"It's Not A Cardboard House, It's A Cardboard Home!"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 1.07
One of the big complaints about modern prefab is its inability to deliver at the cost that everyone expects (like matching production housing or less) and the problem of acquiring land, which is expensive, particularly in areas around cities like San Francisco.
We also love small projects because living with less is the key to living sustainably, but some costs are fixed whether you build large or small, like the baths, kitchens, and services, so smaller units cost a lot more per square foot; all you are subtracting is volume.
So whenever we show small prefab projects like the zero house or the minihome, we get a chorus of complaints about the price.
That is why we are so excited about the work of Dystopic Horizons Realty.
"Each inspired live/work unit is hand-crafted, and capable of magnificent views. The loft-like Cubist floorplan allows convenient interior access and customized storage solutions. Green construction and copious natural lighting and ventilation support ecologically responsible living. "
They have solved the problem of land by designing a unit that can be put anywhere affordably, as it is priced with basic models starting in the mid 100's. The units feature:
* Cutting edge deployable architecture
* Passive heating and cooling systems
* Basic model allows for minor and major renovation options
* "Loft-like" O.I.F.P. (Open Interior Floor Plan)
* Zero financing
* No property tax
* No HOA fees
They were created by "a group of unreal estate unprofessionals with over 40 years of experience. We know the Bay Area market, from recherché under utilized lots with spectacular urban views to charming pied-à-terres with super easy freeway access. We are well versed in working with artistic temperaments and the demands of the Creative Professional. We work hard to exceed your expectations and help you meet your housing needs. "
And you can order online. More information at ::Dystopic Horizons Realty via ::Shedworking
Nice Home . . . That is if you're a homeless loser!
lol
what a great way to silence the "it's too expensive" choir - of which I am a member, i'll admit.
i would like to point out though, that most of these beautiful prefab homes featured are too expensive for people like me - my husband and i work full time, and barely make enough to pay all our bills. It's not particularly the price per square foot that's too high, it's the fact that in my area a 3000 sqft home goes for about the same as these 650 sqft beauties. that's what makes them too expensive, the fact that they are still priced so far above what the average person can afford.
i dream though; maybe someday i can get close enough to at least see one.
lol
what a great way to silence the "it's too expensive" choir - of which I am a member, i'll admit.
i would like to point out though, that most of these beautiful prefab homes featured are too expensive for people like me - my husband and i work full time, and barely make enough to pay all our bills. It's not particularly the price per square foot that's too high, it's the fact that in my area a 3000 sqft home goes for about the same as these 650 sqft beauties. that's what makes them too expensive, the fact that they are still priced so far above what the average person can afford.
i dream though; maybe someday i can get close enough to at least see one.
That has to be the tackiest entry I have ever seen on Treehugger, and it's a rehash of another post recommending that people buy a tackily decorated shipping container if they don't like the price. Do you own stock in the company or what?
I loved the post, except for one glaring bit that got me riled up:
We also love small projects because living with less is the key to living sustainably, but some costs are fixed whether you build large or small, like the baths, kitchens, and services, so smaller units cost a lot more per square foot; all you are subtracting is volume.
So, what you're saying is that all these gold-plated pre-fabs that are out of the reach of everyone who actually needs them could be made a lot bigger at minimal cost? Because all you are adding is volume?
Then hey, sign me up! Make one whose cost per square foot is even marginally competitive with anything else. One that can house an efficient family of four, perhaps? One where you can leave stuff on a table overnight because you don't have to fold it out of the way to make room for a bed? One where you're allowed to own more than one dresser full of clothes or one bookshelf full of books?
Yeah, I understand where the cardboard box thing is coming from, but don't tell me (or imply) that the overpriced tiny pre-fabs cost so much because they happen to have a kitchen and bathroom, and that stuff like a useful amount of space is unnecessary.
There is a good point to be made about the super-sizing of American homes over the past several decades, but you can go too far the other way. As an example, in addition to being ludicrously overpriced for its size, the Sustain Minihome has only 2/3 the space per person that an average American home would have had by 1950 standards (average home size of 983 square feet, average household size of 3.27, compared to 2 people living in a Minihome). And $538 per square foot for the Zero House isn't overpriced? Take two sheets of paper, set them down side by side on the floor. Stand on them and ask yourself "is this much living space worth $700?" If you said "yes", then the Zero House might be for you. But for the rest of us...
