We have to admit that what first got us into the idea of prefab living was the prospect of never being able to afford to buy a house in New York City. We figured the only way our dreams of NYC home ownership would ever be realized would be if we could lease a high-rise rooftop and then stick a little prefab on top. We could have an affordable penthouse apartment with a view for under $200,000! Well, apparently we were not the only ones to have hit upon this idea…
The $136,000 Loftcube, which we’ve featured before on Inhabitat, is a cheap and cheerful little prefab house designed specifically for roofs. But if you want to go even cheaper, you can always do as these people did, and go the Burning-Man route, and plop a $2000 Icosa Village Pod on your roof. Apparently one of the Curbed sleuths just spotted this little space pod going up on a roof in Williamsburg (across the street from the SEA). We don’t know much more about it than that, but you gotta love the photo. The Pod looks a bit unstable – like it’s had a bit too much to drink. Anyone know any details about this mystery rooftop dwelling?
> Curbed link
+ Icosa Village Pods
+ Loftcube
Not to be too pessimistic, but the smallest model with bathroom and kitchen prices out at $136,000, almost $324 per square foot. Taking into consideration all the logistical problems associated with placing one of these on a roof (referencing the earlier article), this doesn’t seem very practical. Of course, I moved away from the Bay area and its insane real estate costs a couple of years ago. I have a 1500 sf townhouse on a golf course for the same price.
That’s still cheaper than the subsidised housing here in Singapore…you lucky people…
The pod pictured above is actually mine. I put it on the roof to use as an art studio. It does look a little drunk but
i think that is just the way it is situated on the roof.
ari
[...] 4. LOFTCUBE [...]
[...] My dream project: a tiny pre-fab on a brooklyn brownstone with a green roof. [...]
Would this type of pre-fab work on a slab in the Texas hill country? Is there connections for plumbing and electricity?
Are there more models I can view at this price range? thanks, Carolyn
The price for the loftcube is expensive.Why not set up an asssembly plant in my country- Malaysia where labour and raw material is cheap and export it to customers worlwide.The potential of usage of this loftcbe is great.For example- emergency housing for disasters for all climate in the world.Lets exploit this cube for humanatirian world need.Millions are without homes in this planet.I am an avid follower of prefab buildings myself.Is there any rich investor out there to set up aPlant in mycountry?
Way Too Expensive !! Try to produce something around $15,000- $20,000
We have an interest in those types of prefabs here.
What kind of funding is available for functional and permanent demo projects?
T
I am seriously pursuing erecting a 350-450 s.f accessory office structure on a commercial loft building in midtown manhattan. Fully pre-built units such as the Weehouse or Loftcube would be my first choice, but as of yet I have been unable to find anyone to either hoist a structure to that height or deliver it by helicopter. I have started to work with a company called Modern Cabana, whose units can be delivered in 5 X 8 cartons. I would appreciate any ideas or guidance anyone can offer.
Roof top prefabs is a great idea. It may be perfect for areas where they have flat top roofs. We can easily bring the price down with mass production techniques.