Housing from Reclaimed Materials by Dan Phillips

Photo by Michael Stravato

Amidst all the glitz and high-falutin’ glory of the usual sleek green prefab designs, here’s a man whose application of reclaimed materials is personal, smart, and even sentimental. Dan Phillips, a builder whose quirky homes are made from entirely reclaimed materials (including everything from found doors and hardware to old picture frames like in the roof above), has been erecting arguably the most sustainable homes for decades.

His most recent initiative, The Phoenix Commotion, is taking such building strategies to a low-income market. This low-income construction will prove that every home can and should be structurally sound, energy efficient, and most of all, affordable.  Using everything from things found in flea markets to wood beams plucked from dumpsters, Dan’s homes exude a sense of emotion that is more engaging than the traditional green-built home. What’s more, the Phoenix Commotion is by nature, a humanitarian venture, as it supports the development of communities and home ownership in place that have traditionally lacked both. 

Photo by Michael Stravato