There is a difference between living with less and living in less. As a long-term investment, it takes less material to build one larger home than it does to build two smaller ones. Even if you are dealing with modular components, overlap equals waste, plus the extra labor, transport, etc. involved in making, shipping and installing extra components after the main dwelling has been built.
Give me a home that I can grow into, rather than one that I will grow out of...
It's great to see such tolerance. Whether their poverty is out of choice or not, I do not think either possibility makes homeless people "losers".
I loved the post, except for one glaring bit that got me riled up:
We also love small projects because living with less is the key to living sustainably, but some costs are fixed whether you build large or small, like the baths, kitchens, and services, so smaller units cost a lot more per square foot; all you are subtracting is volume.
So, what you're saying is that all these gold-plated pre-fabs that are out of the reach of everyone who actually needs them could be made a lot bigger at minimal cost? Because all you are adding is volume?
Then hey, sign me up! Make one whose cost per square foot is even marginally competitive with anything else. One that can house an efficient family of four, perhaps? One where you can leave stuff on a table overnight because you don't have to fold it out of the way to make room for a bed? One where you're allowed to own more than one dresser full of clothes or one bookshelf full of books?
Yeah, I understand where the cardboard box thing is coming from, but don't tell me (or imply) that the overpriced tiny pre-fabs cost so much because they happen to have a kitchen and bathroom, and that stuff like a useful amount of space is unnecessary.
There is a good point to be made about the super-sizing of American homes over the past several decades, but you can go too far the other way. As an example, in addition to being ludicrously overpriced for its size, the Sustain Minihome has only 2/3 the space per person that an average American home would have had by 1950 standards (average home size of 983 square feet, average household size of 3.27, compared to 2 people living in a Minihome). And $538 per square foot for the Zero House isn't overpriced? Take two sheets of paper, set them down side by side on the floor. Stand on them and ask yourself "is this much living space worth $700?" If you said "yes", then the Zero House might be for you. But for the rest of us...
There is a difference between living with less and living in less. As a long-term investment, it takes less material to build one larger home than it does to build two smaller ones. Even if you are dealing with modular components, overlap equals waste, plus the extra labor, transport, etc. involved in making, shipping and installing extra components after the main dwelling has been built.
Give me a home that I can grow into, rather than one that I will grow out of...
Right in my price range. Throw in a pickle jar and I'm sold!
Prefab houses have the potential to be much cheaper than traditional houses.
1) They can be produced in large series on a kind of assembly line.
2) Except for the final stage all the work is done inside the factory, so no delays by bad weather.
3) Less material losses, because the entire production process can be much better planned and controlled.
4) No theft of materials from the building site.
So I find it very reasonable to expect the cost of a prefab house to be lower than that of a traditional house. So make the next joke about the architects who are to incapable of designing a low-energy, low cost prefab house, despite all the advantages of prefab.
Right on, Ronald. My husband is a CGC and I'm an ecologist, so we know that building an affordable house, be it green or not, can be affordable if all of the factors that go into building and selling a home support that end. We all know that the least expensive way to build homes is to build many homes that are similar in design and crank them out as quickly as possible. As Ronald points out, prefab homes are built quickly, hence one can produce many of them in a short time period. Prefabs eliminate the need for cookie-cutter homes since the manufacturers can create anything you want. For a home to be truly green it must be designed for its specific and unique location. All this means that lots of unique green homes can be produced at competitive prices using prefabs, if the developers have such a vision. I say "competitive prices", because factors like the cost of the land, permit fees, taxes, etc. may still make a home unaffordable for many people. This is where local governments must step in and decide who they want living in their municipality. Additionally, as green technologies are used more frequently, prices will drop.
If you want an affordable alternative, how about a steel building.
My wife and I are commissioning Nucor to build us a steel building/house. 1900 sq ft. for myself, my wife, two kids, a cat, a large dog, and my mother-in-law. Plus a 3 car garage/shop for under 80k finished (the house anyway).
yeah I dont like that at all that is an insult
Here's the post Loyd made after people complained about the cost of the another prefab, the Sustain Minihome. YAWN.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/off_the_grid_on_1.php
LA: That was conscious, I was upset with the comments and in love with the minihome. This time, it was in fact a lucky coincidence that I saw the cardboard prefab on the same day as I wrote the other post, and really did mean it this time to be humourous.