Prefabcosm

Prefabcosm: taking an extended break

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Hello, Scott here.

I continue to believe that prefab and modular homes should play an ever increasing role in the housing market. But with the ongoing economic troubles, the demand for new houses is not likely to support much innovation for awhile.

As a company, we've always had several projects going at the same time. One of those is ramping up and needs more staff time, so it's time to halt our ongoing efforts at Prefabcosm.

The site will remain; I hope it continues to serve as a useful resource.

Strongbox system by Roig Associates

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

We recently received an email from Charles Roig of Roig Associates describing a project he has been working on for 10 years. Designed to withstand "a direct hit from an EF5 tornado or a Category 5 hurricane", it is a housing system called the Strongbox.

The company does not currently have a website, but according to an abstract he sent us, the Strongbox is

a wood system utilizing current technology in the fields of module manufacturing, forged hardware and building trades.

...

The Strongbox utilizes several factory fabricated lightweight wooden modules used in tandem with each adjacent module, then fastened together as a single unit. The unit is designed to be supported on four points only. They would rest on...raised concrete pier foundations for storm surge areas...or on rails, which are then connected to four piers for mobile home applications.

About the size:

Designed to fit in an interior area of 760 square feet with 9'-0” ceilings, the system can be used as a single module or multiple modules.

Caribbean Affordable Solar House (CASH) by Universidad de Puerto Rico

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:48:24 -0000

The final Solar Decathlon 2009 team on our list: Team Puerto Rico.

Their house: Caribbean Affordable Solar House (CASH).

From the DOE site:

The Puerto Rico team designed its entry for maximum connection to the outdoors and to serve as a model for energy-efficient homes in the Caribbean.

Worth a look:

site
video (4:59)
Facebook photos
flickr photostream

BeauSoleil Home by University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

The University of Louisiana calls their Solar Decathlon 2009 entry BeauSoleil, which means "sunshine" in Canjun French.

According to their site:

The house is designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and to be totally self-sufficient, which makes it especially ideal for coastal environments.

...

TEAM BeauSoleil are dedicated to turning this real-world, sustainable living solution into an affordable, working model that can be sold to the public.

Worth a look:

Interesting to note: they are sharing updates on a Facebook page instead of a blog.

The B&W House by Team Spain

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Here's another long-distance entry for the Solar Decathlon 2009: Team Spain's The Black and White House.

According to their site:

The major concept of the House is to be transportable and easy to build all over the world.

The prototype of The B&W House was therefore conceived as a modular plan made up of nine squares[.] For transport and assembly purposes, the house has been divided Into three mobile units.

Worth a look:

surPLUShome by Team Germany

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Team Germany's Solar Decathlon 2009 entry is called surPLUShome.

According to their site:

One of the biggest problems for Team Germany is the building's transportation. For fast assembly on the National Mall the building is designed [to be] modularized, divided vertically and horizontally into four building modules. To secure the building during the transport, we supported the wooden structure with reusable steel profiles.

Worth a look:

Meltwater House by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Another Solar Decathlon 2009 team: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Their Meltwater House is constructed with 4 modular units. According to their site:

The powerful change-of-state involved in melting the glaciers of the Wisconsin Glaciation Period provided the model for the homes many multi-functional components that adapt to the changing needs of its inhabitants.

North House by Team Ontario/BC

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Another Solar Decathlon 2009 team from Canada: Team Ontario/BC.

They refer to themselves as "Team North" and include students from three schools:

University of Waterloo in Ontario
Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario
Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia

According to their site:

Each component of the building is designed as an independently stable, shippable, and repairable or replaceable artifact

Worth a look:

Show-Me Solar by Team Missouri

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Team Missouri's entry in the Solar Decathlon 2009 is called Show-Me Solar.

The team is a partnership between students from University of Missouri-Columbia and the Missouri University of Science & Technology.

According to their site:

The modern style of the home is governed by a modular three-foot grid on which everything connects, leaving the design simple for construction and unifying the interior and exterior with crisp, elegant lines.

Their page on the DOE site further explains:

The Show-Me House consists of a single module that is 15 by 50 ft (4.6 by 15.3 m). It is capped by a hinged roof, which is roughly 14.5 ft ( 4.4 m) at its highest point. Structural insulated panels in both the roof and walls provide an impressive R-40 insulation value.

Worth a look:

blog
webcam (when it works...)

Curio.House by Team Boston

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Here's a local entry to the Solar Decathlon 2009: Team Boston.

From their page on the DOE site:

Team Boston is composed of more than 150 students from Boston Architectural College (BAC) and Tufts University as well as a handful from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Northeastern University, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

The primary form of their Curio.House is an L-module. According to the Curio site:

This L-module adheres dimensionally to standard shipping requirements, and can be developed further into a factory-built, prefabricated seed to be easily shipped to any site.

Worth a look:

video (2:08)
photo gallery

Pictures of Method Homes setting

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:17:05 -0000

Method Homes recently posted 10 pictures of a home setting on Lake Whatcom in Washington.

Related Posts:
1. Method Prefab (Sep 03, 2009)
2. Balance S-M-L Series from Method Homes (Mar 12, 2009)

SolAbode by Team Alberta

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Team Alberta is "the first-ever all western Canadian team to be selected to compete in the prestigious international Solar Decathlon competition."

Their entry, SolAbode, is a collaborative effort between:

University of Calgary
SAIT Polytechnic
Mount Royal College
Alberta College of Art + Design.

