Dwell January/February 2023

We shouldn’t delude ourselves: We can’t shop our way out of ecological disaster. Obviously, no gadget you can put under your sink to save water is going to keep the earth’s temperature from rising—at least not by itself. But we should all still try to lessen the environmental impact of our homes. By switching to electric cooktops. Installing heat pumps. Or just saving paper with refreshing bidets. Buying home products that improve efficiency and reduce waste adds up, and it encourages companies to keep investing in research and development. In our annual home technology feature (Modern World, p. 19), we’ve gathered some of the latest innovations you can install to decrease electricity use, save water, charge your car, or otherwise help reduce your home’s ecological footprint and make it healthier…

Jamie Chung Photographer Modern World, p. 18, and One Last Thing, p. 96 Jamie Chung’s portfolio contains a wide array of objects brought to life in minute detail. When an item isn’t necessarily photogenic, the Brooklyn photographer’s approach is to focus on what makes it unique. “I find something interesting or striking about it and highlight that feature by presenting it in an unexpected way,” says Chung, a frequent contributor to Dwell’s One Last Thing column. “When the featured designers and architects send in their inspiring objects, it’s always something random, and I love the variety of items and the stories behind them.” Lauren Gallow Writer One Last Thing, p. 96 For this issue Lauren Gallow, a freelance journalist in Seattle, spoke with Chelsea Minola from Grain, a design studio…

“The epitome of making it a home! Absolutely lovely project! Love the use of gabions, and the filtered lighting is magical!”—Bobby Vilas via Dwell.com Dear Mr. Hanley, I ask you to please rethink your opinion that the old-fashioned, single-family American home no longer works for how we live. Not so. It works remarkably well for the stability of citizens and for a greener, electrified future. It no longer works only because the system we use to build, tax, and finance it is too expensive. If Dwell would partner with enlightened creatives to come up with an affordable way to build on smaller lots, with less space but equal comforts, it could prove that whole communities can be built affordably in America for all the people who want to own. Creative…

Horrifying and dystopian! Part of the police state. @ellasturgis I like that I can see who was at my door when I’m not home. @tieeds Things marketed as “smart” universally are not. @pengwynn1 I get locked out kinda often and really appreciate that I can unlock my door by app or code. @natanatalee Surveillance is evil. @de.monchaux I feel like we all survived just fine not knowing when a package was delivered. @shansevers TWITTER POLL 48% Cool 52% Creepy…

“This off-grid home is refined and unfussy, open yet intimate. I love how the gathering spaces welcome the surrounding nature on a grand scale in the form of an open-air pavilion.”ERIN MAHONEY, SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER Rain Harvest Home by Robert Hutchison Architecture & JSa Arquitectura The owners of this off-grid retreat in the mountains south of Mexico’s Valle de Bravo envisioned a cabin that would integrate seamlessly into the landscape. The result is a series of volumes—a main house, an art studio, and a bathhouse—conceived as an indoor/outdoor pavilion made primarily of wood with local recinto (volcanic stone) foundations and green roofs. The team decided to “invest in the higher up-front cost of timber construction with the idea of lowering our carbon footprint significantly over time,” says architect Robert Hutchison.…

Under the Hood They might not be the most glamorous things in your home, but it’s the behind-the-scenes systems that can help lessen its ecological impact. We’ve gathered a trove of products promising to make your world a little greener. And we spoke with experts across the energy, biology, and sustainability fields to give you a primer on making your home healthier, more resilient, and—in some cases—more cost-effective. Garage Fan by Solatube Whether you’re restoring a vintage end table with a slick of varnish or refreshing your cabinets with a new coat of paint, this fan from Solatube can keep your air clear. Bespoke Ultra Capacity AI Front Load Washer and Electric Dryer by Samsung Superefficient and supersmart, this washer-dryer combo learns your preferences and tailors its settings to what…