Architect Mark Cochran has made a name for himself through several projects involving restoration or rehabilitation of historic buildings in Rome, Ga, according to the Rome News Tribune.
This year, Cochran is taking a whole new tack, merging green living and modern design into a home that is being constructed as a LEED certified home, the first in Floyd County and perhaps the first in Northwest Georgia.
As an architect who has done several historic preservation projects, and is a member of Rome's Historic Preservation Commission, Cochran said the best way to do preservation is to make sure that what you build will last.
"If we can build a building that is going to last for 120 years, we don't' have to tear one down every 20 years and build it back," said Cochran, of Cochran Design Collaborative. "That saves resources, man-hours and things that could be put to better use."
The home Cochran is building is 1,600 square feet. "They're trying to encourage people to get away from the McMansions that three people, two people live in a 5,000 square foot house and much of it winds up as wasted space," Cochran said.
Read more about home certification and accreditation.
