Land+Living: Compact Houses

Books — August 8, 2005 Posted by Anthony

Architecture for the Environment

Available in September, Compact Houses by Marta Serrats and Universe Publishing:

"In an age of "McMansions," this international survey of the latest in residential architecture proves that small is beautiful-and responsible. The houses profiled are designed to make maximum use of the smallest possible footprint in order to protect the environment. The houses profiled here prove that efficiency as well as beautiful, thoughtful design can be had in a tiny setting. Each project includes a case history describing its design challenges and how the architect overcame them, a detailed blueprint for each house, full-color photos of the interior and the exterior, and plans of the layout."

Author: Marta Serrats
Link: Universe Publishing

19 comments

Comments (19)

merideth — August 9, 2005
hooray for small!

As a resident of the sf bay area, we have first hand experience with just how little space people need to live comfortably. It infuriates me to hear of/see 4000sf home for families of 4 (or fewer). It's a ridiculous waste of resources. This book beautifully illustrates alternatives to the aforementioned "mcmansions."

Anonymous — August 9, 2005
RE: cover picture

small house huge lot, this is probably a guest house in the back yard.

Anthony — August 9, 2005
RE: cover picture

The publisher mentions, "the houses profiled are designed to make maximum use of the smallest possible footprint in order to protect the environment" so based on that, regardless of how big the lot may or may not be, with only a picture to judge from, I'd say that goal was met. For all we know, that picture could've been taken from the curb.

MEP — August 9, 2005
One question remains

Great, the houses are small. Glad to see it. Now do they cost the same as the 4000sq ft monstrosity simply because they're of a "modern" design (like nearly everything else that is modern contemporary). As well-meaning as this is, it won't make a damn bit of difference if the average person can't afford it. I personally love modern furniture, but I really don't own any because I can't spend thousands of dollars per piece. I wouldn't mind living in a small, well-designed house and I certainly would like to pat myself on the back for being responsible about that sort of thing. But can I afford to?

Anthony — August 9, 2005
re: One question remains

Since the book has yet to be published, I don't know for sure but my guess is the houses featured do cost more than a comparitively sized cookie-cutter home. If affordability was the focus of the book, then I'm sure the title would reflect that. However, I would like to think that as compact and/or green housing matures and consumers move away from the McMansion mentality, developers will begin to introduce smaller homes that are affordable to the "average person". Just a few years ago, consumers paid a premium for hybrid vehicles. As the demand for them increased, more manufacturers began producing them and prices have started to come down. Maybe the same will happen to the market for compact housing? Just a thought....

James — August 9, 2005
Cost of modern

This is a great question, MEP, as there is a common misconception that modern design costs more. It simply is not the case. I work in the architectural field and we do not estimate cost per square foot based on "style" but on finishes, materials and structural needs. Some modern designs utilize expensive structural systems to be sure, but this is not a requisite for modern design, and I have seen structural acrobatics used for traditional designs too. Some modern designs use very tight finish tolerances and high quality materials which can cost more, but the same can be said for some traditional designs. When you compare apples to apples, modern design simply does not cost more. Talking with architect Stephen Kanner at CA Boom about his 511 House (see post), the cost per square foot was typical of high end construction of any type - he used simple finish materials which kept costs down, but an elaborate steel structure which cost more. The difference came out in the wash. Now imagine using similar simple materials to spectacular modern effect, but within a standard structural system... modern is cheaper in that scenario.

MEP — August 9, 2005
A matter of focus by the designer

Modern would be cheaper in that scenario and I would very much like to see such a house. Anybody know where I could find one? My problem is not that modern necesarrily has to be more expensive. I know it's mostly about finishes and various nitpicky details that separate quality from crap. My problem is that no one seems to be making affordable modern design, and every time they point out small houses that are more socially responsible, they also happen to be more expensive (also, where are the cheaper hybrids you're talking about? At all the dealers I've been to, hybrid prices seem to be going up, not down). It is possible to construct one of these smaller homes without breaking the bank and it has been for years. But I haven't seen a coffe table book chronicling the construction and design of these homes. I'd like to see a book dedicated to that, and not just another coffee table book touting the wonders of tiny homes with massive price tags of which we already have plenty. I'd like to see the design community focus as much on economics as they do on style or the environment. Then and only then, will they make an impact on society as a whole.

MEP — August 9, 2005
511

And I'll have to look at that 511 house. Don't remember it from the other CA Boom posts I read, but I'm always interested in affordable modernism.

