01-14-2010, 02:44 AM
mella I;
I had the opportunity to tour an MK design home in San Francisco. The designer made innovative use of common materials, such as corrugated steel roofing panels for siding, and extensive use of concrete for counter tops, etc. My immediate feeling was that the home I saw was very stark and sterile inside. All hard surface, quite a bit of bright metal exposed, with steel rod bracing inside highlighted as an architectural feature. Very Japanese minimalist in feeling. (Or, as you remarked, 'doable with containers')
The higher windows were fixed, non accessible to open for trade wind flow through. Since this type of home has mostly flat roofs with no overhang, they appear to be designed for areas of moderate to low rainfall. The windows are not shaded, so would be best in an area where passive solar heat is required. In Hawaii, probably only suitable for upland locations with temperate climate, not a lot of rain.
As to cost, the website says for a 'pre-manufactured' unit, $250 to $400 per square foot in the lower 48. Add extra for ocean freight and imported labor cost to build in Hawaii.
I went as an enthusiast, and was impressed by the use of space and the clean lines, but I believe that the design would be very difficult to implement in a sub tropical climate without the extensive use of air conditioning or a complete re-vamp of the roof system.
Bottom line, MK designs closed this operation recently, saying that in this financial climate the project was no longer sustainable.
I had the opportunity to tour an MK design home in San Francisco. The designer made innovative use of common materials, such as corrugated steel roofing panels for siding, and extensive use of concrete for counter tops, etc. My immediate feeling was that the home I saw was very stark and sterile inside. All hard surface, quite a bit of bright metal exposed, with steel rod bracing inside highlighted as an architectural feature. Very Japanese minimalist in feeling. (Or, as you remarked, 'doable with containers')
The higher windows were fixed, non accessible to open for trade wind flow through. Since this type of home has mostly flat roofs with no overhang, they appear to be designed for areas of moderate to low rainfall. The windows are not shaded, so would be best in an area where passive solar heat is required. In Hawaii, probably only suitable for upland locations with temperate climate, not a lot of rain.
As to cost, the website says for a 'pre-manufactured' unit, $250 to $400 per square foot in the lower 48. Add extra for ocean freight and imported labor cost to build in Hawaii.
I went as an enthusiast, and was impressed by the use of space and the clean lines, but I believe that the design would be very difficult to implement in a sub tropical climate without the extensive use of air conditioning or a complete re-vamp of the roof system.
Bottom line, MK designs closed this operation recently, saying that in this financial climate the project was no longer sustainable.