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House Like A Car

Cross modern car design with prefab homes.
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*WARNING* This is a complex design analogy so the explaination will be long. Read only this next paragraph if you don't have time.

The traditional house design is inefficient in maintainance, cost and space management, and trying to mimic traditional design with modern building materials is backwards. Instead, I propose that houses be designed like cars, with a free flowing all-in-one design.

Houses with an internal frame of steel, are cheaper than wood and will continue to be cheaper as population grows. They are also more sturdy.

The design of the House Like A Car (HLAC) would be more aerodynamic allowing it to stand up to stresses like high winds better. Roof would be made of the same material as the rest of the shell. Instead of repainting, you get touch up spray on polish and it looks like new again.

Windows doors have ways of channeling water around them, while the rest of the house shakes off water with its aerodynamic design. No, more gutter cleaning, just spray off with a hose or hire a power washing company.

The interior will have built in tables, couches and bed frames. Every space that isn't structural or insulation will be utilized for space management or storage. Most of the stuff in the house comes with it, so moving or decorating is really easy.

Houses snap into cement basements and can also be carried by helicopter.

Expansions, fit with the house design and interior walls of house have hidden window/door frames for future expansion.

sartep, Jun 26 2003

Carbicle http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Carbicle
Well integrated with this idea? (ok, you caught me - blatant plug) [Worldgineer, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Dymaxion House http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/house.html
Sort of like this [AO, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

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       And that wouldn't be an RV?
DrCurry, Jun 26 2003
  

       I saw the dymaxion house, this is why I posted that idea. Dymaxion tries to look like a house.   

       It isn't an RV cause it doesn't, can't and couldn't go anywhere. It's not recreational nor is it a vehicle.   

       An RV is efficient cause it has to be small, I'm talking full sized house. Trailors, try to look like houses and don't take advantage of most usable space.
sartep, Jun 26 2003
  

       It would rust out in 15 years, and cost twice as much as an RV.
RayfordSteele, Jun 26 2003
  

       I think what [sartep] is getting at, is a change in design approach. i.e. Don't try to improve the existing, start with a clean slate.   

       This is half-baked in SF, Heinlein's "Waldo Inc." comes to mind. The main problem I see with the idea is that people tend to resist change and will not want to invest in something radically different than what they are used to. Car design also falls under these constraints but in a less obvious way.
ato_de, Jun 26 2003
  

       RV is not designed for expansion or to be used as a house. Plastic bottom coating of the house can preserve it for longer, and it is also forgotten that the HLAC will not encounter as much salt cause it won't be on a road.   

       Ato_de, that is exactly what I'm trying to say. Yes, I do see your point.
sartep, Jun 26 2003
  

       I don't buy it.
There's a reason houses have eaves and gutters - there are places you don't want water to go.
Windows and doors already have water channeling.
I don't want my furniture to come with my house or be unmovable/unreplacable. I only spend minutes in my car each day, so my expectations for comfort and design are different there than in my home. The same with my expectations for design.
phoenix, Jun 26 2003
  

       I challenge you to come up with the program (used architecturally) to allow you to do what you say this will do. I mean actually try to lay this out, with exact locations for, say the knickknack shelf, the wall outlets, plumbing, and still allow for your expandability. You do not appreciate the problems you will encounter. And have fun lobbying all the planning departments to change their code requirements to allow this. and what about the shade and energy savings that a nice overhanging roof provides?   

       See also the Wright's usonian automatic house.
oxen crossing, Jun 26 2003
  

       Programming wouldn't be a problem; you'd just use CATIA, UG, IDEAS, or whatever just like in the auto biz. There are meetings galore, design reviews, Design FMEA's, specs, and such to handle the non-CAD issues. In fact, I suspect it will be a great deal easier than the auto biz, since spacial requirements aren't nearly so stringent, (cars are terribly complicated from an engineering / manufacturing / logistical perspective), and there's no moving, oily, hot, noxious engine to have to deal with.
RayfordSteele, Jun 26 2003
  

       Mr_imagonna. I could come up with plans but I don't have the architecture software. I don't think that should be counted against me. How the fuck do you know that I don't appriciate problems that I will encounter? I don't assume that you can't do things. And yes, as long as it conforms to the standards of a regular house it should do fine and if it doesn't, it can be my house and I can't sell it to anyone. That is still bakeable.   

       Rayford, you are correct.
sartep, Jun 26 2003
  

       I am honestly sorry I made that comment. I really don't know. For all I know, you are an accomplished architect with decades of experience; I don't know shit about your appreciation of anything. I really need to be more careful with my comments: it is not my intent to make any assumptions about your abilities. Furthermore, I appreciate the generally thoughtful tone of the discussions at the halfbakery, and will endeavor to refrain from making assumptions about anyone. I will however reserve the right to be critical about what I see as a bad idea, be it in my view impossible, not funny, repetitive, or whatever.   

       So, while you may appreciate the difficulties in executing this idea, and you may well be able to solve all the problems that will come up, in my humble opinion, it'll be a very difficult idea to execute in a way that will appeal to a lot of people as an alternative shelter. Hence, my challenge.   

       Note: I used the word program not as in computer program, but as in program, (programme in UK) plan of action for acheiving something; used by architects to refer to overall concept for all aspects of a building and site's design, NOT just plans.
oxen crossing, Jun 26 2003
  

       I am not feuding your right to be critical, just be careful of how you peg someone. It will help your future halfbaking and general sentient being relationships. Great people try to find greatness in all.   

       Apology accepted, welcome to the halfbakery. I will be out all weekend, but will try to work on this when I come back.
sartep, Jun 27 2003
  

       .
thecat, Jun 27 2003
  

       what sartep said. not sure what thecat is struggling with, it might be a furball - hit him on the back someone.
po, Jun 27 2003
  

       Who are you calling him!
thecat, Jun 27 2003
  

       Umm, like Kreuner, voices in my head are saying "caravan". Think I'll lie down for a bit.
git, Jun 29 2003
  


 

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