a shirt decorated with the country’s folk art. $36, www.revengeis.com

Be Love

Sales from this organic tee support eco-fashion from sweatshop-free factories as well as peace and nonviolence education. $35, www.beloveforall.org

Michelle Feis

A charming mermaid image is printed on this soft, organic cotton. $30, www.michellefeiscollection.com

Vicarious by Nature

Soft, supple shirts in bright, spring colors made with organic cotton and recycled polyester. $36, www.vicariousbynature.com

ilike Organic Skin Care Linden & Marigold Rejuvenating Treatmenth

For intense protection against winter’s elements, try ilike’s Linden & Marigold rejuvenating Treatment, a thick body cream that’s well-suited for dehydrated, fatigued, and wind-cracked skin. The marigold regenerates, while the linden blossom soothes skin. All of ilike’s products are made from organically grown and handpicked herbs, fruits, and vegetables—a quality easily smelled and felt in this treatment www.szepelet.com

WoodSprite Whipped Organic Coconut Body Butter

Made with organic virgin coconut oil, mango butter, and sunflower oil, this new cream by WoodSprite has a delicious coconut scent that will take you out of winter and bring you right back to summer. The light, whipped feel of this butter is suitable for those who crave moisture but prefer a lighter coverage. www.woodspritesoap.com

Aromafloria Mangosteen and Teakwood Body Butters

The Mangosteen and Teakwood Body Butters are the newest additions to the Sensory Fusion by Aromafloria line. These butters have a rich texture and are ideal for very dry skin. Made with a vegan base, they also contain organic aloe-vera and coconut oil to smooth and hydrate skin. The Mangosteen gives off a sweet, fruity scent, while the Teakwood smells of winter pine. www.aromafloria.com

Malie Organics Body Cream

Using indigenous Hawaiian flora, Malie Organics has created a lush body cream filled with a mix of exotic botanicals and oils, including coconut, Kukui and macadamia nut oils, as well as Awapuhi ginger and chamomile. The cream has a silky finish, and comes in aromatic scents like Plumeria, Pikake, Coconut Vanilla, and Koke’e. www.malie.com

New Leaf Organics Shea Butter Creams 

The first organic product line certified under OASIS (Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards), New Leaf Organics promises that every ingredient that can be organic is organic. The shea butter creams have a thick consistency, and contain ingredients like organic avocado, bergamot, and lavender oils. Even the packaging uses recyclable PET packaging with 25 percent recycled content, while labels are printed with vegetable inks on bamboo paper. www.newleaforganics.info

I BeeCeuticals Organics Bee-Yond Body Balm

Early doctors used honey as a natural solution for various skincare issues, and today, BeeCeuticals Organics is channeling that wisdom in their line of organic skincare products. Its Bee-yond Body Balm packs fair trade, organic sweet almond oil, sage extract, and a unique organic holistic honey blend to deliver a rich repair balm that will soothe skin’s roughest patches. www.beeceuticals.com

Suki Pure Butter Cream Healing Salve

Holistic and gentle, Suki Pure’s Butter Cream Healing Salve combines organic lavendar extract and organic cocoa butter in a solid salve that saves damaged skin. This cream is a reliable moisturizer with a natural, no-fuss smell. Furthermore, its concentrated formula has the power to relieve various skin irritations, including wounds and cracks, and is even ideal for those suffering from eczema or dermatitis. That’s because the company integrates organic bases with proven scientific actives in all their formulas. www.sukipure.com

Inara’s Babussu Body Crème

The special ingredient in Inara’s body crème is Babussu oil, which reacts with body temperature when applied to skin, melting to increase absorption and simultaneously cooling to leave skin with a velvety sheen. The olive-oil base in this product penetrates deeply into skin, leaving it nourished and fulfilled. www.inaraorganic.com

Raw Botanicals Mango Dream Cream

Handmade in Costa Rica, the Raw Botanicals skincare line was born from Spa Uno, one of the country’s premier day spas. The Mango Dream Cream, a part of the Spa line, is enriched with organic cocoa butter and vitamin C ester, and leaves skin fully hydrated. This light-coverage cream has a subtle fruit smell, and like its name suggests, feels like a dream on the skin. www.rawbotanicals.com

Pure Fiji Body Butter 

In every Pure Fiji product, you’ll find a blend of ingredients that South Pacific and Fiji islanders have used for centuries. These include pure coconut oil, as well as nut and flower extracts that replenish and nourish skin. This body butter is no exception. Designed to help revive dry skin quickly, these luxurious creams come in a variety of scents like White Gingerlily, Pineapple, and Starfruit to help you feel and smell revitalized. www.purefiji.com

Om Aroma & Co. Crème Eclat

This delicate whipped body cream is created with an invigorating combination of organic products to nourish the skin, including chardonnay grapeseed oil, citrus blossom essential oil, and organic shea butter. Packed with antioxidants to help restore winter skin to its natural radiance, the cream leaves a subtle citrus scent that’s sure to awaken and refresh the senses. www.omaroma.com

Starflower Essentials CoCo Vanilla Body Butter

The Coco Vanilla Body Butter by Starflower Essentials is a concentrated, handmade formula perfect for skin in need of heavy, intensive hydration. Filled with premium organic virgin coconut and macadamia oils, the butter is infused with real vanilla bean. This very emollient cream leaves skin with a soft sheen and rich vanilla scent. www.starflower.com

International Orange Enrich Body Lotion

The founders of San Francisco yoga spa International Orange and Julie Elliot joined to create an organic body line described as “yoga for the skin.” Infused with avocado oil, shea butter, and aloe, International Orange’s Enrich Body lotion will not only heal dry skin, but leave it smelling like a bouquet of fresh flowers. The silky, emollient lotion also contains Bergamot Peel, which has regenerative properties that further help renew winter skin. www.internationalorange.com

Éminence Watermelon Papaya Body Butter

There are plenty of benefits in fruits, and some of the best are in the new body butter by Éminence. Offering coverage that’s sweet and supple, this soufflé-like cream contains watermelon and papaya, both high in antioxidants, fruit enzymes and vitamins, which remove dead skin cells naturally and quickly. Another added bonus: cucumber, which revitalizes, tones and shrinks skin pores and serves as a purifying agent. www.eminenceorganics.com