Hat tip to daytrip for sending this along from interiordesign.net:
The TED series’ 2012 conference last week in Long Beach, California was the backdrop for the unveiling of a new project from a unique collaborative team of designers and manufactures.
C6 is a prototype for an affordable, stylish, and mass-produced prefabricated housing unit—the first of its kind to boast a net-zero carbon footprint.
The project comes from the collective minds of New York- and Los Angeles-based architects Curated. and interiors specialists Jamie Bush & Co., in partnership with forward-thinking home builder LivingHomes and Brad Pitt-endorsed nonprofit Make It Right.
The public was given a sneak-peek of the project last week, when it put in an appearance at Palm Spring’s annual Modernism Week; that model was actually purchased by a visitor to the event, and will be erected on a vacant site in Los Angeles.
The C6 prototype structure is a complete residence with an en suite package of amenities—from appliances to plumbing to cabinets—all in a 1,232-square-foot envelope that sells for a (relatively) modest $179,000. Making extensive use of salvaged materials, refinished wood, and recycled metal, the house qualifies for a LEED Platinum rating, the highest available.
this is great. great style. great price.
A great product and the price is right. I shouldn’t nitpick but since I usually love contemporary light fixtures…why that orange and burgundy “chandelier”? It looks like a school project construction paper afterthought that was tacked to the ceiling.
This is great. I wish they had this in larger sizes, say 2500+ sqft. homes.
@Ralph, they do if you go to their main page http://www.livinghomes.net/homesCommunities.html
I did the (limited) upgrades and it came out to ~$190k without a garage (not offered). I think it’s cool but ~$160/sqf without land or a garage seems a bit expensive to me. I did get some good ideas for new mechanicals and appliances from the C6 model though. 🙂
Any idea what Tom Tarrant is planning for his new stick built house? I’m thinking he’s close on price once you add the cost of the land and garage. I thought one reason to go with a modular was the cost savings.
I always thought that you could buy a plot of land and then start with a small 1-bedroom when you’re single. Then when you get married you then add some more space, like Legos(TM), for a larger home. Then when you have kids add some more space, like a second story.
Then when the kids leave remove the extra rooms and then finally go back to a 1-story.
Hey Cool, where are you building? By far the biggest cost of NC construction is the land. Is $160/sf really that expensive for the cost of construction? Seems reasonable to me. What are you seeing out there?
Hi WER, I’m not building anything but looking at Jim’s sidebar for Carlsbad zip code 92009 you can buy (including land and garage) for $233/sqf and you don’t need to pay for water, sewer, electrical hook ups either.
As I said, I thought they were a cool design but I was surprised by the relatively high price of a modular without land, hookups, permits, landscaping or garage. 🙂 I just stopped by Tom T’s blog (his MCM is looking terrific) and saw his plans for his canyon house and it looks like he’s looking at ~$250/sqf -all in- including premium canyon lot, landscaping, and two car garage.
Obviously, his buyer is going to pay more than that but it seems reasonable to compare his build cost for site built stick vs. a prefab modular home meant to be built by a builder/owner.
Of course the question is where can you find land that you would be allowed to put it on. In Texas it would have to be undeveloped land as most subdivisions require build on site as part of the deed restrictions (including single family use only). Unless they do like in some earlier posts and get an end run using the state. Just a question is where in NSDC could such a structure be placed and not violate the housing code and zoning?
The previous modular home featured here (click on ‘Modular Homes’ category under post) was placed on an infill lot in Carlsbad. If you didn’t mind spending the money?
For example, I have a 1/3-acre lot listed on Highland for $349,000, buy it and add instant house for a little over $500,000 total, plus landscaping.
Or if you went to the rural county areas of Vista, Valley Center, or Ramona you could do more.
The “sticker price” doesn’t include delivery, installation, permits, foundation work, landscaping, etc. If you click through the site, and use their estimates for California, you are presented with a price above $260k ($214 / sqft).
