patrick.net

I kind of wonder how many deaths have been attributed to people accidentally falling from upstairs railings down to the first floow in some of the open air high ceiling models.

Robert, DinOR (and others),

RE: McMansions, what's pathetic is these structures are built so close together that if your neighbor farts, you can smell it. It would be that much more energy efficient to build side-by-side, town house style residences instead, but builders are merely satisfying these people's need to feel like they actually have a single, detached house.

astrid,

For us to be able to "close off" our vaulted living room was actually fairly easy. It had been added as an "after thought" some years before so it was already segregated except for a "bi-fold" door to the dining room which was simple enough to tighten up and then a door was installed toward the back bedroom entrance. The plants seemed to love it so just left well enough alone. This was not standard by any means so I'm not sure how one would make it work in today's McMansion.

Anyone driven through Sacremento lately? I was in Lincoln, right outside of Sac about 2 months ago.Looks like a weird alien planet. There are THOUSANDS of these hige houses, right next to each other, all the same style, size, color, and all. Even the gas stations, wal-mart, Mcdonalds and other shopping centers around it are styled in the same spanish villa tera cota roof style. It was really odd.
As for me, I want a log cabin. A real one. There are companies in NC that will sell you a kit to make your own.Apparently the resale value is bad. So what. That's what I like.

Wow. “Third best”. Is that the NAR’s way of saying “sequential decline”?

Wait until they say 57th best since 1950.

As for me, I want a log cabin. A real one. There are companies in NC that will sell you a kit to make your own.Apparently the resale value is bad. So what. That’s what I like.

I want a glide house from Michelle Kaufmann.

To me, the view is more important than the house. I must feel comfortable where I am located.

newsfreak,

Thank you and it just goes to show you that everything is "in bounds" here! One of the many reasons we sold our old place was that the vault created what the MANY roofers that came to bid described as a "dead valley" We always had problems with that area of the roof and I don't want to tell you how much extra we paid to correct that. It was a mess.

Nomadtoons2,

Depending on how real you want to get, log homes are fairly easy to build with wood cords and insulation. They'll last forever and the main problem is that most people don't know how to take care of them properly.

astrid, newsfreak, and others,

The vaulted living room climbing wall idea won't fly - those walls probably won't be able to hold up a normal rock climber's weight, much less that of a fat FB and their fat kids.

Peter P,

Have you looked into recycled shipping container structures? You can fit a lot of floor length windows into one and there's no termite problems.

skibum,

I was thinking of one of those climbing rocks like you'd find at REI...unless the poorly poured foundation won't support that either...

nomad,
Instead of a log cabin (a little to Abe Lincoln for my tastes), have you ever considered a post-and-beam home? These can be do-it-yourself setups too, and they are NICE. Probably along the lines of what I'd do if I could ever custom build a home someday. That, or complete modern w/ all the energy efficiency stuff built in. I'm torn between the two.

Actually, the coolest thing I saw recently was a company in NC buying up retired passenger jets, gutting the innards, engines, etc, and offering for around 250k to deliver it to your property. You have to do the interior, but can you imagine? Those planes have a lot of interior space, plus being made of alluminum, the maintence would be zilch. You could freak out the neighbors too.

re: last post,
- to
+ too

Post and Beam? Actually, a friend of ours makes those. They don't come cheap either. But they still have that rustic feel. A family friend is putting his father's house up for sale in TN. It is a vintage 1860's log cabin, 2 stories, a built on garage, and other collection of hodge-podge add ons that makes it look sort of charming and unusual for 130k. I'm so tempted. If anything, it would probably make a nice bed and breakfast.

nomad,
Ironic post given this thread topic (bubble flight plan)!!

Have you looked into recycled shipping container structures? You can fit a lot of floor length windows into one and there’s no termite problems.

Hmm... I rather have a wood or concrete home. The idea of living in a container feels uncomfortable to me.

nomadtoons2,

I believe they call it the world's 7th largest air force, Monthan-Davis Air Base just outside of Tucson, AZ. You can see abandoned airplanes from space! I think you could get one alot cheaper!

Actually, the coolest thing I saw recently was a company in NC buying up retired passenger jets, gutting the innards, engines, etc, and offering for around 250k to deliver it to your property.

With or without wings?

Peter P,

Yeah, uh huh, 57th best year since back in 1950! I hear ya! 2007 just around the corner.

Btw, what is a "glide house" and who is Michelle Kaufman?

The vaulted living room climbing wall idea won’t fly - those walls probably won’t be able to hold up a normal rock climber’s weight, much less that of a fat FB and their fat kids.

Too funny!

Btw, what is a “glide house” and who is Michelle Kaufman?

http://www.mkd-arc.com/whatwedo/glidehouse/index.cfm

Nomad,

Watch out, aliens probably single out redneck houses for abductions1

Peter P,

I do find her Breeze house to be even nicer. Too expensive though. The QuikHouse gives similar space with about half the cost.

