Isn't it nice when something which you'd consigned to that category of 'interesting but untraceable' suddenly crosses your path again, and you're suddenly able to put a name to it? I remember seeing a picture in a newspaper, many years ago, of Zedfactory's Hope House, and its intriguing conservatory arrangement - and thinking 'wow, how cool! When I build my own house I'd like something like that." Of course, the article didn't have any information about it, and I was a busy bunny so I didn't bother chasing it up. But today I'm browsing worldchanging (there's a link on my homepage, I can't be bothered) and I find an article about their Jubilee Wharf project, down in Penryn in Cornwall. And being interested in this sort of ecodesign stuff, I explore their website a bit, and lo and behold! It's a house with a crazy conservatory! Yay!Also, while I'm on the subject, found this on Inhabitat. That's a prefab house?! Wow! Just look at it:
I want one. Compare and contrast with ZEDfactory's RuralZed prefab: Worthy, I'm sure, and I love the fact that they mention one of my favourite architectural features (lots of really heavy thermal mass to regulate temperature) but really, yuk. Their nice pictures of small towns made of these things are rather alarming. C'mon guys,I'm sure it works brilliantly, but D minus for aesthetics.
13 comments:
This is really good stuff, Matt! I love conservatories, and this one definitely puts a spin on the traditional. It is difficult to believe that is a prefab house! It has elegant lines. One could almost imagine it in Architectural Digest. Great finds. Thanks for sharing. Now I am off to worldchanging....
These are presumably the people behind the rather nice BedZED housing too.
BedZED was designed by the architect Bill Dunster whose home is pictured upper right here on Matt's page.
LEED platinum factory built house that looks like that? [drool]
It is a stunner, isn't it? Does anyone have an idea what their prices are?
$250/sf + design costs, transportation, foundation, land, installation. They say that's about 20% - 40% less than a similar home, were it not modular.
Let's see... it looks like the model pictured is 3,100 sf, so that's about $775,000. That certainly sounds like a lot, especially since you still have to put it somewhere, but 3,100 sf is a huge house (at least around here it is). Plus glass is quite expensive, especially when done well. I can imagine a market for this.
It's still architect-designed, so I'm guessing the modularity is fairly low-level (not like those Japanese all-in bathroom modules). But hey, it's factory-built - maybe, if we all order one, the price will go down...
By the way, I'm on a train! Wireless network on a train! How cool is that? Brilliant. And free, too. I love first class.
Where is your destination, Moom?
London, to see mon amour. Currently just left Darlington, so a couple of hours to go yet... where's that bloke with the tea trolley?
Have a great trip and a wonderful time. I've alerted the staff. Tea is forthcoming.
Ah yes. Splendid. Thanks, charl.
Anytime, pal!
And you didn't call in to say hello.
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