Pittsburgh incremental house: a home that can grow with you
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- A majority of American households have 1 or 2 people, but virtually all houses built are for couples with 3 kids. In Pittsburgh, Module developed an "incremental" small home that can efficiently grow (or shrink) as needs change. With a patented wall and roof system, Module is building homes can be opened up to expand and add stairs and a second story while recycling the same roof and wall.
“While we have, in Pittsburgh, autonomous vehicles driving around the city, we’re still building homes with a hammer and a nail,” explains Module CEO and co-founder Brian Gaudio whose company is building homes in a factory using modern tech like CNC cutting and nailing machines to produce custom-designed, energy-efficient homes for the average consumer.
Inspired by the concept of incremental housing- low-rise high-density developments built in South American cities with the possibility of expansion (Gaudio created the documentary “Within Formal Cities” with Abe Drechsler on the topic), Gaudio moved home to his parents’ home in Pittsburgh tailor the idea to the U.S.
Module’s first home was built for a couple who wanted an in-law unit for their parents’ to move into when necessary. Over the course of just two days, the wall and roof panels (manufactured by Bensonwood in Keene, NH) were erected in a LEGO-like assembly process by crane. Gaudio hopes that this process can be replicated with thousands of homes to actually make a dent in the national housing crisis.
Module: www.modulehousi...
Latham House info: modulehousing....
Factory footage: Bensonwood Homes bensonwood.com/
South American footage: "Within Formal Cities" -- Abe Drechsler and Brian Gaudio www.withinforma...
Pittsburgh open shots: Johnny Sanphillipo granolashotgun...
*faircompanies: faircompanies....
This does nothing to address the housing affordability problem. If you get on their site, Kirsten lists it in the description, and look up the plan shown here, which I believe is the Nook, you'll quickly realize you're paying top dollar on a per square foot basis.
This home, using interior dimensions, is 16'x34' or 544 square feet and starts at $149,000. The most upgraded finish work gets the price all the way up to $212,000. To put that into perspective you'll be paying anywhere from $273.90 to $389.71 per square foot, and that doesn't even include permits and the cost of the land on which you'll need to build it.
Land in Pittsburg looks to be going for about $160,000 on zillow, so you're going to be dropping $309,000 to $372,000 to build a 544 sq ft home. That puts the price per sq ft at $568 to $683. For those prices you can find far more home that isn't shoehorned into an odd little alleyway, surrounded by 3 other backyards with neighbors accessing their backyards by walking through yours.
Not sure what properties you were looking at in Pittsburgh, but property in this neighborhood is no where near that cost. Maybe out in the more expensive suburb areas.
I don't know enough about the relative values of different Pittsburgh neighbourhoods to be specific here (though there aren't many freehold single-detached homes for less than $200k on Zillow right at the moment). However, in big cities with housing crunches like Toronto, getting a 544sqft, freehold, single-detached home that didn't require a gut renovation for anything less than $750k is definitely a bargain - laneway homes in downtown/midtown Toronto can easily be $1million. (Even in the Toronto burbs, where I live, my neighbour bought their (1200sqft, nothing special) home 5 years ago for $400k; today it's worth $1.1million (not an exaggeration - one next to it just sold for $1.3 million last month, and it was in better condition.)
You're right that these homes won't make financial sense everywhere, but in places like New York, London, Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, etc. they are definitely a good idea.
It was compared to $600k homes, so the numbers you mentioned compare quite well. Also, you are evaluating the home based on its size and it was explicitly discussed that larger homes are not serving the actual needs of the population and the lot required a smaller home. Cost per sqft is an old and inaccurate way of determining a structures ability to serve the needs of the user.
At $275 per square foot is very expensive for a town like Pittsburgh with a glut of homes and vacant lots. I think they're on the right path but the price, with all the automation, needs to be reduced.
nor does it include the FOUNDATION! So inspiring but such a complete let down! For all the onsite time savings none of that is reflected in the cost to the consumer.
I can't imagine someone entering that house when it's -6 Celcius outside and any warmth in the home would escape. The entry porch should have been a closed in vestibule with room for wet clothes and boots. Pittsburgh gets a lot of rain.
It's interesting that he considers the side elevation the facade.
No tripping hazards inside the home but steps front and back with no handrails.
Brian Gaudio left me unconvinced that this design is good. ( I won't mention octopuses)
@ibikeec Obviously they don't want a handrail, or ramp. If that's the case why highlight that their are no tripping hazards in the bathroom. Not only did I find the design rather useless for the purpose but I found the presentation by the CEO rather strange and contradictory.
Code in most areas doesn't require a hand rail for porches or decks under 30 inches.
If the air is colder outside than inside, what will happen is that it will try to reach temperature equilibrium between the two. Heat is just a form of energy and the energy in the warm air will transfer itself to the cold. This will cause small pockets at the door; you probably won’t be able to feel a wind but it’s the same effect.
In short, at the door you’ll have a turbulent area where warm and cold are mixing. Indoors will begin to get colder as the energy in the form of heat transfers to the colder air outside. And your heater will work harder than it had to if it’s got a thermostat on it. Because of the short duration it takes to open a door then close it this action would have a minimal effect. Basically you would barely notice it.
Most new home construction do not have a vestibule. I do agree with having a space to remove and store ones shoes and jacket before entering. That's what I have in my home and homes I design. I do explain and offer a vestibule but most clients reject the idea.
