Finding Cost Savings In Conventional Construction Methods

A builder in the U.S. northwest argues that it is possible to lower construction costs, using conventional methods, without sacrificing quality. In the article below Mike Steffan, the builder,...

An Affordable Home Built Of Two Schnøer and a Floöka? Why Not Bring IKEA Design To An Entire House?

Or bring IKEA design principles to entire housing estates, for that matter? Ikea flat-pack home furnishings are an economical legend in their time. So how come Ikea hasn't invaded the entire...

US Affordable Housing Supply — Sabotaged!

A recent study by two U.S. economists demonstrates how national homebuilders can effectively sabotage the free market, building fewer homes to their great convenience and profit. In response to cries...

Carbon Emissions: A Death Knell For On-Site Public Housing Construction?

When it comes to housing construction these days, it's more than a challenge to keep up with the Green Revolution and its requirements to prevent climate change. That's to...

Scarce Affordable Housing Innovation Gets A Boost From Famed Alabama School

In the United States, the mainstream private-enterprise building industry (let's call it 'Big Builder') is preoccupied with large, highly lucrative housing projects that range from market rate to above-market-rate...

Chicago Housing Pride: Both Beautiful And Affordable

Here's a peek at a new affordable housing development in Chicago.

A New Home In Nunavut – A Sign Of Something Bigger?

Nunavut Territory is in the far north of Canada. It is home to about 10,000 households, according to the last census. And its housing stock is in need of...

India to Share Innovative Affordable Housing Technology On The Web

India has announced that it will establish a web-based 'knowledge lab' to share developments in affordable housing technologies with states and local governments throughout the country Why is this important,...

UK Council Housing: Beginning Of The End? Or End Of The Beginning?

The future of council housing in England has changed considerably since 1981, when 32% of all of the country's households lived in it. At that time, the government had provided...

Burst A Planning Permission Bubble To Allow A Flood Of New Housing! Really?

'Gentle Densification' is one way (in the United Kingdom at least) to build more housing in a world gone unaffordably mad as housing 'financialization' forces housing prices up and...

“Everyone Delivers Houses In days, Except Here. ” So What’s The Problem, America?

The problem? That would seem to be a cozy, profitable North American building industry, set in its ways. Winds of change blowing? No problem, propagandize rather than change. An example?...

Affordable Housing Needs Builders Even Before Designers. Wha . . ?

It seems that pre-construction planning is a 'thing'. As opposed to planning before (in other words — pre) construction. That's just planning. Who knew? Not only that, pre-construction planning is...

Cubes of Wombat Poo: An Affordable Housing Construction Inspiration?

In a natural world of a gazillion beautiful curvy shapes, one in particular stands out: wombat poo, or poop if you prefer. We'll pause here while you revert to late-preadolescence...

Beijing Rains On The Affordable Public Housing Parade

For the past few decades, governments and businesses alike have made forceful claims that private enterprise can manipulate the free housing market to better house the world, from the richest...

Affordable Apartments In Zurich: Neobrutalism(?) Rears Its Ugly Beautiful Head

A cynic might claim that, beyond an interesting design, there is nothing new in a Gus Wüstermann all-concrete medium-rise affordable housing project in Zurich, Switzerland. The cement is long dry...

‘Don’t Stop The Financial Music’ And Other Conservative Affordability Fixes

Free market devotees are getting rather boxed into a corner these days when it comes to proposing solutions for affordable housing crises. There are still hopeful cries everywhere from the...

Free Market Affordable Housing: A Unicorn? IKEA & Padsplit Don’t Think So

In no small part, affordable housing is a victim of housing industry propaganda, not actual facts. The housing industry, by and large, sings a two-note song. The high note: luxury...

Calling All American Housing ‘Entities:’ Affordable Housing Challenge With Important Payoff

Entites? Whether you belong to a for-profit, non-profit, or a TDHETDHE — Tribally Designated Housing Entity entity, two other corporate 'entities' have an affordable housing challenge for your consideration. Wells...

Back To The Future: CMHC’s Award Winning Floor Plans For Small Houses

February 1, 2019. Homes for Canadians. The Canadian Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) 'THERE has long been an urgent demand in Canada for new, attractive designs of low or moderate-cost...

Green and Mean — Sustainable Affordable Housing: Why Not Try Bamboo?

Nations already struggle to provide affordable shelter for all. How does this objective fare in the face of a new worldwide urgency to find green solutions in all aspects...

Cherished Steel Houses?

Just when you think you've heard the last word about shipping containers, along comes a new story. Iron panels have worked very well as exterior cladding on houses in Iceland....

3.5 Million People With A Brighter Housing Future, Thanks To Habitat For Humanity

With its fundraising skills and huge volunteer pool, Habitat for Humanity has become a powerhouse charity in the construction of affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity published its Annual Report...

The ‘Double-Wide’ Concept Comes To Affordable Shipping Container Homes

In the tiny, affordable house department, shipping containers seem to be always the bridesmaids, never quite the bride. The public is periodically introduced to intriguing new designs based on...

Tempest In An Unoccupied Teapot: Homeless-Ravaged UK Has Too Many Homes

Prior to and during the pandemic, United Kingdom builders have had the same attitude as North American Builders — "Build, Build, Build!" That attitude in the United States has...

Home Builders’ Solution: Higher Wages Can Make Our Products Affordable

A series of economic miracles that definitely do not depend on government interference is apparently due to occur. It will benefit young people as well as seniors with little...

UK Heavy Metal Housing: From Solo Practice To Concert Perfection

The last few years have seen experimental 'cargotecture' experiments worldwide. The base of this affordable housing is the widely available shipping container, retired from seagoing duties but still full...

Social/Public Housing An Aboriginal Disaster? Why Not Papakāinga?

There would seem to be nothing quite as catastrophic as Inuit housing in Canada's far north, where much of the population was forcibly resettled much less than a century...

Portland Economy Wolves Huff And Puff At Mayor’s Affordable House Of Sticks

A 'pricy' affordable housing project has Portland, Oregon's mayor Ted Wheeler on the defensive after blessing an unusual construction technique. The unusual? The building will be the tallest in America...

Live In A ‘Parasitic’ Home? Don’t Say ‘Ick’ Or ‘Euuw,’ It Might Well Be Affordable

In the market for a 'parasitic' home? It might be a tough sell with such a name. People tend to think of parasites as bad, even though everyone is...
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