Comments on: PREFAB FRIDAY: Studio 804 Wins Home Of The Year

By: Olaotan

Olaotan — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:41:23 +0000

Seeing things which are so simple yet invoke emotions from within are what makes architecture dynamic. Would it be applicable in a tropical environment(like my country Nigeria)in terms of cost effectiveness if mass produced though?

By: Tom Darnell

Tom Darnell — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:33:22 +0000

Nice design. The idea has some promise. This design does seem very short on storge however. In the late 60’s a company in Whicita Kansas worked on a similar idea, I think it was funded by Jack DeVore. There seemed to be some economic issues. In that era getting building code approvals was a major roadblock. Today it seams some of these obsticals have been overcome, but local communities tradesmen will still make the effort difficult.

I would like to see the university do a cost study that would define the costs of this project in a manufactured enviornment.

By: mzerdi toufik

mzerdi toufik — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:52:35 +0000

great work , but it’s possible to see the diffrent plan and interior design .

By: Bryce

Bryce — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:37:47 +0000

A previous Studio 804 project was designed for a family where one member had mobility issues. There was an open house for that particular project and the place was a model of universal design.

By: Anne Brewer

Anne Brewer — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:40:48 +0000

We live in KC and have 120 acres where we want to build a small weekend cottage that is entirely off the grid. Can you recommend someone for us to work with in the area, who is well-versed in this type of design? Regards, Anne Brewer

By: R Stella

R Stella — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:16:39 +0000

Check out The PBS six part series “design-e2″ http://www.designe2.com

By: andy d

andy d — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 18:23:29 +0000

is the floor plan published somewhere?
great job- love to see more interior images
ad

By: David - In Bali

David - In Bali — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:09:44 +0000

Brad & Jill, yes, yes – green build is fast becoming a marketing tool by the home building industry and enough is never enough for them. Long life; it’s one of the most over looked aspects of building green. As I much as like this house, one would have to view it in its intended setting – a development – land use also being an issue! Critisism may then lean towards trailer like if the box is repeated.

By: laura

laura — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:59:57 +0000

Looks great to me. It’s sits well in it’s surroundings and looks like fun to live in. If i had the money i would definately look into something like this. i love how modern it looks.

By: david

david — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:50:16 +0000

“It looks like the antithesis of Universal Design.”

Who said it was universal design? The design thesis was sustainable prefab, not handicapped accessibility.

By: some guy

some guy — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:46:53 +0000

Brad is right about shipping bamboo. difficult to speculate on where the designers of this house got their bamboo. on the other hand, their website specifically states that the external cladding was intentionally sourced locally to avoid the pollution, etc related with shipping wood from one place to another. at a minimum, the designers are cognizant of the issue that Brad raised and tried to solve the problem in at least one aspect of the house.

By: Jill

Jill — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:00:50 +0000

Hi Brad-

Bamboo can be grown anywhere and is often grown in North America – its not exclusive to Asia. That said, I know a lot of bamboo flooring comes from in China – and of course, the shipping of material across the Pacific isn’t very sustainable…….but it is still a lot better than using tropical hardwoods or even chopping down North American forest to make flooring. Bamboo grows SO fast that is really is much more renewable and thus more sustainable than any type of hard wood.

That said, your point about consumer culture is spot on. One of the biggest problems facing sustainability today is getting people to get over the idea that they have to keep purchasing “new” things all the time. Well made and well designed things can last for hundreds of years and that is TRUE sustainability.

By: brad

brad — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 05:26:24 +0000

I constantly hear about materials such as bamboo being green. On some level I suppose that they are, but how green is it to transport a product from asia to use in the floor of a home in north america? Is it sustainable to continue to build buildings such as this, or are we better off takeing lessons from the past? In other parts of the world, there are homes that have been occupied for centuries. That is green or sustainable to me. I love great architecture. I would like to see buildings designed to last for 300 years. I know that our consumer society doesn’t appriciate that type of thing much anymore. Perhaps eventually we will look at things differently, but I think we will be forced into it.

By: thomas gathman gallery

thomas gathman gallery — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 04:58:34 +0000

at first glance it looks like a semi-truck trailer without the cab–at second glance it looks like a hip mobile home park—and finally at thrid glance looks like good architecture—thomas gathman

By: jean harrington

jean harrington — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:44:41 +0000

It looks like the antithesis of Universal Design.
Those steps leading up to it and even the other entrance, are enough to give me nightmares.