A vestibule is more than a cloakroom it acts as a baffle to stop draughts entering the house when the door opens.
Most people who live in colder climates will see the logic in having one, otherwise it's difficult to imaging a bitterly cold draught blowing into your living area each time the door opens.
@@goldenbox7803 I lived in Pittsburgh in the 1950's and most of the older homes had vestibules and for a good reason. The climate is changing but to what. Someone have a crystal ball? This house is ugly, does not fit the neighborhood, and is too expensive. Who wants a back deck that is little more than a goldfish bowl?
I want to start by saying I love this channel because of consistency in showing diverse housing options. However, I’ve come to accept that cities are becoming increasingly expensive and the word affordable though relative, is often misleading. I haven’t seen much examples of housing advertised as affordable and it actually was. At least by working class standards. This was an interesting video. I like the concept of modular homes., it seems like a cruel joke to call a $400K home affordable though. Maybe for surgeons or grads from one pittsburgh’s five universities it houses. But for people who make minimum wage in Pennsylvania which is $7.25, I can’t imagine how it is possible for them to own a home that starts in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
that and it's made of particle board! 400 k and nor even made with real wood!
I've learnt the only real affordable housing is what you can build yourself and unlike when boomers or their parents built their first home we are subject to regulations that they weren't so most often you can't self build
I know it's been a couple of years, but keep an eye out on some of these new prefab companies. One example out of LA is Roombus, which is going to build a really modern, advanced small home (that can be expanded) for one person at around 60K. There is also a company called Nestron which builds small homes in a similar price range. Even if you build a much bigger version, it should still be no more than 200K. The issue is going to be finding cheap land to put it on.
@@Think-dont-believe Yup another one with good value
@@surblows Sur writes hope...I appreciate you
that said, Blax aint wrong either. We each have 100 years (give or take) and cannot decide which economical periods we are in (or even wars. my family experienced both ww1 and 2) how to live well, best and deep during the periods we are given...thats one entire project in itself
just wishing everyone well. yes the economic situations are S HITE and thats putting it lightly but perhaps we have the last laughs.
Wow, a year ago, there were 27,000 lots "vacant" in this area. That's huge. Plenty of area for "creative" housing, which I love. Incremental housing is fascinating! I think it's so fabulous and we just don't see enough of this!! Amazing transformation here, on this lot, as the work starts!! It's fascinating to see modules built, in factory, versus what people are used to seeing - homes going up, outside, slowly, by construction workers. I didn't realize that there is such a shortage in the U.S. of people to do this work. Shrinking construction time "on site" makes huge sense. I am in Vancouver where homes are now as expensive as San Francisco and Manhattan! Insane! Getting creative and find less expensive ways to build homes is critical.
A may be weird but I see very little use for the house. The garage is a different matter. I would expand the garage and have a little sleeping / bathroom structure added. This I would find a much more useful place to live.
Good idea. And you would have had a big front yard. But they tore it down.
Huuuuge front yard! Begs the question of why the garage was built back there in the first place 🤣
Maybe for some privacy. Incremental says build imho not box it out.
I find it odd that they decided to knock down the garages. They could have been refurbished and been a real asset. No doubt their quality would have been superior to the little house they've just made.
99% of the tiny house fans are also big on the whole recycling thing
Did you see the price of that small house? Like 300k! Im not kidding! Could have rehabbed the garage for 50k.
@@TheNinjaPicker My thought precisely. $300,000 for a prefab house and knocking down a strong brick two car garage. Genius? Don’t think so.
You know !?! That was the fist thing I thought. Wasted a whole lot of money with a pre-existing, good quality clay brick building staring you in the face. Go figure.
@@garethroberts5115 I guess that's what they wanted????
They are talking about adding things 20 years in the future, what happens if the company doesn't exist any more? Does it then become unviable to expand the house? Are other companies able to take on that sort of project without any plans or knowledge of how they were built? Many companies don't make it to 20 years, so hopefully these don't become obsolete before the features that they offer can ever be utilised. If the company still exists in 20 years its quite possible they will have changed standards too, will upgrading the older buildings remain financially viable to the customer? Or will they be an expensive edge case?
Personally I think it may be better to build housing that can be reconfigured with relatively little effort by competent trades people in order to meet whatever modern demands are. Build once, then reuse. If building a 2 story family house, put the stairs in a location where it can be reconfigured to become 2 residences (1 upstairs, 1 downstairs) each with their own front doors. The UK has many examples of this in its older housing, and if they are built well things like sound transmission shouldn't be an issue in anything but extreme cases.
aljowen well, it’s a modular home. Expanding it to how they spoke of shouldn’t be difficult for your standard building company. The issue would be that it wouldn’t be the same as the original unless they found another modular home company to continue the work.
I think with design decisions like the flat roof they've already made it easier for an unknown someone to alter the house in the future. It doesn't matter so much who that someone is, as long as they have basic construction skills. I think that's the point.
@@GloriousAguacate In general I agree, but adding a second story on top of an existing structure isn't as simple as building a normal extension. Without good documentation of the design, how is a builder to know which sections are load bearing and suitable anchors for the next level? With a conventional building its not going to be hard finding people with the experience to do that, with a one-off proprietary design from a small company its going to be new to all the people working on it. Presumably it should be fine providing they can reverse engineer things, but that takes quite a bit of time and effort to do, which will make things more expensive. At which point what is the benefit over building a conventional structure with load bearing walls? Features such as the removable roof end up being wasted, because it will be easier to bin it and build something conventional on top of the existing walls.
