Origin. Digital Image. Origin Home Exterior. Blu Homes, Inc., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2012
https://www.bluhomes.com/homes/origin
READ ENTIRE ESSAY. CLICK HERE.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
ides461.w1essayquestion.Bartels
What happens when sustainability and affordability join forces through pre-fabrication to form tomorrow's suburbs? Modern, sustainable pre-fab homes have become a trend in the past five years particularly. In America, the updated version of a modular home are currently being assembled on several acres of land in semi-private locations. Consider this housing application revised to meet the needs of low income consumers, or various others in mixed-income suburban neighborhoods. Would this development aid in our current housing dilemmas, and what would America's landscape look like in the future?
Origin. Digital Image. Origin Home Exterior. Blu Homes, Inc., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2012
https://www.bluhomes.com/homes/origin
READ ENTIRE ESSAY. CLICK HERE.
Origin. Digital Image. Origin Home Exterior. Blu Homes, Inc., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2012
https://www.bluhomes.com/homes/origin
READ ENTIRE ESSAY. CLICK HERE.
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this question was chosen for its specificity and clear relationship to the assigned readings. the essay itself was written in an excellent fashion, with significant support for cited sources and also provides subsequent questions that supports the "big question".
ReplyDeleteFor example: The private sector rarely engaged in affordable housing. this is often left to the government, which in turns leads to "governmental standards or design" that typically have negative associations. How can we convince private owners to take initiative in affordable housing?
or....Why are the modular homes showcased in magazines and publications actually out of the range of "affordable housing?" What is the range of affordable housing?
please use the readings, your ideas and insight, and thoughts to answer Erica's question and ask any other question that emerges from your thoughtful participation in this discussion.
There is a movement towards affordable modular housing. For instance, Clayton Homes, a subsidiary of the Berkshire Hathaway has created one that costs around $75,000. Check this out at: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/Green-Modular-Homes.aspx
ReplyDeleteWhat would be interesting is if there were government or state funding or tax credits for buying modular housing. This type of program could help put this type of housing at reach.
The benefits of these structures outweigh the negative component of cost. The utility bills will be cheaper, the quality of life improves, etc.
The American Builders Institute is a proponent of a combination type of house--one that has pre-fab parts but that has a realistic cost to it. They state that while this seems to be common sense, that rarely is is being done. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/Green-Modular-Homes.aspx
Do you think that perhaps this is a trend that is just still too new to have the cost go down and become more affordable for the average American? What is considered the price for affordable housing? At one point in the last couple of years I remember hearing that the average price of a home is $177,000 (a number that I don't find affordable).
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI think private sector companies, like Blu Homes, have yet to discover the opportunity of other markets like low-income, affordable housing. Right now, they are catering toward the middle-aged consumer who, in my opinion, is looking to build a home that is "simplied" in feel and look, through the architecture and interiors, is sustainable, and all of the guesswork (and overseeing contractors, etc.) has been taken out of it. I feel a large part of the modern, pre-fab homes success in the future is the market of young adults as well as low-income and minority. In the State of the Nations document, by 2020, minorities are expected to make up one third of all US households, but with a historically lower income.
I agree with Candace that tax credits, and working with the government, the private sector can be successful in this arena.
Thanks for the link, Candace. I have not seen that from Clayton Homes. It appears, from the design, to still be constructed from the typical rectangular box construction that will fit along the highway, but having acquired LEED credits is a good step forward.
I also found it interesting that in the State of Nations document how one suggestion, for lack of better words, to aid in our suburban sprawl was to "double the density", although it is proven that most suburban consumers "want space". This is a difficult task.
Erica.
ReplyDeleteone easy way to cater to those of lower incomes perhaps is to suggest the growth [or addition of] modular parts as their family grows and as income increases. i think a "lock in place" type attitude would be fantastic as long as foundations are poured to allow for maximum anticipated growth.
i also think it is interesting to think about how a MODULAR system could contribute to and aid in the desire to "double the density."
Does anybody have any thoughts on how this relationship could occur???
Since my comment regarding catering toward middle-aged consumer, I found a few floorplans I had not seen before of the 'origin' model in the picture. These are small 'cottages' or additions offered in one or two bedroom layouts. These are the only plan I have seen in their product range that perhaps could become 'affordable', because right now they start at $125k for a home, and $95k for a shell.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bluhomes.com/homes/origin/floorplans/
When I thought about affordable housing I thought of how the community I live in is attempting to begin these steps forward. It was about a year ago, Sioux Falls held a competition between architecture/design firms to create a home with $100k (unfurnished), utilize LEED credits, and have a small and narrow lot to work. The plans were very narrow, due to the lot size, but were comparable to the Blu Home floor plans. The plan that won is still in construction phases.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.siouxfalls.org/comdev/6tab_Features/shift_house/proposal
I went to hear Susan Susanka speak (author of Not so Big House) and she had some great tips as to if you were building, such as making a list of the spaces you actually will use all of the time then go from there and if you need to add on later to make small adjustments to add more space. It's hard to abide by this when most suburban consumers "want space" or more than they already have. And adding on to homes, only raises the price for the next user.