A pal in Colorado designed a number of homes that they called "off site construction" rather than Prefab as the developer thought the term Prefab was off-putting to buyers.
I love the aesthetic of many of FLR designs but he was not particularly good at dealing with issues that flow from the necessity of getting rid of water/moisture. If the choice was between sensible construction and preserving the look and feel of his spaces he tended to favour the latter two. Be prepared for mold and rot if the updated versions of his designs have not systematically addressed the problems caused by that preference.
I wonder about not only the stairs into the high-ceiling LR/DR. I've begun questioning double height spaces in homes in general. It's a combination of the increased heating/cooling volume and, to my eyes, the fact that many high spaces don't actually add comfort and many, in fact, end up feeling overwhelming and cold (figuratively, though maybe literally as well).
I'm lucky in that my apartment (in a gutted 1904 tenement building) has roughly 9'+ ceilings. Those do indeed feel better than cookie cutter 8' ceilings. But I don't feel the need for anything higher - or to pay for heating and cooling it. Mind you I grew up in a 1980s modern house with cathedral ceilings throughout and big triangular clerestory windows. The design was dramatic, but I don't miss the high ceilings at all. And I find high flat ceilings even colder and less appealing.
Don't get me started on McMansions with pointless two-story entry halls.
We recently spent an evening at the Pope-Leighy house here in Northern Virginia, which apparently originally stood where the interstate commuter tollway now runs within walking distance of our current home. One of the Usonian homes, it does offer many of the good and bad FLW features. My dna runs too much through wet climates for me to willingly accept a flat roof. My wife has already picked out her favorite of the new designs on offer.
An appealing design, but not the most efficient form and layout if compared to ideal form / volumes such as recommended in Passive House design, or if following vernacular designs that are climate specific - peaked roof versus flat roof. Pre-fab goes through cycles of popularity. An interesting bit of Canadian built heritage is the Canadian Bank of Commerce using three pre-fab bank/residence designs for their bank branches that also housed staff, as they set up branches across western Canada being rapidly settled in the early 20th century (a prototype was built in Cobalt Ontario and two kits sent to San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire). The designs were by Darling and Pearson, Architects of Toronto, with the kits manufactured in Vancouver by British Columbia Mills, Timber and Trading. The bank/residence branch could be erected in three days. A necessity due to the shortage of materials, labour, and to keep ahead of the competing banks setting up in new towns. The quality of the kits was very high, with many of the banks and other pre-fab houses still around. Pre-fab use dwindled away, as the supply chains were established, site built buildings proved more affordable, and the need to quickly build became less of a necessity.
Your last few paragraphs were the point I was interested in: how energy efficient is this design? Could you put solar panels on the roof? Given that the HVAC system is already determined by the design, I'm guessing you have to live with the tightness of the envelope you get.
Interesting to see this. FLW definitely pushed the envelope on his designs, and they should translate well to pre cut style construction, but many of his ideas just weren't practical.
An couple of examples: A HVAC contractor I spoke with had to tell a client that they would have to jackhammer the 3" thick stone floor to fix the radiant underfloor heat, and according to the tour guide at "Fallingwater", the family that lived there called it "Rising Mildew".
So lots to learn from his work, but adapt it, don't copy it.
A pal in Colorado designed a number of homes that they called "off site construction" rather than Prefab as the developer thought the term Prefab was off-putting to buyers.
I love the aesthetic of many of FLR designs but he was not particularly good at dealing with issues that flow from the necessity of getting rid of water/moisture. If the choice was between sensible construction and preserving the look and feel of his spaces he tended to favour the latter two. Be prepared for mold and rot if the updated versions of his designs have not systematically addressed the problems caused by that preference.
I wonder about not only the stairs into the high-ceiling LR/DR. I've begun questioning double height spaces in homes in general. It's a combination of the increased heating/cooling volume and, to my eyes, the fact that many high spaces don't actually add comfort and many, in fact, end up feeling overwhelming and cold (figuratively, though maybe literally as well).
I'm lucky in that my apartment (in a gutted 1904 tenement building) has roughly 9'+ ceilings. Those do indeed feel better than cookie cutter 8' ceilings. But I don't feel the need for anything higher - or to pay for heating and cooling it. Mind you I grew up in a 1980s modern house with cathedral ceilings throughout and big triangular clerestory windows. The design was dramatic, but I don't miss the high ceilings at all. And I find high flat ceilings even colder and less appealing.
Don't get me started on McMansions with pointless two-story entry halls.
We recently spent an evening at the Pope-Leighy house here in Northern Virginia, which apparently originally stood where the interstate commuter tollway now runs within walking distance of our current home. One of the Usonian homes, it does offer many of the good and bad FLW features. My dna runs too much through wet climates for me to willingly accept a flat roof. My wife has already picked out her favorite of the new designs on offer.
Which one?
An appealing design, but not the most efficient form and layout if compared to ideal form / volumes such as recommended in Passive House design, or if following vernacular designs that are climate specific - peaked roof versus flat roof. Pre-fab goes through cycles of popularity. An interesting bit of Canadian built heritage is the Canadian Bank of Commerce using three pre-fab bank/residence designs for their bank branches that also housed staff, as they set up branches across western Canada being rapidly settled in the early 20th century (a prototype was built in Cobalt Ontario and two kits sent to San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire). The designs were by Darling and Pearson, Architects of Toronto, with the kits manufactured in Vancouver by British Columbia Mills, Timber and Trading. The bank/residence branch could be erected in three days. A necessity due to the shortage of materials, labour, and to keep ahead of the competing banks setting up in new towns. The quality of the kits was very high, with many of the banks and other pre-fab houses still around. Pre-fab use dwindled away, as the supply chains were established, site built buildings proved more affordable, and the need to quickly build became less of a necessity.
Your last few paragraphs were the point I was interested in: how energy efficient is this design? Could you put solar panels on the roof? Given that the HVAC system is already determined by the design, I'm guessing you have to live with the tightness of the envelope you get.
Interesting to see this. FLW definitely pushed the envelope on his designs, and they should translate well to pre cut style construction, but many of his ideas just weren't practical.
An couple of examples: A HVAC contractor I spoke with had to tell a client that they would have to jackhammer the 3" thick stone floor to fix the radiant underfloor heat, and according to the tour guide at "Fallingwater", the family that lived there called it "Rising Mildew".
So lots to learn from his work, but adapt it, don't copy it.
I suspect every 70 year old installation of underfloor radiant heat needs replacing, I wouldn't hold that against him.
The Ludlow