In the video I noticed they were having to slot plastic hoses from the roof to the walls, that's simple enough when you know where those holes are. But if they go out of business that's something that anyone extending the building cannot know until they pull the roof off. Those hoses may be unimportant, but I think it illustrates how even small things could add up to being a headache if there is no one with experience of working on these buildings.
@@aljowen I agree, throughout this video I was thinking this sounds like vendor lock-in, especially when patents were mentioned. It would be exciting to see an open source version of this, a design signed off by architects but able to be constructed by multiple companies and understood by contractors. It could make this type of construction far more common and promote competition in price and drive innovation of modules.
@@aljowen I assume the designer would give blueprints to the homeowner, or at least they would be on file somewhere so a future builder could read them and know how to add on.
The concept is fascinating and the end result is beautiful!
I think putting a flat roof on a home where 2 feet or more of snow can fall in a day is a bad idea.
membear don’t you know it’s going to stop snowing, have you heard of global warming.
I had the same thought. Kept expecting them to add a sloped roof on top.
Shovel the roof.😜
if you noticed from the drone views, there are other flat roofs in this very neighborhood, probably over 100 years old.
I am originally from St. Louis and there are many flat roof buildings that are homes. Many are over 100 years old. Meanwhile, many commercial buildings have flat roofs.
I love how your videos begin with just scene noise.
It is refreshing. Honestly tired of the electronic 30 seconds intros that got popular. MBKHD is the only channel that can pull off a music intro that isn't grating for me.
And the Roberto Clemente bridge! We have the second most bridges in the world, after Venice!
Entire video about low cost housing and they never mention the price of the house. Got it.
Starts at 149K for 640 Sq feet.
@@Arjay404 I feel kind of bad pointing out their BS, but look at the nook floor plan. They claim it's 640 sq ft but that is measuring exterior walls as well as the front door patio which looks to be about 4x4' (another 16 sq ft). Earlier today they had another image they've since removed that showed the walls measure about a foot thick each, so shave that 640 sq ft down further. I'd say they're offering about 530-544 sq ft max in that little house.
I can no longer find the image they had on their website with the interior measurements, but just look at the walls at the 5:28 mark of the video. They're roughly 12" thick, give or take a couple inches.
I'm bothered by this more than I probably should be because I hired a builder to build me a 1 bed 1 bath 650 sq ft accessory dwelling unit over a below-grade 2.5 car garage, both built new, about 18 months ago and did it for $175,000 (granted this was in Utah, so obviously different market conditions). What these guys are charging and trying to market as something special strikes me as a ripoff.
Not to mention when you read their finish choices at $149,000 you quickly realize the video is probably showing their $212,000 model. For $149 you don't get the stone counters or tile back splash at 24:37, you get Ikea butcher block and Ikea cabinets (which are admittedly pretty good). You don't get the tiled shower at 26:42, you get a fiberglass single piece surround. And I suspect you also don't get that continuous external insulation wrap he mentions around 31:20 without paying more, but I can't be sure on that. but you do under 550 sq ft and neighbors walking through your property anytime they please thanks to an existing easement. Pass.
@@petertew8936 You shouldn't feel bad for pointing out them trying to cheat their numbers a little bit. You are right that the model shown isn't the cheapest option, but that's also why I said the model STARTS at $149, the number is mostly just to show what kind range we are talking about. Often times these tiny homes are ridiculously expensive. While this one is on the pricey side, it's not ridiculously expensive. For some people the extra cost might be worth it.
@@petertew8936 A home is generally measured from outside. Not the total of rooms measured inside.
I would not think that they should include anything outside the walls though.
@@Arjay404
In Texas you can buy a home for $100,000 or less which is larger than this.
I live in the Pittsburgh area and watch this channel quite often. It's nice to see them in my hometown.
The house is beautiful. I love the blue color and the use of the cedar in the entrance way.
The whole concept is very interesting, but I was wondering about the cost of a project like this.
Great video guys. I work for IWBC and we run a yearly conference focused on offsite construction in Boston. You’ve hit all the right messages. Integration, digitization, collaboration.
While I understand the need with scarcity of skilled laborers. This is not scalable from city to city across the US. They're charging $226 per sqft on some of their projects. Where I live a brand new custom home costs $145 per sqft. I'd much rather have that than a upscale mobile home looking box that will cost me significantly more.
where did you find the pricing?
Their website
I imagine opening that front door in the Pittsburgh winter - all the warmth in the house would get sucked out in two seconds!
You wouldn't even need to open those big panes of glass pretending to be doors for that to happen! But hey who needs practical design decisions when your facades are painted in shades of blue that represent octopus arms.
It seems to me that it would be like living in a fishbowl with those windows. Certainly needs some kind of covering. Also the seating doesn't seem very inviting.
I used to live in Pittsburgh, or really in the North Hills in Allison Park. I lived there in the early 80's and our home was a design and build by Pittsburgh Steel and was a concept model. The house was a post and beam made from steel tubing, with Aluminum skinned SIP between the posts. Sections were commercial windows from floor to ceiling and other sections were the SIPs. It was warm enough during the winter and the panels were only a few inches think. Could hear people talking while walking by ;) The only issue we saw was a little rust developing at the base of the posts where they sat on the foundation. I love the Alternative build types, but have yet to find anything that is cheaper or even comparable to site stick build. These SIP prefab structures are always way too expensive based on dollar per square foot. The concrete 3D printed homes are the cheapest and coolest home concept I've seen yet.
