Comments on: PREFAB FRIDAY: Living Homes http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Tue, 21 May 2013 14:17:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: cober http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-118264 cober Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:52:20 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-118264 The prefab future is bright. The prefab future is bright.

]]> By: Contemporarycaprice http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-106518 Contemporarycaprice Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:43:18 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-106518 THIS is a gorgeous prefab! With a price like that it's got to be! We have got to get reasonable about modern prefab prices. THIS is a gorgeous prefab! With a price like that it’s got to be! We have got to get reasonable about modern prefab prices.

]]> By: Elizabeth Buckley http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-65052 Elizabeth Buckley Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:53:12 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-65052 Enough talk...although great comments and all. WHERE can one find a prefab passive solar, 1200-1400 sq. ft green home to buy NOW? lovetolivegreen@gmail.com Enough talk…although great comments and all. WHERE can one find a prefab passive solar, 1200-1400 sq. ft green home to buy NOW? lovetolivegreen@gmail.com

]]> By: chris didiot http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-58033 chris didiot Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:38:48 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-58033 I could swear this is the house they use to film the EXTERIOR-STARK RESIDENCE for the CBS series, SHARK, starring James Woods. I could swear this is the house they use to film
the EXTERIOR-STARK RESIDENCE
for the CBS series, SHARK, starring James Woods.

]]> By: miglio dominique http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-47059 miglio dominique Sat, 09 Jun 2007 07:46:50 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-47059 bonjour, je serai tres interesser a faire construire une maison par vos soins,avez vous un cattalogue et la liste de prix pour la suisse. meilleures salutations d.miglio dominique miglio po box 266 1211 geneve 19 switzerland bonjour,

je serai tres interesser a faire construire une maison par vos soins,avez vous un cattalogue et la liste de prix pour la suisse.

meilleures salutations

d.miglio

dominique miglio
po box 266
1211 geneve 19

switzerland

]]> By: Inhabitat » AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Building Projects of 2007 http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-44372 Inhabitat » AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Building Projects of 2007 Tue, 01 May 2007 17:44:03 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-44372 [...] of sustainable building attention, Ray Kappe and LivingHomes‘ green prefab royalty, the Z6 House. I never actually knew it was officially called “Z6″ — we always refer to it [...] [...] of sustainable building attention, Ray Kappe and LivingHomes‘ green prefab royalty, the Z6 House. I never actually knew it was officially called “Z6″ — we always refer to it [...]

]]> By: atlheff http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-43850 atlheff Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:35:53 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-43850 The only reason I can see this failing is because of the price.. $175-$250 per sq/ft is obscene for a fledgling industry to expect. You can custom build in most parts of the country for less than that. The designs are refreshing and I am desperate to break away from the cookie cutter traditional waste of space and inefficient homes that are constructed en'mass but there seriously needs to be more "walmart" theorized pricing for these units. I don't care what anyone says, there is no way that a prefab can stand up to a quality on site constructed custom home...I just want to find a builder with design ideas like these. The only reason I can see this failing is because of the price.. $175-$250 per sq/ft is obscene for a fledgling industry to expect. You can custom build in most parts of the country for less than that. The designs are refreshing and I am desperate to break away from the cookie cutter traditional waste of space and inefficient homes that are constructed en’mass but there seriously needs to be more “walmart” theorized pricing for these units. I don’t care what anyone says, there is no way that a prefab can stand up to a quality on site constructed custom home…I just want to find a builder with design ideas like these.

]]> By: John Rogers http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-17190 John Rogers Thu, 23 Nov 2006 23:03:16 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-17190 The visual design, form and functionality of todays prefabs is with out a doubt the most creative housing designs and concepts at this point in time. The problem I have with all of the designs and built homes today is that they are designed for the 20th percentile, that is the top 20% can afford to buy a prefab. Even the "100,000.00" house is so far out of reach for the average or even middle income families there is no way that any of the designs anr "affordable" housing. The victoms of Katrina are still in "FEMA trailers", every thing is photo ops (this article) and sound bites, no body is trying to solve the problem. Designers today all have one thing in common, self serving and feed the EGO. I know, because I was one of them until I burned out. The visual design, form and functionality of todays prefabs is with out a doubt the most creative housing designs and concepts at this point in time. The problem I have with all of the designs and built homes today is that they are designed for the 20th percentile, that is the top 20% can afford to buy a prefab. Even the “100,000.00″ house is so far out of reach for the average or even middle income families there is no way that any of the designs anr “affordable” housing. The victoms of Katrina are still in “FEMA trailers”, every thing is photo ops (this article) and sound bites, no body is trying to solve the problem. Designers today all have one thing in common, self serving and feed the EGO. I know, because I was one of them until I burned out.

