Totally Mod
My explorations into first-time home-buying in Boston last Spring were not entirely fruitless — I saw that the notion of buying in Boston was, which is something. But I also started to think a little more outside — or actually inside — the box. I'm a huge fan of mid-century modern design, which is making a comeback (think Mad Men), and started seeing Scandinavian-style modular homes with lots of wood accents and windows as an affordable long-run alternative.
Housingwise, I am definitely not a size queen. I think quaint and cozy is seriously underrated. What's important to me is to have enough private space in a dwelling for an escape from the madding crowd (without resorting to a Panic Room). I don't need a wing, a nook will do (the nook in the new place is coming along, by the way — just slapped on a coat of paint).
What I'd like is a "great room" space with a hearth (because a house is not a home without one) that opens onto a garden — a view would be great, too, but a garden would certainly suffice. I grew up in a little midwestern ranch-style house, and have never felt the need for a second story — I can imagine a simple low-slung building with an inner courtyard.
The clean, modern, linear design of many modulars on the market today appeals to my eye. And the idea of economizing with the elements appeals to my intellect. So when I saw this article in the New York Times online I was thrilled. This is more or less exactly what I have in mind.
Of course, I'd like it to be secreted behind a high hedge at the very least, and have an acre or two buffer zone all around me, but as for the house, totally fab.
I love the nook. It looks just perfect. I have something like that shade of creamy yellow in my favorite room and it makes me happy.
The idea that you can cut some flowers in your garden and have them fresh in your house whenever you like (seasonally) just blows me away.
I am thrilled that Virginia won the European competition and I do like the house. I'm so glad they have begun the even-year European competitions.
I started following the Solar Decathlon after the first one and was set to go to see the 2005 competition (but Katrina) and did go in 2007. If I could travel, I would continue to go. Every house has something that is perfect and worth seeing.
As for price, in 2005, Cornell auctioned their house to raise enough money to complete it; the buyer agreed to take delivery after the competition. It went for $100,000. The Lansing, N.Y. buyer uses it for a guest house.
Last year the first-time Louisiana entry BeauSoliel won the people's choice award, probably because they served jambalaya to all comers. But they also won the very tough market viability competition. This kind of building can be done and is being done. Brad Pitt is proving it in one of the lowest income areas of New Orleans.
Mike, if you have a chance next year, go see this competion in October in Washington. It's a feast of ideas and energy and pure house joy that you owe it to yourself. Every year there are new storage solutions, new small house design solutions and quality of life enhancements by the score.
The D.O.E. Solar Decathlon site shows where all the competition houses are now. There's a village of them in Rollo Missouri. I remember the 2005 Rhode Island School of Design house that featured a roof garden. A fabulous hit. Germany, the 2007 winner included a bed that disappeared into the floor when not in use. Spain had the most stunning kitchen and a multicolored sheet copper entry way--unbelievable in such a tiny house. The incorporation of water features into the technology and esthetics of the designs has been a study in itself.
My personal small house fantasy is of the one large room with fireplace, bookshelves and level walkout into a secluded garden/patio variety but also includes an indoor/outdoor garden bath and a tall brick wall --or at least an impenetrable hedge--around the entire acre on which are lots of wonderful trees. My fantasy of frugality fell afoul of reality when I was forced to admit that I need two houses, one in the city and one in the country.
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So cool that you've been to the Solar Decathlon, Anita! And I will definitely look into going next year. This stuff fascinates me.
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The Virginia Tech house is a great little house as were most of the solar decathalon homes that were here last year. If you want to make a trip to Washington DC you should put the next solar decathalon on your calendar. It is a blast to watch them put them up then tour them and see how they work. October 2011 I believe is the next one. They are magic and the guys who build them are pretty sweet too!
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