In Jim’s Highland example, $260k + $349 = $609k ($494/sqft). I’m not sure how that compares to the comps in that area.
Although price has sometimes been touted as an advantage of prefab, I think that may only be true as volume increases. Other advantages are quality and precision of the work performed in a factory vs. crew on-site, and ability to reduce manufacturer waste. Of course, it all depends on the detail of the project.
The house next door to us sold for $2,000,000+!
Agreed though, the benefits of modular don’t include price. They are selling convenience, and the illusion of green-something.
I re-read my comment and I hope I didn’t sound negative. I wanted to share the facts. I like the house design – good use of small space. I think it is nicely appointed with the standard cork floors and mechanicals.
What is the typical price for new construction for an individual? I think I’ve heard from $125-180 sqft as a starting point, which is quite a range (and of course, goes up with material choices). I’m not sure if that includes permits. Can anyone offer what they think this house might cost to be build on-site? I’m just wondering how the $214 sqft compares.
Construction costs = $180/sf is the current number on the street.
But I would think that you’d have to be very involved on the day-to-day work to keep a lid on it, and have modest tastes.
If you want all the fancy upgrades, I think it could get into the $250-$300/sf range pretty quick.
wow. this blog can get pretty negative…
cool – none of your examples are new construction – this home is new construction. i was asking you about new construction costs… all of your examples are of existing (from huge developer tracks, etc) or remods…
JTR – what do you mean by “green illusion”? this home is going to be LEED. LEED is a national program that is third-party on-site verified including performance tests (as-built performance tests) what more do you need to get over the “green illusion” label?
DOYDD before posting negative misconceptions like this dude!
I mis-spoke….again.
Green = LEED = good = save the planet, rah, rah, sis, boom, bah.
I don’t like how they sell it.
The pitch is that the gear will pay for itself after 5,10,20 years. But stuff breaks down, and/or needs repairs.
I sell older homes, and the solar panels found on the roof NEVER work, leave holes/leaks in the roof, and need to be carted off.
Did the seller save enough money to pay for removal and repair/replace? No way.
I’m sure the new gear is different, and will last forever. And I hope you own the house long enough that it pays off. I wish there was a better sales pitch.
Signed, Mr Skeptical
wow again.
Mr Skeptical – you have a lot to learn. You are way off about what makes a green home! Time to get out of the ’80s.
Green ain’t about sticking a PV system to an old crappy house, it’s much much more. Look into these certification programs and you’ll see that these homes use less materials, have better indoor air quality, use less energy, all of it.
One of the things that green homes have a tight building envelope that doesn’t leak and the good green programs test for this. Remember the “building science” you were making fun of some months ago. That’s what you’re missing.
I really enjoy your blog and put energy into explaining this because it will add quality to this conversation. However I’m shocked at your wholesale dismissal of green and complete misunderstanding of what makes a green home. Topped off with this bullshit Mr. Skeptical drivel – without even understanding the basics! If you put yourself out as the expert you should do better at understanding your product.
Jims comment is right on in terms of life. Now not so much in San Diego, since you don’t have many hailstorms, but the House I live in would be on its fourth roof in 26 years except that the last replacement was a metal roof, so it takes real hail to damage it. I have never seen analysis of the effect of hail on solar for example, but I suspect that hail can not be good for it.
Anyway given a likely 8 year life for the panels due to hail, and a 20 year payout for the panels the economics don’t make sense.
well Lyle,
where do you get your solar payback analysis? 20 years?
if anything you mentioned was remotely true you would have a point, but…
I won’t fault anyone for just not knowing or misunderstanding but stating these misunderstandings as fact is making you look bad.
If anyone would pay attention you’d realize that a PV system does not make a green home… MOST green homes these days DON’T have PV systems. It’s just so much more.
There’s lots of green home info out there – it’s good stuff and these “green” certified homes add quality. And they don’t need to cost much more than conventionally built homes.
I just don’t get all the snarky green bashing – Please educate yourselves first.
