> It's also a lot harder to make more efficient. Housing isn't manufactured in large factories where you can optimize every step of the process—instead, it's done by lots and lots of local firms. This leads to vast differences in the level of efficiency.
> There's also the problem that there is still a social stigma against "generic" housing. Having the same phone as everyone else isn't looked down upon, but mass-produced homes carry a definite negative connotation. People look down on cookie-cutter condos or manufactured homes.
Agreed on both points.
The firm Elemental Architecture utilizes 'incremental building' to help improve the efficiency of housing construction while simultaneously attempting to address the homogeneity of low cost housing projects. The idea is certainly in its nascency, but it seems like a novel approach. In short, low cost housing is constructed such that occupants are able to expand and adapt the lodging to their needs later on (paying for the materials and labor themselves).
This approach was featured in Urbanized [0] (a documentary on urban design) and later in an episode of 99% Invisible [1], among other places, I assume.
> There's also the problem that there is still a social stigma against "generic" housing. Having the same phone as everyone else isn't looked down upon, but mass-produced homes carry a definite negative connotation. People look down on cookie-cutter condos or manufactured homes.
Agreed on both points.
The firm Elemental Architecture utilizes 'incremental building' to help improve the efficiency of housing construction while simultaneously attempting to address the homogeneity of low cost housing projects. The idea is certainly in its nascency, but it seems like a novel approach. In short, low cost housing is constructed such that occupants are able to expand and adapt the lodging to their needs later on (paying for the materials and labor themselves).
This approach was featured in Urbanized [0] (a documentary on urban design) and later in an episode of 99% Invisible [1], among other places, I assume.
[0] http://www.hustwit.com/category/urbanized/
[1] http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/half-a-house/