Comments on: PREFAB FRIDAYS: Rocio Romero’s LV Home

By: Contemporarycaprice

Contemporarycaprice — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:50:45 +0000

I <3 Rocio’s Designs.

By: creditmanagementworld

creditmanagementworld — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:45:46 +0000

This is a very very nice home. I saw this home featured on The Travel Channel. But, remember a few things, this is strictly a weekend home. The space is so limited, that it would be impossible to actually spend any kind of real time there. Also, it appears that the closet space is limited. If you to to Ms. Romero’s website, you will see a total lack of dressers, vanities and chairs in the bedrooms. Even beds seems to be a bit cramped. I mean, let’s get real here…we love to see those neatly laid-out, modernist homes (rooms resembling something we used to see on the original Star Trek series), but in reality, most of us accumulate a lot of “stuff” and we always require someplace to put that stuff. The 3 bedroom model would mostly likely be the minimum that folks would need, as they could convert one bedroom into an office/den/work area. Also, let’s not forget the lack of a garage here. One of the views you will have is of your vehicle parked outside the place (unless you think you will be magically teleported into the place). And when you get out of your car on a wet or snowy day, just be prepaired to almost undress outside the front door, so you don’t track the rainwater, snow, slush into the pristine interior.

Again, a great weekend home for those that have at least 5 acres to build on (for privacy’s sake). I’ve love to have one myself, and someday maybe I shall.

By: CDLee21

CDLee21 — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:48:50 +0000

If you go onto the Rocio Romero website, some of the homes listed in the projects section have price breakdowns. While some are on the expensive side, others that involve more hands-on work from the owners are much more reasonable. One is even under 100k if i remember correctly.

By: Inhabitat » Rocio Romero LV Prefab Home Opens in Napa, California!

Inhabitat » Rocio Romero LV Prefab Home Opens in Napa, California! — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:00:06 +0000

[...] until fairly recently, Rocio Romero fans could only visit a fully realized public version of her enormously successful LV prefab in [...]

By: Dr. Stephen Gatlin

Dr. Stephen Gatlin — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:39:48 +0000

Who owns the houses in the northeast? Any list with contacts?

By: claudia

claudia — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:47:34 +0000

Also, at what incline is the roof? Someone needs to build a home with a roof that collects the water so it can be recycled (not a gutter).

By: claudia

claudia — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:44:38 +0000

I love the design, but am curious as to the ‘solidness’ of the structure itself. Anybody building one here in Michigan? I guessing that if one has a builders license, they can do much of the work themselves. I’ve built two homes with family in the past…..so I’m pretty handy. Anyone out there do some of the work on this prefab themselves???

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 21:51:20 +0000

I forgot to add that I found when talking with the retailers for pre-fab homes that they offer financing as they often have a relationship with banks in your local area already. Ask a lot of questions about the terms of finance and check out as many different retailers as you can in your area.

BTW I don’t belong to the Manufacture homes assoc.All this stuff I’m saying is what I’ve learned in my search to build a reasonably priced home in my area which is Vancouver Canada.

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 21:48:49 +0000

Prefabricated homes are also known as Manufactured homes. They have been around for a long time now, I’m talking 30year and more depending on your definition of Manufactured home because it also includes mobile homes. If you do a search for Manufactured home association for your state or province they’ll have retailers that sell pre-fab aka panel homes in their directory. I’ve done quite a bit of research in my area and it’s been very interesting as the costs can vary wildly depending on the “finish” you want for the interior. There’s also the issue of getting permits to move the pre-fab homes through the city or town to your location but I’m guessing it depends on where you are building your home as I live in a densely populated area.

It looks like we’re going to go with a double wide mobile home as it’s the most economical way for us and we have the land to put it on as well. Also I have to admit mobile homes have come a long way from the stereo types we have seen in the past, I’m quite impressed with what I’ve seen.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:18:52 +0000

I’ve heard that prefab waste is waay less than traditional stickbuilt, making it inherently more eco friendly. On Rocio’s website, they have info on improving snowload, so I’d assume they’d do fine here in MI … I’m really considering one of these for a new build … I think they’re awesome!