I've been enjoying a lot of videos on this channel, but construction like this really doesn't seem to fall into the same category as some of the innovative, creative, affordable, and off grid buildings that have been featured before.
Good video, however, the price for a one-bedroom is very expensive. Why bother when a person can turn a garage into a nice small home for one person.
I thought exactly that when I saw the brick'n mortar garage they even tore down for the shoe box ...
@@manfredschmalbach9023 Couldn't agree more. The garage is GONE. And 4 what may I ask. The imaginary pool? I think these architects r delusional and creating housing 4 a select few by completely alienating those already there.
I am by no means impressed.
@@robyndismon394 Not impressed, quite the opposite, ain't it? Those delusional, uninspired, selfenamored know-it-alls can school any real architect how it is *_not_* done in any case - and in any aspect: neighbourhood, social community, respecting the historic, grown existence of buildings and spaces when adding something new, the advanced requirements of building with a small footprint (we call that 'climate-architecture', sorry don't know the English term) ... all in all: underwhelming. It is a sixties-approach, not one for the twentyfirst century.
MyAmysBad I think $212,000.. not including cost of land or foundation.. it’s ridiculous for the city of Pittsburgh.., lots of full 3 bed houses available in that area of the city for $200,000.. if they would offer this building for $100,000, then maybe it would be affordable for this area...
@@manfredschmalbach9023 And the garage blocked the back yards of the other houses. Now there is nothing, wide open. The double garage could have been rehabbed into an apt.
It's a great house overall - but those banquettes are going to be *hugely* uncomfortable because the backs are not sloped to take actual bodies into consideration.
As a matter of designing for aging-in-place (which is what the clients parents (and possibly they themselves) will be doing in that house, and universal design, the kitchen should also have countertops of a couple of different heights so that if any of them finds themself in a wheelchair, they can still reach the counter. The stacked ovens are also not placed optimally for this, either.
Yep, I can't get stuff out of the microwave because it is above the stove...that wall oven would be a nightmare!
Brilliant! Everything...I cutting edge thinking; spacing between buildings, insulation, later add-ons; outwards and upwards,... on and on and on.
I guess I’m too used to seeing Kirsten & her family in a reused place with lots of character and rework.
I am sort of shocked to see this here cuz it feels shiny new, like a commercial, like someone’s trying to sell me something instead of show me something beautifully recrafted.
I will try to see all the good in this episode, because there IS much good in it (passivhaus & ERV, neat concept, etc.), but it feels like someone changed the flavor to a favorite drink that you’re used to getting at your corner café for years.
This feels different. I’ll try to adapt :).
the octopus arms reference is a streeeetch
I like the homeowners original 100 year old house. Would love a tour of that. I live in a 140 year old row home in Baltimore with the same character and can relate to drafty cold winters. 😄
Who do you get hold of the people who build ahome in factory
The average no. of people living in an American family is 3.14. Household size can increase depending on race and ethnicity. Its a small correction but I think this whole presentation is full of slightly incorrect statements (due to a lack of skilled labor and bad weather we need automation, the impression that this represents "affordable housing", and the surrender to gentrification as the norm). I found this commercial disturbing.
Love Pittsburgh. This is everything that’s wrong with it now- making it ugly & gentrifying instead of integrating into what’s already there. That lot would have made a great community garden. Looks awful in the context and all their neighbours have to look at that thing now. You’re in their back yards!! And you’re talking about adding a second floor!!! Also, so many of us are here on this channel for sustainability and alternative lifestyle, and this just isn’t it.
Agreed, I couldn’t comfortably live with big staring windows like that, and I’d be an annoyed neighbor to have someone looking into my backyard. The easement issue is just weird.
There is already a community garden directly across the street from this lot. See 18:28 in the video.
The neighbour could have bought the lot if they cared.
Agree100%. This house is disgusting
Yes can’t the people already there put objections in before it’s built. I always say make it fit the area whatever they build. You cant always stop it but at least make it fit and look nice.
Six months ago I went to shoot a film in Germany.
Because of the virus, everything dragged on ... I had to live in a hotel for a half a year.
It was a 9m2 studio with a fitted kitchen. There was an exit to the garden and terrace.
I realized that this space is enough for me to live.
Now I have put aside the idea of buying a 250m2 mansion and am designing my own mini house 25м2.
I live in Pittsburgh, totally love small houses. When I bought my house 13 years ago,was told that I did not make enough to live in Allegheny county. I eventually bought my home in a surrounding county. it is an older home that was remodeled. In the past years have added Hardie siding and solar panels. My total cost was no where near what this box has cost!
What a great vision!! Thinking from start small to build larger as the family grows..... WONDERFUL. Thank you for your vision! You can do this Dude.... Stay the course and you'll make a difference.
While innovative the price puts it out of people that need to live in the city.
Now include understanding of how these costs are representing how the costs of every level in production have also gone up....... these issues go much deep than cost alone!
Basically, it’s a glorified and oversized shed made of dangerously flammable OSB panels.
I noticed that too... he might have well made it out of toilet paper cobs, the second water gets on that it will swell up.
very very dangerous.
Agree my friend...too complicated...
Nothing new. Thats what the prefab housing industry is doing for ages now. Wondering why he sells this as someting new?
