[Greenbuilding] prefab startup company

[John Salmen]

I have to say I have loved the concept of prefab - ever since my first
studio on the Halifax waterfront that was 'prefabricated' in England about
1730. (the lumber came from the eastern coast shipped to England and came
back on ships as a warehouse in pieces). My last studio was going to be a
trailer parked in front of cal-arts but still couldn't afford the tuition -
but was excited about creating a self-sufficient design on wheels.

 It is a wonderful opportunity for pushing boundaries a little in terms of
structure and performance. I don't see that here - 2x6 walls with full
headers????. It is a rectangular box - could be tension structure or at
least shear walls and solid insulation. In that sense it is American
vernacular architecture (I've got a skilsaw, a 6 pack, some buddies and am
going down to home depot to get the lumber...). I don't mean that to be
funny it is actually a tradition that I respect and is unique to N.A. and to
put it on a trailer gets better. I think we need a coffee table book on the
art. 

This did look like a backyard operation and I have seen a lot of those (they
wasted a tree on the cutting station) - but the concepts are appealing and
there are a lot of brilliant ideas out there. I do a lot of interior sail
boat design and the concepts for self-sufficiency are similar. Thankfully
boat design also pushes structure and performance as part of the criteria. 

Should at least be an airfoil on the mobile!

Best
John



-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of
Benjamin Pratt
Sent: October-01-12 11:01 AM
To: Green Building
Subject: [Greenbuilding] prefab startup company

Just toured the facility. Very small operation. Concept is a little
different than what I've seen in that it is designed to be able to move it
as often as they like. Does not require any electrical or water hookups.
Propane is the backup energy source, but ut should be
self-sufficient in terms of energy and water.   Almost no market
research has been done. The owner is a Swiss guy who wants it for himself
and figures other people may want the same thing. I can't be too critical.
I'm not an architect (I'm a product/furniture designer) and I want him as a
client. I am hoping to design custom green furniture for this dwelling.
   The things I saw that interested me most , were a Lohberger wood
stove/heater/water heater he had retrofitted with an emergency pump to
provide cooling with the water captured from rainwater, and a bed kind of
like this one:
http://www.swisssleepsystem.com/mobi_3_adjustable_bed.html
--interested in your input and questions Ben




-- 


b e n j a m i n p r a t t

professor art+design
the university of wisconsin stout

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