Inhabitat » PREFAB FRIDAY: WeeHouse

June 16, 2006

PREFAB FRIDAY: WeeHouse

by Sarah Rich

WeeHouse, Wee House, Alchemy Architects, Prefab Housing, Prefab Friday, Prefab

Prefab Friday has been a great way to build up the Inhabitat prefab archive, giving us a weekly reason to look for new developments in the industry, or add in old favorites. The weeHouse from Alchemy Architects definitely fits into the latter category — already widely-known (and one of the few prefabs actually available for purchase!), this mini mansion is a gem among the super-tiny prefab set, and relatively affordable at $125 per sf.

Like the Loft Cube or the Micro-compact Home, the weeHouse is a single module that can be plopped on just about any site, including a rooftop.

The basic unit is framed with steel and wood, and comes with tongue-and-groove bamboo flooring, and Ikea cabinetry, kitchens and sinks. At present, the only “green” features it boasts are its extremely compact and efficient size, and off-site construction, but the company plans to incorporate more sustainable finishes and materials in the future.

They also have options for “Not-so-weeHouses,” which involve stacking units, attachable porches, and modular stairwell connectors. “The Alchemy office is currently working to develop the weeHouse as a flexible line of prefabricated modules that may be adapted and changed to meet the diverse users’ needs for cabins, houses, offices, on rooftops, or in developments.”

Prices start at $125 per sf (roughly 100K for an 800 sf house)

Download a brochure with specs and pricing here, and read answers to all your burning questions here.

WeeHouse, Wee House, Alchemy Architects, Prefab Housing, Prefab Friday, Prefab

30 Responses to “PREFAB FRIDAY: WeeHouse”

Drew Says:

June 16th, 2006 at 2:37 pm

Looks great, still pricey though. I can get a similar sized, but kind of old, home with the land under it for around $80k. I like prefab but I’m still waiting for one with a business model that works for me.

Sterling Says:

June 16th, 2006 at 3:12 pm

I really am glad to see how many of the homes featured in this series utilize wood finishes.

Ted Benson was recently bemoaning how the contemporary American home is sitebuilt, and doesn’t take advantage of modular technology.

Architect Leopold Mak Ender Says:

June 17th, 2006 at 7:14 am

Hi, it is nice but, will this house stand up for earthquake, 7.8 on the Richterscale ?
Tell me because we need this form of house.

http://www.lemak.se

jean harrington Says:

June 18th, 2006 at 1:09 am

Wood stoves and fireplaces are the single most damaging thing you can do to the environment.

Darrel Says:

June 23rd, 2006 at 1:58 pm

“Looks great, still pricey though. ”

Though that depends on context. On their home turf (twin cities) $125/ft is amazingly affordable…especially for a modern design.

“Wood stoves and fireplaces are the single most damaging thing you can do to the environment.”

Hardly. Trees are renewable. Soot is about the only nasty byproduct. And wood stoves can be made highly efficient.

Whistler Says:

June 27th, 2006 at 4:52 pm

I appreciate the stylistic attributes, and the materials and th euse of technology, but when I look at spending a weekend in that space with kids I’d go nuts. Comeon the dining experience at that table looks pretty awful. Its a classic dilemma, good modern design that doesn’t really accept or embrace the circumstance of place or user. I love that its a great start After all it is just a box.

ron Says:

June 30th, 2006 at 10:30 pm

“Wood stoves and fireplaces are the single most damaging thing you can do to the environment.”

right. i can think of 100s of more damaging things.

Matthew Collins Says:

July 30th, 2006 at 6:24 pm

“Wood stoves and fireplaces are the single most damaging thing you cando to the environment.”

While it’s true that wood stoves and fireplaces emit plenty of soot/particulate matter and may not be particularly efficient sources of heating (relative to natural gas, etc.), one VERY positive aspect of them is that burning wood rather than fossil fuels (or using fossil fuel derived electricity) doesn’t draw carbon from long-term carbon stocks. Biomass draws and stores carbon from the atmosphere in a short-term cycle, so (assuming your wood comes from a sustainably managed forest) in the long-term it’s fair to say that they’re carbon neutral.

Inhabitat » Blog Archive » PREFAB FRIDAY: Living Homes…Such a deal? Says:

August 4th, 2006 at 5:22 am

[…] Yes, the Living Home is expensive. Look at it! I can’t believe it’s under $2 million; this is the Cadillac of current prefab designs. Don’t knock it on approachability and affordability, because that’s definitely not the target market which Kappe was designing for. This “product” offers a beautiful, spacious, and quick move-in design for those with sophisticated modern tastes- and relatively deep pockets. There are many other prefab models in production that do provide a more affordable housing option. Tiny ones like the Weehouse, several designs by Michelle Kaufman, and the sub-$100,000 option by Rocio Romero are all good examples. […]

Josh Capistrant Says:

August 4th, 2006 at 6:54 pm

We are the weeHouse. Check out the site, as it shows that we offer a great variety more than this original house. Plus see our houses in Minnesota, Montana, New York, Ontario and soon in Texas and California. And of course, they are offered without the Wood Stove. If want solar, and can afford it, we’d like to make that part of a weeHouse too. Its all based on what we can have done in a factory setting. More demand gives us more leverage to demand more sustainable construction, features and better cost and availability.

tory Says:

October 15th, 2006 at 8:57 pm

I am very interested in the wee house. Because of our very tiny buget I am thinking about the weemobius. I won’t know really if I can afford that until after the new year, but I have printed out the brochure and would love to have one of these homes!

