The Wee House
by TreeHugger on 12.28.04
The design-build phases of Alchemy Architects' Wee houses are probably a bit different than most that you’ve seen. The first step in the process, for instance is to “find a place you love.” Step two is the Dreaming Phase, in which the client imagines exactly what they’d like their little box to encompass. The rest of the process is slightly more traditional, except that it’s cheap and fast, because they can be theoretically placed anywhere accessible by truck, including the desert or the tundra. The prefab units, available as studios or one- or two-bedroom units, come standard with container (as in shipping) siding, a pine floor and walls, and Ikea cabinetry. Sure to counteract any McMansions in your neighborhood. Thanks for the tip, Michele W! About $45-89k. ::Wee Houses (pdf) [by MO]
The ecological impact of a small house in the city is very small. New York, where people live in smaller dwellings than in the rest of the county has a lower eco-footprint than a suburban McMansion.
But, I have a hard time why you'd suggest putting a dwelling in someplace like a desert, or the tundra, which would require a huge infrastructure to support a small house, and would add a signficant burden to the local ecosystem.
These wee houses would be good in your local suburban development.
I'm always a little aghast at the PRICES for such things . . . here locally, I can buy a "fixer upper" of considerably more square footage and at least equal build quality, on several acres, for about 10K less than the lowest price prefab . . . and have several to choose from, in fact.
All without cutting down a single additional tree, too. Recycle, reuse, repeat.
Come to California & see why we need Weehouses.Property in the Southern part is sky high & higher each month. My neighbor's 1930's spanish with a one room studio sold for $950,000. the first morning of the sale. For me, a senor, my option is to buy a little house to go on my property and thus stay close to my grandchild. They can live cheaper in my house and I will live next door.