Doing Well, Doing Good

Tracy A. Stone, an architect in Elysian Valley and president of the nonprofit Elysian Valley Arts Collective, has been named one of the “Best Green Architects” in Los Angeles by L.A. Architects magazine. The magazine recognized 15 architects whose residential designs are “models of sustainable living.”

“The designation came out of the blue and was quite gratifying,” said Stone, who founded her firm, Tracy A. Stone Architect, in 1991 and has lived and worked in Elysian Valley since 2008.

The Desert House by Tracy A. Stone Architect
Photo by MacKensie Leifeste

The designation took note of Stone’s use of natural materials and natural light to achieve energy efficiency, as exemplified in “Desert House,” a home she designed in the Mojave Desert. Among the house’s green features, the main living area and “summer” bedroom face entirely north to eliminate sun blasting into the space; the “winter” bedroom opens to the south to let sunlight pour in when extra warmth is needed.

Work can also be playful at Stone’s firm. Recently, the firm created an efficient, collapsible cat shelter as part of the Architects for Animals “Giving Shelter” event sponsored by FixNation, a nonprofit that provides free spay/neuter services for stray cats and low-cost services for pets.

Here’s the illustration:

Here’s the Shelter: The shelter includes a plywood base inspired by the famous Noguchi coffee table, tent technology and built-in amenities, including a knitted bed, scratch pad, water bowl and braided toy.