]]> By: Elena Castro http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-7505 Elena Castro Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:42:25 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-7505 I love this Prefab Friday, is beautiful. How can I get an estimate on this particular home and do you delivered to North Carolina? Thank you I love this Prefab Friday, is beautiful. How can I get an estimate on this particular home and do you delivered to North Carolina? Thank you

]]> By: Marion T. cochrane http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-5962 Marion T. cochrane Wed, 06 Sep 2006 01:27:57 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-5962 I just read the article on Mr. Kappe's LivingHomes in the September issue of Forbes Life. The concept, design possibilities and promise of an environmentally friendly habitat is just too wonderful for words. . Sincerely, Marion T. Cochrane I just read the article on Mr. Kappe’s LivingHomes in the September issue of Forbes Life. The concept, design possibilities and promise of an environmentally friendly habitat is just too wonderful for words.
.

Sincerely,
Marion T. Cochrane

]]> By: Inhabitat » Blog Archive » PREFAB FRIDAY: TKiT House almost complete http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-5436 Inhabitat » Blog Archive » PREFAB FRIDAY: TKiT House almost complete Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:48:36 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-5436 [...] The reality of prefab versus its promise has been a hot topic as of late. Last year, we wrote about the high-tech, interactive iT House when it was just a bit more than a glimmer in Taalman Koch Architecture’s eye. To refresh your memory, the TKiT House is an ambitiously “smart” prefab house that comes with a whole host of high-tech amenities such as radiant heat flooring, photovoltaic roof, and custom-designed vinyl screen panels for your glass walls. In short - a high-tech prefab dream. Today, not one, but two of their sleek glass houses are set to shine on actual sites. In anticipation of their talk at this year’s Dwell on Design Conference, we thought we would catch up with them and find out how their best laid plans were coming to fruition. [...] [...] The reality of prefab versus its promise has been a hot topic as of late. Last year, we wrote about the high-tech, interactive iT House when it was just a bit more than a glimmer in Taalman Koch Architecture’s eye. To refresh your memory, the TKiT House is an ambitiously “smart” prefab house that comes with a whole host of high-tech amenities such as radiant heat flooring, photovoltaic roof, and custom-designed vinyl screen panels for your glass walls. In short – a high-tech prefab dream. Today, not one, but two of their sleek glass houses are set to shine on actual sites. In anticipation of their talk at this year’s Dwell on Design Conference, we thought we would catch up with them and find out how their best laid plans were coming to fruition. [...]

]]> By: Inhabitat » Blog Archive » PREFAB FRIDAY: iT House almost complete http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-5432 Inhabitat » Blog Archive » PREFAB FRIDAY: iT House almost complete Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:42:20 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-5432 [...] The reality of prefab versus its promise has been a hot topic as of late. Last year, we wrote about the high-tech, interactive iT House when it was just a bit more than a glimmer in Taalman Koch Architecture’s eye. Today, not one, but two of their sleek glass dreams are set to shine on actual sites. In anticipation of their talk at this year’s Dwell on Design Conference, we thought we would catch up with them and find out how their best laid plans were coming to fruition. [...] [...] The reality of prefab versus its promise has been a hot topic as of late. Last year, we wrote about the high-tech, interactive iT House when it was just a bit more than a glimmer in Taalman Koch Architecture’s eye. Today, not one, but two of their sleek glass dreams are set to shine on actual sites. In anticipation of their talk at this year’s Dwell on Design Conference, we thought we would catch up with them and find out how their best laid plans were coming to fruition. [...]