By: Enoch Throckmorton II

Enoch Throckmorton II — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:41:13 +0000

I live in the midwest. Does the LV Home hold up in the winter? Will the windows hold heat? Are there any located in Michigan? Near Ann Arbor? My wife and I are interested.

By: Elizabeth H.

Elizabeth H. — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 20:35:54 +0000

It is almost impossible to get financing for this home, believe me, I have tried. If anyone knows of a possibility let me know.

By: Michael Donaldson

Michael Donaldson — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:18:35 +0000

I am a studying architecture in NYC, and her LV home is my precedent or my case study. I like her house because of the abundance of windows that literally lets you see around the house while still inside. I think another thing is that if you wanted a bigger one you can probably put two of them together with the garage in between. Her LV home will be one of the houses that revolutionize modern living. Especially in the US.

By: Mike Manegold

Mike Manegold — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:50:40 +0000

Are you available in South Africa?

Kind regards

Mike Manegold

By: Wing

Wing — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 04:19:18 +0000

I chanced upon Rocio’s site yesterday, and at first I was smitten by the design she came up with. I was particularly intrigued by the seeming lack of roof, which makes her building such a standout (in residential designs, that is).

Upon further investigation however, the pricing on the website can be deceptive. The website clearly states the skeleton is what they’re selling, but I think it is disingenous of them not to include the most difficult aspect of the construction — the roofing system — in their kit pricing. Yeah, you’ll get a shell … but’s it’s going to leak

The photos look great on their website, and I’m sure just as well in the pages of architecture digest, but practical livability … ? Unless you’re an exhibitionist or buy a farm with lot’s of acrearage, you’ll be having some severe privacy issues and winter heating bills, even with double-glazed windows. I think if she had gone easier on the windows (e.g. do you really need a sliding-door in each bedroom, and one more in the living room in a 1500sq-ft home?) and used more SIP panels, this would have been a more practical design. Light is good, but a fish-bowl is not necessary a relaxing sanctuary.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:17:26 +0000

If one can act as the general contractor and is adept as a DIY, then this pre fab seems to be an affordable solution. The design seems quite adaptable for both the interior and site. I am a little concerned about the way the roof drains through the exterior skin and the faux wall. This home can work well for a difficult site where a modular pre fab may be difficult because of access. The architect obviously has not only design but also built these and worked through the details of construction. I wonder about how to create a more green solution.

By: Inhabitat » PREFAB FRIDAY: Door House by Cubo Arquitectos

Inhabitat » PREFAB FRIDAY: Door House by Cubo Arquitectos — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:31:27 +0000

[...] Not all prefab is created equal. Some, like Rocio Romero’s LV Home, are made for middle-income, modernist loving homebuyers. Others, like Ray Kappe’s Living Home, are a super high-end version meant for the well-off client. At the other end of the spectrum, we have Cubo Arquitectos‘ prototype for emergency shelters – definitely not the most permanent home around – but by far, a true take on building “prefab.” [...]

By: Charles

Charles — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:52:49 +0000

One chap just posted his bottom-line for the the LV Home on the forum and it’s quite frustrating to see this prefab home costing the same as new home construction. I was attracted to the LV Home for design/cost, the cost being very important because my funds are limited. I still like the design very much but have yet to see evidence there is any savings over new home construction.

By: home

home — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:30:45 +0000

This is a great post, I really am enjoying your blog. Just thought I should say you’re doing a great job

By: Max

Max — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:01:59 +0000

The kit is under 40k. Construcitng it is not. The estimates on the yahoo LV Newsgroup put it at between 150 and 225 a square foot. One owner of the LV basically said that the cost was the same as new construction and he bought it solely for the design. Rocio ROmero says on her site that consturction costs vary by area. Not sure whether it’s ecofriendly.