Modular For The Mainstream?

One of our faithful readers sent us a link to an interesting article on modular building and the push towards making these buildings more mainstream. Even though there has been a rise in the interest among consumers for this type of building, it seems marketing and a perception of low-quality design is holding the industry in limbo. As stated in the article:

Devising more attractively designed products corresponds, for some manufacturers, with their move toward a build-to-order business model. “The industry has to figure out how to mass-produce and market customizable homes,” says the NMHC's Long. Grant Smereczynsky, CEO of Building Systems Network, which offers 450 unique designs and is one of Garnett's clients, calls customization “the future of this industry.” And Murray of HandCrafted Homes, whose sales rose 20 percent in 2006, says that the “big change” for his company in recent years has been “our willingness to meet buyers' demands through customization” in such areas as roof design and module width. “We want customers to tell us what they want to buy and we'll build it.”

Design flexibility is also becoming important to modular manufacturers that are venturing into multifamily construction, which many see as their best opportunity for growth. “As modular has gotten a foothold into urban redevelopment, oftentimes there needs to be an architect involved,” explains John Guequierre, president of Pleasant Street Homes, which has manufactured houses that sold from $40,000 to $10 million. “And as we develop the ability to get out of the one-story rectangle, we can get into just about anything.”

We wholeheartedly stand behind the notion of better design and the modular building concept (it saves a lot of time, money and most importantly--construction waste byproduct.) However, the article shows examples of what these builders are offering as modular designs and it does cause some concern. The homes pictured still resemble titanic land gobblers -- a modular McMansion is still a McMansion. We need to move past the "warehouse" mentality in our housing (traditionally built or otherwise) and think about living a principled lifestyle--especially "Less Becomes More."

Check out the article and let us know what you think! Plus, if anyone wants to share any links to builders who are designing/producing "PrairieMod-minded" modular buildings, let us know and we'll be happy to showcase them.

Photo copyright ebuild.com

Comments

[mod*mom]

i hear ya! mcmansions are mcgross