]]> By: Inhabitat » Blog Archive » PREFAB FRIDAY: Sustain Mini Eye Candy http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-5106 Inhabitat » Blog Archive » PREFAB FRIDAY: Sustain Mini Eye Candy Fri, 18 Aug 2006 05:38:39 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-5106 [...] We go on and on about how sick and tired we are of seeing prefab in renderings and models and never the real thing. Of late, of course, we’ve had a few, such as Living Homes and a small army of sheds. But when we feasted our eyes on the most recent images of Sustain Mini Home’s first house, it was like getting a piece of 3-layer cake after 3 courses of brussels sprouts. We could stare at these all day. [...] [...] We go on and on about how sick and tired we are of seeing prefab in renderings and models and never the real thing. Of late, of course, we’ve had a few, such as Living Homes and a small army of sheds. But when we feasted our eyes on the most recent images of Sustain Mini Home’s first house, it was like getting a piece of 3-layer cake after 3 courses of brussels sprouts. We could stare at these all day. [...]

]]> By: Antti http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4670 Antti Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:19:17 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-4670 Well, I must agree to LA times in that prefab, if the conception can ever be used to refer to any factory build house, is wery popular here in Scandinavia and has been used to produce "low-cost" housing for the private sector over 15 years now. This said it is necessary to specify that just any factory built house is not a prefab and will not automaticly cost less than site built. This is because people usually will not be satisfied with the concept their neighbor has chosen and want more, or different, and they just must have alterations made to the basic design. This in turn produces huge amount of "factory modules", of which most are not allways or seldom used or desired, but will never the less make up additional costs for the manufacturer as he must be able to design and deliver them if he wants to make business with every one. In Finland allmost every private house is partly factory built, but it doesn't mean that the house was cheaper than site built, just easier. That is what the market value of so called prefab in Finland is, IT' EASY. This easy -value is as eluding as the "cheaper" illusion is. If you want easy it's going to cost. If you want cheap, it's going to be alot of work. YES, material costs vary between mass and single unit production, but because the basic elements (two by fours etc.) are produced anyway, what accounts in the initial price is the labor, and that cannot be discounted even in a factory. A cheap (cost effective) prefab house is therefor: a simple concept of boxy or pointy looking thing that can not be achieved if the modules are not limited in size and shape and interchangable with each other, even between first and second floor. Result will be one-off design product and 2 such buildings placed next to each other will look basically the same. This is the only way one can achieve the economy of volume. Henry Ford knew this, but after the first "I WANT ONE, BECAUSE IT'S CHEAP AND BLACK" -exitement, he lost the battle because people also desired red cars. Green living (I'm for it) or not, but one must accept that different people have different needs and no one-off design will satisfy every man. It may satisfy the majority, but even among majority the basic drive of man is to be better, especially, better than the next man. One must accept that limited amount of purpose-different "A"-looking modules will never satisfy the "B" or the "C" -people. This is why all in one: a cheap, all suiting, good looking and cheap prefab can NEVER exist, and a "good looking = popular = cheap" -prefab in general can only exist in EXTREMELY large market area -> international -> difficult. So in conclusion: Do not expect everyone to love the prefab (with the benefits and the actual and true definition of the term) just because we (minority in the WORLD) love it. Not every one wants the all same looking black car with the same contents. Well, I must agree to LA times in that prefab, if the conception can ever be used to refer to any factory build house, is wery popular here in Scandinavia and has been used to produce “low-cost” housing for the private sector over 15 years now. This said it is necessary to specify that just any factory built house is not a prefab and will not automaticly cost less than site built. This is because people usually will not be satisfied with the concept their neighbor has chosen and want more, or different, and they just must have alterations made to the basic design. This in turn produces huge amount of “factory modules”, of which most are not allways or seldom used or desired, but will never the less make up additional costs for the manufacturer as he must be able to design and deliver them if he wants to make business with every one.