Girl600 Says:

December 23rd, 2006 at 3:05 pm

I learned about the Wee house on a video podcast yesterday. I’ve been talking about Airstreams on my show, but today I added Wee to the picture.I lived in dorms for 6 six (not college) so if I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.

Beekeeper42 Says:

February 26th, 2007 at 2:55 pm

Nice. But no indoor plumbing?

chris hamman Says:

February 27th, 2007 at 9:16 pm

Here in georgia, new houses and condos can be built with 50% wood, 50 carpet, granite countertops for hard dollar cost of $65.00psf. THis does not include finance costs or land dev. cost, just the hard dollar sticks and bricks. The factory homes just arent doing it here yet.

andreas Says:

February 27th, 2007 at 10:34 pm

“Wood stoves and fireplaces are the single most damaging thing you cando to the environment.”

a bold and very wrong statement. get disabused here:
http://www.woodheat.org/environment/environment.htm

Sean Ruhs Says:

March 23rd, 2007 at 11:39 am

Wheres the bathroom?

atlheff Says:

April 20th, 2007 at 11:39 am

The prefab industry will never take off if they don’t slash their sq/ft pricing. Are you telling me that it costs more to build it offsite then ground up onsite construction? I love the designs but not enough to pay that kind of premium.

Inhabitat » TOP 5 TINIEST PREFAB HOMES Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 5:45 am

[…] 1. WEEHOUSE At just $125 per square foot, the WeeHouse is a single module that can be plopped on just about any site, including a rooftop. The basic unit is framed with steel and wood, and comes with tongue-and-groove bamboo flooring, and Ikea cabinetry, kitchens and sinks. Despite what the name implies, don’t let it size fool you- this is one awesome modern residence. […]

TOP 5 TINIEST PREFAB HOMES at dérive Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 11:33 am

[…] 1. WEEHOUSE […]

Mick Jagger Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 10:12 pm

No, seriously. Where’s the bathroom?

Mr. Bear Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 7:14 am

The outhouse is behind the 3rd tree, to the right.

hobgobbler Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 5:05 pm

okay I’m not much of a carpenter, but me and a couple of buddies could build this thing in one weekend for $5000 and a case of beer.

But what happens when it snows?

Felix Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm

bathroom.. the photos look like a variant of the A plan, and the bathroom would be to the right of the queen bed, where the bunk bed and cabinets are. the sinks don’t have a faucet either. it looks like that installation has no sewer, water, or electricity. it’s a cabin in the woods.

Doug Says:

June 24th, 2007 at 1:10 pm

This looks like a kids treehouse. Even the chairs look kids-sized. Do they not? And the countertops look below waist level.

Great if you a little person, I guess.

Willie Says:

June 25th, 2007 at 11:09 pm

The price is absurd. I’m a carpenter and I can build something similar for $30,000.

Ann Says:

August 18th, 2007 at 5:47 am

Great ideas but leaves those of us with kids OUT! I’d love something like this but need 3 sleeping areas, can’t there be a smart/compact space neatly designed for three people/two genders who need privacy yet want small and sustainable? Oh yeah and as echoed before … need it better priced, but it’s getting there.

windpower Says:

September 3rd, 2007 at 3:51 am

I find myself in agreement with the carpenter who commented earlier. I am in the building trades and this unit can be produced with like or superior finishes on the east coast for 45-65K once again depending on finish material. That price point is assuming construction in a controlled enviroment….and by the way that is with my margin factored in. Great concept and it has incredible potential but there are not enough players in the game yet to make it cost effective for the end user.

andrew cauthen Says:

December 16th, 2007 at 6:52 am

nice :) i love it. one for everybody just for being born. kind of the same logic as the xo laptop , one laptop per child. http://laptop.org/ but a house, that doesn’t kill anyone or thing, past present or future.

Tim Doebler Says:

December 22nd, 2007 at 2:02 am

Fun design concept……………but the Wee house is not an affordable house. I figure I could build a similar design for about $70,000 (900 sq. ft.)

Roger Broome Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Does the $125/sq. foot price include transportation fees for the unit, well drilling, septic system, electrcal & phone lines and foundation? How do Alchemy Architects calculate their fees? Do they have relationships with manufacturing facilities in areas outside of Minnisota?

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