It might be the house-sized curtains that really get us, but we think this simple structure, touted by the architects as green because of its construction materials and double-roof design, is rather stunning. The stark lines of the industrial-looking rooftop are met with the warmth of a home nestled underneath. Want to know what else is pretty impressive about it?
This home kit is called the PopUP House, by House Port. It consists of a prefabbed House Port (the large freestanding roof), prefab wall panels for the "Cubes" (or the house that you see underneath the port), and, thankfully, an instruction manual and DVD. It's bare bones, but we do like the way it's described on the House Port home page:
Hally Thacher’s PopUP House represents a new, clean, simple concept in architecture that marries the image of Apple™ with the ease of assembly of Ikea™ and has a construction cost of less than $100 per square foot.
Granted, that $100 per square foot does not include any accoutrements; so furnishing the home with flooring, appliances, and more is up to the builder. And that also means it's up to the builder to decide just how green to make this green prefab home.
Overall, though, it seems like "affordable prefab" is becoming more and more attainable.
Via Treehugger. Images: House Port.
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It's an interesting idea, but since it creates an indoor/outdoor space (ie. the area between the pop up structure and a roof, it seems like a wasted opportunity.
if the home's roof is flat, it could make a beautiful roof balcony/garden. Imagine if you could hang seats from the roof of the port! I love this idea.
@comicgeek- the space between the pop up structure and the roof creates shade and airflow to keep the house cool in the summer without ac!
this design would be genius in the south in hot climates. The double roof design would have a dramatic cooling effect. I don't think it would eliminate the need for ac (am I the only person that lives somewhere regularly 95-100 degrees continously for most of the summer?), but it would substantially reduce energy needs.
I, too, live in an area of blistering summers, but I'm concerned about the local wildlife taking refuge on the inside roof area. This will not withstand high wind areas, but would probably be good in CA, AZ and NM. I have to get beyond my initial prejudices of this looking like either a pool house or a hay barn.
Look at Fab Cab out of Seattle- even cooler.