I do find her Breeze house to be even nicer. Too expensive though. The QuikHouse gives similar space with about half the cost.

Somehow I am more attracted to the simplicity of the glide house. Need to find a lot with a good view though.

Peter P,

What I really love (and can't afford) are the LA study houses from the 1950s/60s. They have the most beautiful bones + amazing views.

One other way to approach the high density housing problem is to look at how the Japanese deal with it. They build beautiful interior courtyards to let in light.

What I really love (and can’t afford) are the LA study houses from the 1950s/60s. They have the most beautiful bones + amazing views.

Don't worry, make more money and buy two!

I formerly really liked Arts And Crafts style homes..until I moved out here. Every other home in the Bay Area is an arts and crafts home, and it seems that all of them have the same front doors, little alcoves, and interiors. I like the simple clapboard farmhouses I saw a lot of in my region. They are fairly straightforward and functional inside and out. I also like the old school car garages seperate from the house with the 2 large front doors. That's the style of garage we have at our rental, and it is nice to work in there on a sunny day with both doors swung open.
For some reason I also like the work of IM Pei, and his all-glass house from the 50's.

Peter P,

Most interesting! It's refreshing to see someone actually following through with their design. Most home/home improvement shows run an "obligatory" show on solar or "green" homes and then it's right back to pergraniteel and faux brick facades! Now that these are in actual production I'd be curious to know if there is franchise potential or dealership affiliations. This would sell well in OR particularly on our coast where exterior maint. is such an issue (and and eye sore)!

I think I'd have to be a Hollywood mini-mogul to afford one of these places. There's only a handful of those in existence.

The sad thing is that the original clients were just doctors and lawyers. Now normal doctors and lawyers can't even dream about living in one of those places.

One other way to approach the high density housing problem is to look at how the Japanese deal with it. They build beautiful interior courtyards to let in light.

I rather have a few 40 story tower so that we can get more open space.

For example, 20 acres of land can accommodate 160 one-eighth-acre homesites. However, if we have just one 40 story tower with 4 "flats" on each level, everyone can share the open space!

Most interesting! It’s refreshing to see someone actually following through with their design.

Very true. I saw her promoting the breezehouse in Menlo Park last year. She is genuine. We need more people like her.

Now that these are in actual production I’d be curious to know if there is franchise potential or dealership affiliations. This would sell well in OR particularly on our coast where exterior maint. is such an issue (and and eye sore)!

They definitely sell in OR. Their factories are all in the Pacific Northwest.

I just laugh alot about the overuse of the word "homeowner". If someone owes more than 50% on a house, they should be refered to as their rightful name homedeptor. I see so many signs all around "For Sale by Owner", because they can't afford to pay real estate commisions, these signs should read "For Sale by Homedeptor" instead!

Now the realthores are thinking about giving up part of their commision to the buyer (How nice of them!).

"Finding the house is probably 75 percent of the work," says Joe Fox, CEO of BuySide, one of those new, Web-based businesses. "Why not give [buyers] 75 percent of the commission?"

Peter P,

I like high density housing too. I used the Japanese example to highlight a solution to pre-existing sub-optimal building sites.

Though skyscrapers only really work in mountainous terrains or facing the ocean. Otherwise, they leave such a large footprint that they block out views and the sun for other buildings. The other concern is with natural light in such buildings.

"homedeptor"????

Though skyscrapers only really work in mountainous terrains or facing the ocean. Otherwise, they leave such a large footprint that they block out views and the sun for other buildings. The other concern is with natural light in such buildings.

True. But I rather live in a condo tower with 15+ acres surrounding open space than a house that is detached only by definition. :)

Peter P Says:

I rather have a few 40 story tower so that we can get more open space.

Sounds like Le Corbusier. Look where that's gotten the French these days! Speaking of Bauhaus, some of the other ideas w/ respect to architechture are very cool.

More practically speaking, though, for the BA what do people think about Eichlers? I personally like them aesthetically speaking, especially if they've been updated.

More practically speaking, though, for the BA what do people think about Eichlers? I personally like them aesthetically speaking, especially if they’ve been updated.

Eichlers? The only problem is the exposed beams. It is a feng shui challenge. (I am a New Age guy)

I am a big fan of modular homes.

Peter P,

I think there's a good mid point between ultra modern skyscrapers and subdivision hell. There's some good designs for 4-5 floor high multifamily communities. With good landscape design, you'd get most of the open space as you would with taller buildings, but they they can be designed to look less out of place and have less of an impact on the overall cityscape.

There’s some good designs for 4-5 floor high multifamily communities.

Perhaps. A 5-story building on 2 acres with 10 half-floor condos may work.