He did say they have been doing this for over 40 years, but not highly insulated panels like todays ones.
It’s the adding on if U need to expand your dwelling. They have made it easier (?) I guess to do so. It still seems a little pricey
Being a pittsburgher myself and being highly excited by this video, I think that the idea is super new in the Pittsburgh market, especially due to the age of the population, and the very old-fashioned nature of our cities culture. People say "new to you" for a reason.
May this concept spread throughout the Rust Belt!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🍀
I would like to know the cost/price of these homes. Everytime I have checked into it, last one being Bluhomes, the prices are too expensive and you still have the stigma of a manufactured home to overcome during the resale process. Building your own home is a much better idea and better long term results as well as cheaper in most cases.
Starts at 149K for 640 Sq feet, 1 bed 1 bath.
@@Arjay404: HAHAHA!
@@Arjay404 wow that's hella expensive, might as well build your own home.
@MetalGearMk3, I don't want to sound down on you, but why take a commenter's word for it? They should also post a reference that can be verified, imo.
Any carpenter and crew could've framed that in 4 to 5 days max, and no, add it plant framing, shipping, and crane expense this is not cheaper, and if it rains while setting your pieces what then, seems to me alot of fluff talk by guy whose never worked a full construction week in his life but as usual knows better than seasoned carpenters.
I was thinking the same. There is no way this is cheaper than stick framing a house this size.
exactly this dude in the video is a foolish dude
@heehee mefunny In cities and large buildings it often makes sense, but for a 2 car garage size house it is really dumb. Yes there is a shortage in construction but the rising pay will attract more workers plus techniques that make sense are being used to reduce labor. For example big box stores used to be full height CMU, now they are moving towards metal panel which takes less labor and is far better for insulation.
One thing that gets me on nearly ever small house, your paying the same as a normal starter home of 950 square feet. Pass.
HARD pass.
Totally untrue dude, build it yourself and its great savings and small, but if one does not have the skills he best go to work to pay the bills- builder ...
@@timedvrodlehnen8448 Totally true dude, Happy you seem to be the 3% in America that can build your own. My comment wasn't about "Do it yourself".
Unfortunately that's what the market's become. Initially, due to the either DIY nature or, once upon a time, unconventional material-use and nature of small and tiny homes, they were super cost-friendly. As they became everyone's buzzword, more trendy, and more accessible, prices rose with them, practically defeating the purpose. Smaller lots are being utilized more often, but their priced almost on par with larger, older homes.
Now, it very much is a DIY game, if you want to cut costs. Good luck with the land hunt, though. DIYers would likely need to have a digital job or one where they don't mind a commute.
@@dantizzle00 And the zoning is destroying any possibility of alternative and small for many people. This trend is being hijacked to push tiny stack and pack apts. on us.
Grew up there till I was 14 and the old lots like this are literally all over like he said. They have such character!
Building a house that doesn't have more space than you need and is properly insulated, welcome to the 21st century America...
Thank you for summing up the rant coming from me while watching them rave about the insulation. Totally agree about the space as well - until he started talking about how they would obviously need a second bathroom if they build two more bedrooms upstairs.
$260k for a 570 sq ft modular house? I want an expandable home as my family grows...I can’t spend $400k for a couple room additions.
I love that you don't drown your vids in annoying canned music. Your channel is my fav.
10:22 "6 bedroom home, 3 car garage is typically what the average home builder is building in the US today." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Is that a joke? It must be!
I said the same thing. In my area in the midwest, the average builder builds middle class homes with 4 bedrooms. Any 6+ bedroom home is going to be in an upper class market that is priced at least 300-400% more than the median list price for new homes in the area. Not everyone needs a bedroom and office for each kid and pet.
That's what I said,!! 🤣🤣🤣
“ labor force is aging and housing design hasn’t changed as fast as many other industries “ word gold my friends. Every new house should be super fast and ultra energy efficient
How much per square foot? And who would pay that price to live in that location? Does NOT solve the problem of affordable housing in the US.
The Way of Bonsai How much did they say the house cost ?
For just over 1,000 finished sq ft in the 5454 Black Street home (not the one in the video) they are asking $435,000 or roughly $409 a sq ft. I was really interested at first when watching this video, but as soon as I looked at their floor plans and the way they advertise the square footage I was immediately struck by how dishonest they are being. They measure exterior dimensions (40'x16') as opposed to the interior dimensions (38'x14') and they included unfinished space as total square footage.
If they were to only use the interior dimensions, including finished and unfinished space, they would have to advertise 1,596 sq ft, rather than 1,920 sq ft. That costs them 324 sq ft or nearly 17% of their advertised sq ft. If they were really honest and showed only the finished square footage they'd have to advertise 1,064 finished sq ft. That would cost them 856 finished sq ft or nearly 45% of the space they are advertising. This does include the price of the land for this home as well.
The built in a factory lego style construction is great, but these guys trying to play it off as a way to provide affordable housing is disingenuous at best.
It's far from affordable unless you build it yourself , cook. The. City life though. Not for me, give me some land and build whatever feels good. ,,..people need not be afraid of builds like this is not brain surgery, and is very rewarding. To build and create with your hands. And ideas and see them to . Finish is monumental, that is why builders who build sell. For. Top. Dollar, why not,.....usa. lol. Peacr
He is selling them for almost a half a million dollars when the city is basically giving away abandoned buildings just to keep from paying to have them torn down.
