Cost-Effective Design

Cost-Effective Design

• Architect Russell Versaci Advocates More Modular Construction

  He says building homes in factories keeps costs down and allows for greater design control.

   

• Recession Has Been the Mother of Innovation for Home Builders

  From tough times sprang new ideas whose action plans have made companies better operators and more competitive.

   

• BUILDER's Online Concept Home Becomes Reality

  Builders are constructing real-world versions of the Home for the New Economy in New York, South Carolina, Virginia, and Canada.

   

• Builders See Semi-Customization as the Key to Riding Out the Downturn

  Volume builders are becoming more flexible with their options, while custom builders are creating package deals and becoming more structured.

   

• Editor's Picks: 10 Coolest Houses of 2009

  Looking for a terrific house? BUILDER design editor Jenny Sullivan shares her favorites from the past year.

   

• Chasm Between Architectural Plans and Fully Fleshed Out Working Drawings

  Learn about implementing lean methods in home building.

   

• Building America Program from the NAHB Research Center

  The Research Center is working with builders and remodelers to develop cost-effective solutions for energy-efficient homes.

   

• 6 Prefab Houses That Could Change Home Building

  Affordable prices, cool design, easy delivery. What’s not to like?

   

• Renewable, Efficient Features Beat Luxury in Today’s Kitchens and Baths

  Demand for formerly must-have item multi-head showers dropped significantly in the last year, according to quarterly AIA survey on home design trends.

   

• Meeting Street Communities Combines Panelization and Traditional Neighborhood Design

  Efficient building practices allow builder to use high-quality materials on affordable townhomes.

   

• Meritage Homes Boosts Sales With Smaller, More Affordable Homes

  Builder returns to its "sweet spot" with floor plans from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet.

   

• Contemporary Design, Innovation Dominate New Products at Fireplace Show

  Manufacturers say they are committed to increasing performance and providing fresh looks.

   

• 9 Hot Design Ideas on a Budget

  You don't need a big budget to win style points. Want proof? See the pictures.

   

• KB Homes Introduces New Designs to Sell Against Resales

  Builder's “Open Series” stresses efficiency

   

• Bargain Basements

  New building code standard, ACI 332, offers builders a better alternative for building concrete basement foundations.

   

• Consumers Rethink Home-Buying Priorities, according to research from Better Homes & Gardens magazine and the National Association of Home Builders

  Buyers want ‘Wii-sized’ rooms, a home office, and energy efficiency in their next house, according to research done by the NAHB and Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

   

• Big Public Home Builders Paint Gloomy Picture of 2009 at Credit Suisse homebuilding conference

  But housing executives speaking at Credit Suisse conference predict downturn will produce opportunities for land and market share gains.

   

• Small Affordable Single Family Homes Gain Popularity

  Small houses sell when they offer three things: well-designed space, the right price, and a distinct sense of place.

   

• Florida Sets Tough Energy Code Targets

  Builders will have to cut the energy consumption of new homes by 50 percent over next decade.

   

• Entry-Level Homes Overcome Housing Slump

  A big builder perfects its entry-level pitch and beats the odds.