Anthony — August 9, 2005
Eh, you're probably right...

"also, where are the cheaper hybrids you're talking about? At all the dealers I've been to, hybrid prices seem to be going up, not down" ...I haven't shopped or priced them in a while, so the only thing I know for sure is that the selection is much greater now than it was a few years ago. I must've been thinking of the price of iPods now compared to a few years ago or some other unrelated thing :-)

Marketekt — August 10, 2005
Judge a Book by its cover?

The preconceptions about the content of this book (that is yet to be released) and small(er), well designed dwellings in the US are somewhat mind-boggling to me. There are plenty of affordable housing projects all over the world dressed in a modernist vocabulary, as well as in this country, so why should it be so hard for US developers and builders to follow suit? The laws of supply and demand come to mind when one looks at the market, and economies of scale cannot be taken advantage of if modernist dwellings are only built sporadically, and, thus, custom designed every time. This brings us to taste in general (or lack thereof), which is hard to discuss (Mies' motto of "finding out what is good and learn to like it" has nothing to do with a market economy, unfortunately...), and cultural issues of "bigness" (the Hummer and the Suburban should have been an indicator...). A lot of folks like big stuff, and lots of stuff. Many suburban homes have their two or three car garages filled with so much crap that cars are unable to park inside. Thus, the McMansion is the "Supersize Me" of the housing market, and it is clogging our urban arteries. Cheap, big, and out of control, but as long as developers see a demand for the cookie cutter Mediterranean, they will supply them. In conclusion, unless the demand for modernist, environmentally-friendly dwellings rises significantly, the housing market will not recognize it as a profitable market. Educating the public and ourselves about the true cost of building a house might help in dispelling the uninformed notion that modernism is the “expensive” way to build. As James pointed out, no style costs more or less, but the market dictates economic viability (not unlike Hybrid Vehicles, yes, which HAVE become more affordable overall).

DAVID — August 11, 2005
Affordable Modern

MEP you might want to order this book below. $200 sq ft is on the low side of high-end custom construction. Out here in San Francisco, most contractors start at $300 for stock houses and go up into the $1000+ for high end custom. if you can build a modern house for under $200 sq ft. you are doing really well. Great Houses on a Budget Books: Jan 9, 2005 great_houses_budget_book.jpgHomes built for $200 or less per square foot. He's done a book on houses that are 1500 square feet or less, but small doesn't necessarily mean modest budget. James Grayson Trulove's Great Houses on a Budget does mean modest budget. Well, relatively inexpensive, try $200 or less per square foot. The book features fifteen in-depth case studies from each region of the USA, each with lots of photography, detailed floor plans, sections, elevations, and site plans. The cost per square foot for each house is given, and each profile discusses the construction techniques and building materials used to keep costs down. Due in May 2005, paperback, 192 pages, 300 illustrations, $19.77 at Amazon.

Szarka — August 12, 2005
Check out prefab development

I'm also in the house design business, and was recently both encouraged and dismayed to see that Rocio Romero beat me to an affordable modern house kit. Google the LV Home, and look through the tours. I want one.

e g — January 14, 2006
300 per Sq ft!

Why would what is basically a large box cost so much. Get real should easily be under 100 per sq ft.

John — February 27, 2007
Small houses - try a flat!

All this talk of small houses, if we are truly responsible we should all be living in blocks of flats and it should be socially unacceptable to flash your cash around buying a house big or small. Come on, we need to follow the Nordic countries example where nearly everyone lives in a block of flats and it is considered quite selfish to add to urban sprawl by living in individual houses with gardens.

kiana — March 27, 2007
my comment

hi.... this is a really great work, well done by in small land, the way that today's architecture is in need of. but I want to see some more pics of that, if you don't mind plz send some other pics(interior and exterior in diffrenet angles) for me. so many thanks and good job... p.s: my email is: Kianajalali@yahoo.com

sofia alia — May 5, 2007
my comment

interesting.simple contemporary concept.well done

shiloh — August 26, 2007
love the concept

I love the simple concept and use of space. I conmend you for your work.

Willie A I — November 30, 2009
compact housing in suspended form

good concept and work. Very high utilitarian value. I love to encourage de vision in nigeria through my work on 'planning compact housing as strategy for urban renewal in nigeria. I need related literature.

Willie A I — November 30, 2009

widak4u@yahoo.co,uk