The problem isn't a real problem, people are too lazy, stupid and entitled to capitalize on it. There are houses everywhere around the city for less than a middle of the road car that could be rehabbed for well under 100k with everything said and done. However, everyone seems to want a brand new mcmansion in the perfect location with all the features for next to nothing.
The problem isn't affordable housing, the problem is that my fellow millennials are too entitled to realize when opportunity is staring them in the face.
This looks like a show room in Ikea and it’s $435k 😂😂
And those floating shelves in a small kitchen will not 'open' for long.
Pretty cool. Essentially modular construction that can be installed at different times. Kind of reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wrights original Usonian idea. Something I would be really impressed with would be a rent-to-own model
Thank you Kirsten for always bringing us wonderful content and activism for more efficient and affordable housing!!!
I also appreciate the thought-provoking content and activism for efficient and affordable housing.
The modest-sized house in the video cost upwards of $200,000 while you can find much larger houses with more amenities for tens of thousands less in this area (I’m houseshopping in Pittsburgh right now). Still some good ideas in the video, but even this company’s cheapest building plan (practically a tiny home) is too expensive for me to afford.
All of those beautiful old brick homes with a blue shoebox in the middle of them
Site built houses use local labor making decent wages.
If you think this guy is going to pass the labor savings to you,think again.
@Vegan Parent They also sell houses for a dollar...just to keep from having to tear them down
Just because out dated construction practices create jobs, doesnt make them any less outdated. Thats like saying we should throw away the assembly line and build cars one at a time to create jobs, even though it would increase the cost of a car by 3x. Silly.
He speaks like he's just invented pre-fab building. LOL
@Bleh Bleh But he patented some of his 'inventions'. Well, if Steve Jobs et al. can do it, so can he I supposed...
@Ferd Ferd.D he said he set up the company three years ago...
@@KleineJoop Actually patents help and encourage innovation and invention. If you have an idea and you would like to go to market with the idea but realise that anyone can copy your idea and you will not benefit from your idea, then you prefer not to even bother with the idea.
.
This has a lot to do with why China was lagging the USA in innovation, they had no patent rights. Since that changed, China has been booking with innovation and invention.
that's what separates him from you. "LOL"
he patented REUSABLE walls and roofs. not prefab.
This building is a three dressed up as a nine, wasting my time.
Seems expensive for what it is, especially in Pittsburgh.
modern, but lacks heart. Barndoor part looks nice.
Why are they using OSB instead of plywood? I'd want my house to be a bit higher quality than OSB walls and roof
Especially since these homes cost more then 200,000!
@@barbaracovey Holy shit. That's way more than I'd be willing to pay
Friso Bauer There are now different grades of OSB that actually outperform traditional plywood.
I am not saying they are using.
OSB and AW100 Ply are basicly the same sort of building quality. Calling OSB low quality in comparison with ply is ... uninformed, to say the least.
I love this, for those of us that can’t afford the average stick built home. Wish this was available nation wide. Great innovation.
This is a great idea, and those Pritzker houses in Chile were also a good idea and an innovative solution to a chronic (and community-destroying) problem. However, the Pritzker houses proved problematic, and my understanding is that the jury is still out on whether they can be called a true 'success'.
I'd really like to see how this house ages, and follow houses like these for 10+ years, to see what happens. Like does the blue exterior age well, or does it turn kind of dingy after a few years? (Here in Toronto, for example, a lot of the wood used in the 80s for things like windows or siding ends up looking pretty grim; the stucco cladding that looked so cool in the 90s looks really eroded today). Is it really all that easy to add a second storey or will the cost turn out to be prohibitive and, due to settling of the first house, plagued with engineering problems?
Again, I am 100% on board with innovative ways to add affordable laneway housing to cities - I just hope these alternative building/decor ideas age well, is all.
Not trying to criticize, I just haven't heard the downside of the Pritzker houses. What happened that made them problematic? Were they made of poor materials or something?
Absolutely beautiful!! I live in Pittsburgh!! We need these new structures!! I’m a single mom just me and my daughter and it’s so hard to find a home that I can afford that also isn’t run down here in the Burgh! I wish I could afford to build a brand new home like this! I just love everything about this home!
As a european used to brick and mortar/concrete and rebar homes, how strong is this house?
Bricks, blocks and cement. The best way to build strong and safe house...
I personally still prefer the hand built personalization on site. The strength and fortitude of the structure as a whole. There is not enough lapse in time to know the sustainability over long periods of time. How this will hold up to extreme weather. With the utilities built within the prefab walls. How difficult & cost effective when repairs are needed.
Just a bike mechanic note....your boy needs his front derailleur adjusted
LOL, I love UA-cam comments. There is always something unique 😁
So much potential with modular homes. They make a lot of sense.
This is a great idea. I love ❤️ the energy efficiency.
There is so much that can be done with smaller lots, or small footprint areas. I can't wait to be able to Self build. I have a gazillion ideas,and designs..On that space alone I can construct at least 4 bedrooms..
I like the design as far as it fits the owners needs. As for the affordability, it didn't seem like that was a major selling point at all...a design convo topic at the most.
