Now to practical matters...
whitespike I read Karrie Jacobs book and came away with a different impression. Although I have admired her for her founding leadership at dwell, I found the book to be negativistic, bitter and just plain depressing. my motivation for investigating prefab isn't cost. I stand to make a very very decent sum of money from my existing home and the profit will very nicely finance a new one. Although I do believe that I can obtain a prefab for a reasonable price in comparison to a stickbuilt home. My priimary motivating factors are indeed time as uyou mentioned but also the construction. I want a sustainably built home. A custom-designed and stick built sustainable home will be more costly and take much more time than I am prepared to pay.
Hive Modular's prefab address sustainability rather well and allow for a shed roof style that creates a good design for passive solar. I am interested in the LVL Romero homes but don't see them as being as good a sustainable design at the moment. The flat roof with no overhangs I find to be my biggest complaint. But I am goingto be researching this for a year or more before anything happens, so I have time to investigate more option. That's why I asked you all for your thoughts...which are grreat keep them coming... please!
Olive Number 9
All i can say is " Come on down" to the Great Southwest, and The beginning of the American West,
Like the old boy said "Go West young man" .
Life is different out here, and after D C Wilsons manifesto how could you refuse to make the move,
We will leave the light on for you like Jim Bob says,
Olive
"I found the book to be negativistic, bitter and just plain depressing"
I can certainly see your point here. I guess I looked at it differently. I viewed it simply as a quest. Quests very rarely do not have losses and negative aspects to them. It's the ending we always learn from. I looked at it simply as a way to learn through someone else's experiences.
As far as the LVL, I can certainly see you point on sustainability. I ca see how a simple shed would satisfy your goal. I remember some chatter that the LV series might be customizable into having overhangs - plus the architect's other design (the fish camp) is a shed. I wonder if there would be a relatively simple way for her to fuse the two elements.
In addition, on Rocio's site they advertise as being highly customizable. If you click on products and sit through the slide show you'll see evidence of this. I even remember seeing one wiih overhangs of some sort.
Unfulfilled promises...
I think that the dissappointment for PreFab is that the designers want to conquer too many variables and inevitably they fall short on all fronts by spreading themselves too thin. I think houses can be madeless expensive using prefab elements. I think houses can be made more sustainable using prefab elements. I think houses can be made beautifully and modernist by using prefab elements. But maybe not all these things together. I am looking for a simple home that employs a modernist sensibility, renewable energy and sustainable building practices. I believe it's achievable within my budget, but I also think I'm going to need to spend some time working the concepts through. I really like the LV & LVL layout and space use, if RR can offer me a solution that satisfies the sustainability aspects then she's in the running for sure! I am even willing to consider doing my own design, with the help of my architect friend and trying th ecustom built route too. I'd be more interested in that approach if the builder could use prebuilt SIPs, green insulation and high flyash concrete.
Rocio Romero,
Every thing that i have read in the last several years says good things about Rocio Romero, designer of the LV Home, I think she has really tried to get her hands around prefab homes.
of course i don't think any of the magazines are going to say any thing negative about her, you will have to do your own research and find out how her end products have turned out. and see what her customer satisfaction rating is . and the fact that she is in Colorado makes that much easier for you being in New Mexico.
Like i say Olive this would be a great undertaking and a fun thing to do, lots of patience required.
With DC's manifesto and all the other design addicts, i think we can get this thing off the ground or truck for you pretty easy....
This is a sweet prefab!
This is a sweet prefab!
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/08/10/prefab-friday-perrinepod/
Are railroad cars considered...
Are railroad cars considered prefab?
http://flickr.com/photos/roludsgn/1036204330/in/photostream/
Reporting in...
Well I promised an update so here it is:
We looked at several truly spectacular land parcels in the area of Cerrillos and Madrid (which the locals pronounce (MAD-rid) Some were about 10-20 acres and some were as big as 40 acres. (one acre equals 0.4 hectares) The prices were all around $200K USD. The size of the lot and the price didn't seem to have much to connect them. It's more about the provided services. The smaller lots cost more but already had power, cable and water. Water's a big deal in NM and many folks only want to buy land with a well already in place. The larger parcels, which were at he back of an enormous horse ranch had incredibly stunning views of the Ortiz and Sangre de Christo Mountains. I saw Pronghorned antelope racing across the arroyo below us and jack rabbits as big as a terrier sprinting across the road. I also saw hummingbirds by the zillions sipping from cactus flowers. It is incredibly wonderful out there, the sky is so blue it hurts. The bigger parcels had power but no well or septic. The views were worth the risk of having to dig several times to find water. And the location was only a 20-30 mins from Santa Fe and and hour or so to Albuquerque. So really quite livable.
I've also been searching and reading a lot about prefab and I've pretty much decided on the LVL Home from Rocio Romero. Best price, most flexible construction/customization and very amenable to the various renewable/green energy things I want to use in the home. A 1453 sq/ft home will cost us about $200K USD even with the alt energy choices.
Olive
olive sounds like you have been busy, . and know what you want,
one question
Why could you not find a local contractor to do what Roco does.
I know she designs great prefab homes in MO, and then trucks them where ever, but would it not make sense to get a good modern plan that you and your significant other developed rather then something from her shelf ? I would think a local architect would be such a big help and get you with a local contractor that knows the area I bet you would save money and get what you really want!
Well here's the deal...
We're waiting a bit probably end of next year at the earliest before we try building anything. We're getting the land ASAP cuz in that transaction the craziness in the market will be to our advantage. In getting a construction loan with our existing home as collaretal, it'll be better to wait a bit.
As for LV homes...they are quite customizable, she only offers the shell and room configuation. Essentially the framing, roof and cladding all else will be handled by local folks. Her production method is quite eco-friendly, cost efficent and will not be a horror to ship to our new locale. Besides, the layout is pretty nearly perfect for our needs and I can expand modularly into a guest house and a greenhouse (which is the plan). And try to find a local modernist architect that wouldn't take all of our budget just to create a plan! Nope LV is the way to go I'm sure of it. I'm looking at a very reasonably priced home on a big chunk of property and basically a pittance for a remaining mortgage!
A portable lovenest. What a...
A portable lovenest. What a great idea!
http://materialicio.us/2007/09/08/drop-house-project/
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