In Finland allmost every private house is partly factory built, but it doesn’t mean that the house was cheaper than site built, just easier. That is what the market value of so called prefab in Finland is, IT’ EASY. This easy -value is as eluding as the “cheaper” illusion is. If you want easy it’s going to cost. If you want cheap, it’s going to be alot of work. YES, material costs vary between mass and single unit production, but because the basic elements (two by fours etc.) are produced anyway, what accounts in the initial price is the labor, and that cannot be discounted even in a factory.

A cheap (cost effective) prefab house is therefor: a simple concept of boxy or pointy looking thing that can not be achieved if the modules are not limited in size and shape and interchangable with each other, even between first and second floor. Result will be one-off design product and 2 such buildings placed next to each other will look basically the same. This is the only way one can achieve the economy of volume. Henry Ford knew this, but after the first “I WANT ONE, BECAUSE IT’S CHEAP AND BLACK” -exitement, he lost the battle because people also desired red cars.

Green living (I’m for it) or not, but one must accept that different people have different needs and no one-off design will satisfy every man. It may satisfy the majority, but even among majority the basic drive of man is to be better, especially, better than the next man. One must accept that limited amount of purpose-different “A”-looking modules will never satisfy the “B” or the “C” -people. This is why all in one: a cheap, all suiting, good looking and cheap prefab can NEVER exist, and a “good looking = popular = cheap” -prefab in general can only exist in EXTREMELY large market area -> international -> difficult.

So in conclusion: Do not expect everyone to love the prefab (with the benefits and the actual and true definition of the term) just because we (minority in the WORLD) love it. Not every one wants the all same looking black car with the same contents.

]]> By: BEE JAY http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4652 BEE JAY Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:54:51 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-4652 Interested in pre-fab home Aug 4 listing pic above. Ray Kappe. Price and do you deliver in the south? Interested in pre-fab home Aug 4 listing pic above. Ray Kappe. Price and do you deliver in the south?

]]> By: Sue http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4525 Sue Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:20:24 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-4525 If this was a prefab designed for people in the 35,000-75,000 household income bracket, I would actually be interested. As it is, it is just another example of how the upper 10% of the population consume 80% of the resources of this country. If this was a prefab designed for people in the 35,000-75,000 household income bracket, I would actually be interested. As it is, it is just another example of how the upper 10% of the population consume 80% of the resources of this country.

]]> By: PrairieMod http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4484 PrairieMod Sat, 05 Aug 2006 20:49:57 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-4484 This is a wonderful response to the LA Times article. Kudos! This is a wonderful response to the LA Times article. Kudos!

]]> By: Julie Niemeyer http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4474 Julie Niemeyer Sat, 05 Aug 2006 13:05:38 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-4474 I live in an area where retirees are downsizing to brand new 10,000 square foot homes. The resources the earth has had to cough up to build and maintain these monoliths frightens even my sometimes oblivious teenagers. Prototypes are always initially expensive. I am so glad to see that there is a movement to address the many issues facing sustainable living on earth. These prefab homes, while perhaps are not to every-one's taste, can be adapted to so many situations if one expands their minds to the task. I live in an area where retirees are downsizing to brand new 10,000 square foot homes. The resources the earth has had to cough up to build and maintain these monoliths frightens even my sometimes oblivious teenagers. Prototypes are always initially expensive. I am so glad to see that there is a movement to address the many issues facing sustainable living on earth. These prefab homes, while perhaps are not to every-one’s taste, can be adapted to so many situations if one expands their minds to the task.

]]> By: Mark http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4449 Mark Fri, 04 Aug 2006 19:06:04 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-4449 I don't understand, ck. You wrote: > if prefab homes looked like this, I'd sell my flat to buy one. Well, um, this *is* a prefab house! So I guess you're putting out a for-sale sign? I don’t understand, ck. You wrote:

> if prefab homes looked like this, I’d sell my flat to buy one.

Well, um, this *is* a prefab house! So I guess you’re putting out a for-sale sign?

]]> By: Chip http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4440 Chip Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:01:13 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/04/prefab-friday-living-homes%e2%80%a6such-a-deal/#comment-4440 A beautiful home. It's too bad they couldn't get a shot in the daytime when the garage wasn't full of junk. A beautiful home. It’s too bad they couldn’t get a shot in the daytime when the garage wasn’t full of junk.

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