I live in Cecil county MD and the median home costs about $300,000 and yes it is not what I imagined as a home for my family it is always what the builder wants people to buy. I have 2 children boy and girl and for the past 4 years lived in a 1 bedroom 1 bath 650 square feet and pay $910 just for rent and most apartments charge water and heat then electric and we have a huge problem with homeless and more than 100 people living in the woods and abandoned homes that they can find because of the housing and rental problem. I have seen families that have to live together just to be able to save the money for the down payment on a fixer upper. This is a great idea to expand when needed. I was raised in the manner of you can add but not take away and take what is needed not what you think you want. This home is absolutely beautiful and you can always go up instead of out using up all the land. Soon people are going to be renting "air space" .
Excellent addition to your channel, Kirsten - both informative and inspiring. So many good ideas. Thank you. And God bless the Pittsburghers who find 63F an agreeable room temperature in winter. You make Canadians look like wimps.
That garage would make a great work shop.
It would make a great place to park a car out of the snow.
I would like to see Kirsten design a truly economical starter home. Leave out the ultra-high-end touches and show us something that a young couple could actually afford. Quality and high efficiency, yes, but without the IOT oven and appliances ... slightly larger to accommodate real living room furniture. Show us what can be built for a total cost of under $75K, not including the land, permits, and utility connect/service fees.
If he wants to help revitalize Pittsburg, how about opening a "lower-tech" panel factory there? It's not just about housing, people have to have jobs!!
That is an awesome product development. I think we all can learn from of his and maybe keep some people from being homeless.
THANK YOU FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX IF YOU WILL!!!
Suspended ceiling load, one ineffective tagline, no helmets, and guys just hanging out in the fall zone. Safety first man.
So many hands right under a suspended load gah.
Nice idea - but I grew up near Pittsburgh and their nook price (no frills) $149,000 which doesn't include the $50,000 site work fee. You can buy a small fixer upper for $49k in that area.
David Smith Not so easy any more!
This company has a great mission in mind with what looks solid engineering and design concepts. Plus, the team appears to have given substantial thought and science to applying cost and energy efficient practices and materials. With regard to buying into the concept of a scalable house, the risk for homeowners lies in trusting that this company (and its manufacturing arm) will be around in the future. There is trust that the same or better materials will be available. There is trust that municipal laws will allow for expansion in that future.
Looks very promising. I have always wondered why homes couldn't be manufactured and not be cheesy mobile (manufactured) homes.
Good luck guys.
And I love Pittsburgh my home town.
I don’t understand why they took the garage down. How bad was it. Looked like a brick building
I was thinking the same thing, it was a good looking garage, solid and two car perfect for the house he was building. Not very economical to tear down and haul away.
exactly the best thing to do to save the world is not waste they could have used that structure
That brick garage looked a lot better than the modernist, minimalist monstrosity that replaced it.
They needed the space between buildings. Alot of codes and regulations, you have to follow.
Tony De inccorrect existing structures in that city are grandfathered in and can get permit for renovation
I love that they're focused on compact, affordable infill housing, and I feel like their technology could also be used to make accessory dwelling units in many places. Hopefully they're successful and can bring the price down more over time. The price per square foot isn't too bad considering the quality of the construction and finishes, but it's still significantly higher than suburban tract housing (although I suppose that's to be expected in the city to a certain degree).
It's a modern trailer home without being mobile. 😂 you never mentioned the cost.
I get the “trailer home” description, it fits! At least with this layout.
@Ferd Ferd.D actually it's not modular - where complete volumetric modules are loaded on top the back of a truck, & craned into place - this is prefab, using a panelized system.
$450k....
How many square feet?
@@supshorty420 Is that a joke?
I haven't lived in Pittsburgh in 26 years and I don't miss it.
I love this approach! thank for bringing this your channel. Keep up the great work... both you and the builders/innovators that create these homes.
this house should be about 60k... $30 an hour at the factory, machine made, assembly line should go fast. then transport of materials, materials and assembly for 650 sq ft... how can it cost much more, aside from the land. the design is simple, no odd angles, flat roof.. come on man, how can it cost 150k ??
My thoughts exactly, but I was to lazy to write it all out. Thankyou.
I thought they said it was 450k in the comments above... idk but it definitely should be 45k tops
It's 450k
they should have left the garage and built their deck into it after a refurbishment
waste of money removing the garage and building a prefab box dumb!
Very nice and filled with all kinds of creative goodies... I do see growth opportunities in the overall esthetic of the visual impact of their design and could be more than just a rectangular space with a square cut out... Perhaps adding more than just color change by considering textures, shapes and sizes... Congratulations!
Lovely house. The view and privacy can be improved with lots of trees and shrubs ❤️
Great idea, I like the look for the most part. I did wonder if they do also make one that may be more aesthetically pleasing with a facade fitting the neighborhood. I know this one is by other back garages so it fits. But if the other buildings were not box-shaped is there a way to change it up?
Not a bad idea for basic houses. I'm not sure I would like to live in a neighbourhood of boxy houses, all alike.
Must be like live in an apartment, but with terrace, garden, no neigthbour noise nor up, down or at the sides, and some other advantages, and disadvantages.
Jhw Webster yeah, these homes are taking over our city. From an engineering perspective, it’s interesting, as a woodworker, it makes me sad. And as a designer, they disgust me. The city’s character is being literally demolished so that these prefab homes and apartments can go up in their place. Granted, not all of the old homes can be renovated by the average homeowner (due to costs) but for what it costs to build these new homes I would rather see some of them try. Not to mention that in Pittsburgh there’s a huge vacant/abandoned housing issue. We don’t need more, ugly eye sores being built by rich consumers, we need the community to help revitalize what we already have.