However I’m shocked at your wholesale dismissal of green and complete misunderstanding of what makes a green home. Topped off with this bullshit Mr. Skeptical drivel – without even understanding the basics! If you put yourself out as the expert you should do better at understanding your product.
I never said I was an expert of green – and I like everything about the idea. All I said was that I don’t like how it’s sold.
Your over-reaction is another example – you LEED guys want to kill everybody who doesn’t worship at your alter. I’m not snarky green bashing, I flat out said it. The old gear wore out quick, and while I’m sure the new gear is improved, I am skeptical that it will last forever, or even for as long as people own the home.
I might just look into it more just to make you happy though, how about that?
whatever jim – talk about an over reaction
a real estate professional should understand what green means
“you LEED guys want to kill everybody who doesn’t worship at your alter” WTF is that? I call you on your misinformed opinionated bullshit and you can’t handle it.
please do go and “look into it more” – not for me – for your readers. they might appreciate hearing from someone who knows what they’re talking about, someone who can give them more than a snarky opinion.
If you know so much, why don’t you lay it out here. Give us a link or two.
Why does being a realtor mean I should be a LEED expert? How many LEED-certified houses are for sale currently in NSDCC? I can only think of one, and it’s grossly over-priced.
i never said you need to be a LEED expert – what are you reading? you are a real estate expert AND some of the homes in your market are green. you need to know what that means – your readers / clients might appreciate it.
btw. KB Homes and Pulte are building certified green homes (LEED). believe me, they would never do it if it meant the homes would be “grossly over-priced”
just google this stuff for a start:
CalGreen
Build it Green
LEED
RESNET
HERS
ASHRAE 62.2
blower door test
thermal bypass inspection
structured plumbing
advanced framing
building science
third-party inspection
green rater
energy rater
and … so… on…
The real selling point of this house if that if you like modernist design there is nobody building these homes at subdivisions or development prices. The days of Eichler and Palmer/Krisel are not coming back and the alternative to this type of prefab is most likely a one-off architect-designed stickbuilt at $200+/sq ft.
WER@14. I gave you the example of Tom T’s new stick built canyon home on a vacant in-fill lot.
Another commenter added the information that to site this 1200 sqf. home in California would end up costing $600+k which is around the price Tom is targeting for his much larger home on a premium lot and includes a two car garage.
The first two posts in this category refer to Tom’s new build. http://tomtarrant.com/category/craftsman-bungalow/
By the way, WER, are you employed in green building/LEED certification in any meaningful way? I’m confused by your attacks on other commenters, including our host. Why so hostile?
To answer the solar payback that in Texas where there is no state or local credit for solar. Electric where I live is .086/kwh for unlimited usage (city utility not competitive market). Running the cost numbers for enough solar to help (8 to 10 kw) results because of the lack of incentives in a 20 year payback period. Obviouly it will be shorter in Ca due to both the state subsidies as well as the significantly higher electric rates. (note that the usage is high because AC is needed here)
Note also that solarbuzz.com has a graph of payback time that shows that at $4/watt it is 15 years and the period goes up as the cost goes up. It should be noted that the rate I am charged (.086) is to low to even appear on their graph on the economic payback graph, sort of reaffirming my conclusion
Yes Lyle Thanks for clarifying your location. The local
Ion of the PV install greatly impacts the payback. The rates you pay greatly impact payback. Incentives help but it’s key to focus on the rates paid which drastically differ from market to market.
Thanks cool. But NO. I’m flattered that you might think that but I’m not.
I do, however, know green buildings. Don’t call me hostile though. I didn’t start this, our host did. Go back and read the posts before over reacting to the last post. I showed up to clarify Misunderstandings about green. Then I got lots of BS attitude. Read my post about researching green.
I have been patient, but you are really pushing it now.
I have an opinion that you don’t like, that’s all. I don’t like the way they sell it. It’s not a BS attitude, or snarky green bashing.