According to a February newsletter:

Our house is designed to sit on a rolling rail system. This means we won't have to use a crane on the Washington Mall. Our modules (four in all) will be unloaded at one end of the rails, rolled to the next module and then prepped for connecting before being linked in place.

Worth a look:

Interesting to note:

[SolAbode] will be showcased in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

ZEROW HOUSE by Rice University

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Rice University's entry in the Solar Decathlon 2009 is the "Zero Energy Row House."

The design of the ZEROW HOUSE adopts the row-house typology, specific to the urban fabric of Houston's Third Ward community as a primary precedent. Our design addresses the small size and limited budget of typical row houses through replication, innovative use of current technologies, local materiality, and an understanding of life-cycle costs.

The total cost: $148,000.

Worth a look:

Interesting to note:

Instead of building a house just for the competition, the team designed a home they could give back to the community. The team has already negotiated an agreement with Project Row Houses, a local community development organization, to give the ZEROW HOUSE a permanent home in Houston's Third Ward after the competition.

In the news: Blu Homes acquires rights to Michelle Kaufmann's designs

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:54:31 -0000

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Michelle Kaufmann has sold the building rights to several of her MK Designs homes to Blu Homes.

Designs include:

According to the article:

They have developed a proprietary unfolding modular technology that will enable cost savings to be made on Kaufmann designs at the shipping and on-site building stages. Elements that make up the homes such as wall panels are created with hinges so they can be compacted for transportation and unfolded on site. The MK Designs homes will have slightly different floor plans, proportions and elevations from the originals, although, Kaufmann said, the design principles should remain the same.

Blu Homes plans to market the homes nationwide.

Title: New home for Kaufmann's prefab, green designs

Author: Tracey Taylor

Publication: San Francisco Chronicle

Section: Business

Length: 402 words

Date: September 30, 2009

Related Posts:
   1. Podcast features Marmol Radziner and Blu Homes (Aug 14, 2009)
   2. Michelle Kaufmann Designs closing (May 27, 2009)
   3. Blu Homes (Oct 28, 2008)

Natural Fusion Home by Penn State

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Penn State's entry in the 2009 Solar Decathlon is called Natural Fusion.

Worth a look: their site and blog.

Their May 20, 2009 explains the house's name.

Interesting to note: According to a recent Treehugger post, Ed Begley, Jr. will be the guest of honor at their Bon Voyage party this weekend.

Solar House 1 by Ohio State University

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Next on the 2009 Solar Decathlon list: Ohio State University.

According to a post in February, Solar House 1 has:

three modules that will be transported separately to Washington, D.C.

and

each module was designed to be stucturally independent

Worth a look:

Interesting to note:

This house is "Ohio-centric," and uses local materials wherever possible, Whirlpool appliances (an Ohio manufacturer), and reclaimed barn wood on the façade to honor the agricultural heritage of the state.

ICON Solar House by University of Minnesota

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Monday's Solar Decathlon 2009 entry comes from University of Minnesota.

The design of the ICON Solar House is based on the familiar gabled roof form of an American family home.

According to their site, the 800-square-foot home was broken down into 6 modules for the trip to Washington, D.C.

Worth a look:

blog
photos

West Coast Green in San Francisco: October 1-3, 2009

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:42:14 -0000

West Coast Green 2009 will be returning to California in October.

At West Coast Green you’ll find over 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest in resource-efficiency among a stunning array of green and healthy building products. Over 100 experts and visionary leaders will be presenting their latest developments, insights, and inspiration at the expanding frontiers of the field. And over 14,000 attendees including the entire chain of professionals and decision-makers rarely reached by other conferences are expected.

Two things to note on the prefab front:

Green Horizon Manufacturing will be showcasing their new SFH40 model.
Michelle Kaufmann of MKD will be running a session on Friday called "Housing 2.0: Re-thinking the Prefab Model"

title: West Coast Green 2009

where: San Francisco, CA

location: Fort Mason Center

date: October 1 - 3, 2009

cost: ranges from $45 for Tradeshow pass up to $895 for Full Conference

notes: Their registration page has more pricing info.

Related Posts:
   1. West Coast Green 2008: The Harbinger House (Oct 08, 2008)
   2. West Coast Green container Showhouse from SG Blocks (Aug 15, 2008)
   3. West Coast Green 2008 coming September 25-27 (Aug 14, 2008)
   4. West Coast Green round-up (Oct 02, 2007)
   5. Heading to West Coast Green Conference this weekend (Sep 19, 2007)
   6. West Coast Green Conference (Jul 18, 2007)

s.ky blue house by University of Kentucky

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Next on our list of 2009 Solar Decathlon teams: The University of Kentucky.

According to the Solar Decathlon site:

The s.ky blue house embodies Kentucky's historic and indigenous breezeway house design and incorporates images from Kentucky on the exterior.

Worth a look:

Interesting to note:

The s.ky blue house is designed to exceed the U.S. Green Buildings Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes Platinum standards

Interlock House by Iowa State University

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Another Solar Decathlon 2009 team: Iowa State University.

According to the project manager, Interlock House:

[is] a modular construction, with five different components of the house.

There will be three floor components, two of them having walls, one of them having pop-up walls on site...[it] will also have a top portion with two east and west roof modules and a center portion also assembled on site.

...

So we have the east and west parts [of] the house built ahead of time and the center part built on site with pre-cut and pre-fabricated materials.

Worth a look:

Web site and blog
Photo Gallery
(live) webcam

Interesting to note:

Interlock House is designed specifically to appeal to seniors and meets all regulations for accessibility under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.