@@LapeyLou As you siad, as a designer, they don't fit or maintaine or express any character, but the main thing is what the owner are going to value: Quick, energy efficient, cost, maintain the fabric quality and the use of a small piece of land to fit a house on that. But the best I think is what it's expressed in the video. Start constructing a house four just 2 persons with the posibility of later build more over it. I guess with time there will be more models to be able to reach some architectural aesthetic to this. but for now, primarly the confort, energy saving and cost is wining.
Great work KD ; sadly keeping a garage for renovation & top it with an above multipurpose dwelling, works best than gentrification demolitions.
Awesome house....not liking the stripes on the exterior. I'm an artist and I dont see how they connect to the dragon in the garden. Also, why would you not have a tub as well?? Not mention it should be an on demand water heater!!!
Maurice Powers I agree too with the color scheme and don’t like it at all. I gave the video a like because I like the ideas but they can be even more thought out. Yet I think it comes down to budget.
Maurice Powers as far as a tub I think because it’s for their elderly parents who may even use a wheelchair this is more effective and efficient. Just my thoughts.
I only thought of this as the bathroom was much larger than I wouldn’t have thought with such a small place.
I did like the bedroom and most of the ideas and layouts. Also the construction time were all positives
@@starlitekaraoke113 Yeah the bedroom was the best part. But I think they could have put a tub like a Japanese soaking tub and a shower and consider elderly.
Bleh Bleh no one is whinnying. It’s just saying some things we would do differently. Or am I wrong and you’re actually saying winning and it was a typo because of the ability to change as you go?
cuz it's so small
Watching this at work, on Smallman street!!
This is a great solution, but I wonder about someone being able to pay for a lot and foundation/water/electric, etc, along with this starter home. If they're below the col already so they have to be part of this plan, in order to make ends meet, I'd speculate that it is still a 'rich man's' life.
Not much living room, or comfortable furniture/couch, etc.
The homeowners shown here are not Pittsburgh natives... they probably came here with Google or Amazon, and brought their San Francisco life with them.
So many critics here.
If one takes a moment to observe, without immediately launching into harsh judgement, I think it is easy to see how the intention behind this build comes from a place of intelligence and vision.
I've been actively involved in the building trades for forty years and I find the search for improved practices, abbreviated calendar requirements, energy efficiency/air quality, while employing a keen aesthetic, totally refreshing and inspired.
There's a 9 stall garage next door. One of those units is easily 300 sq.ft.
Rent one or more and build it. How much?😇
Brilliant concept. I'm very much for the idea of building a house for the space you need and like the prefab materials. Having more space (unless you like minimalism) requires spending and more resources. However... "affordability" is a challenge. This is why I like tiny houses. It's good to know that we do have options. We are going to see a lot more of these in the future - I'm sure.
In the alternative is a '53 foot shipping container..
Which is what my current plans incorporate. Haha.
Those can cost more to build. You've got to embrace the container and do most of it yourself.
Yep-Could have been a container clad with wood ... and a roof that's more fitting with the vernacular architecture of the community. - I'll pass!
Or just build out the garage instead of paying to have it torn down😔
This is incredible. This needs to happen everywhere.
Hi, beautiful, but the outside looks strange in the neighborhood. I think these homes are the way to go. Every city should allow these homes.
LOL, I'm not sure "neighborhood" is the technical term for "backyards" and rows of garages of other's home.
For all of you saying that a flat roof was a bad idea I’m sure that they thought of everything for the area they are working in. There is a thing called a building code that dictates what needs to be done for a roof in a high snow fall area and I’m sure they know about it seeing as they must have an architect/engineer that knows that to build you need to follow the code. The city also needs to approve the plans for the building on the lot so they must’ve shown the building plan to them in order to build on such a small lot. I hope you learned something new here and I hope you have a good day.
thus seems way overpriced for efficient built in house, then assembled, only size if a small apartment?
It should atleast be 2 to three bedrooms.
Pre fab for that would make more sense.
Someone thinking ahead is refreshing. Well done.
That multi-coloured blue siding is unfortnate.
Never in a million years is somebody going to look at it and think, oh, it must represent the arms of the octopus in the garden.
@@juancarlosmontes Yah architect is pretentious AF!
Bad taste comes pricey as well 😅
Having a cabinet depth refrigerator is absolutely wonderful! 😊
In europe we can do the same from bricks iron and concrete in 7 days. And the house is immortal.
Immortal 😂😂🥰
Awesome... Great ideal, A house that even a low income family could afford.. May GOD bless you.. Much💛💜💚💙 from North West Georgia
thats not a vacant lot, its the backyard/garage of a home.
Nice to see this innovative builder at work in one of the most interesting cities in US
only 3 minites in, but with tens of thousands of empty lots in the city, this particular one looks to leave much to be desired. maybe as i watch, this choice will be better explained.
edit: 30:33, yup, "literally in the backyard of all these other folks". ugh. but privacy is my hangup, not everyone's, i guess.
i do recognize though that this lot chose the homeowners, not the other way around. with the space they had to work with, and their goal of an older parent home, they could not have done a better job. very nice.
Exactly
Owners also own and live in the house next door.
The cost of the land was probably ZERO and so not a bad way to start for a ‘proof of concept’ experiment.
What a beautiful home and a beautiful neighbourhood.