Undeterred by the worst housing market since, well, people lived in caves, EcoUrban has worked with local architects E + U to develop some boss new 1-story models and is hereby subjecting them to your (fine Urban STLers) unflinching gaze.



Please feel free to comment, constructively criticize, ravage, and/or desolate our attempt.



http://ecourban.blogspot.com/



also check us out @ http://www.ecourbanhomes.com/



Cheers.

Option B, because the advantage of section is the coolest thing you can do to a house. Very nice work, youse guys.

@ captainjackass- Thanks for compliment, and I appreciate your thoughts on option B.



@ Matt Drops The H- Thanks for your comment. I agree with you on the brick-free notion, but we found we needed to go with brick mainly b/c it's required in so many neighborhoods and so many folks wanted it. The idea with these renderings was to provide something we could drop into most city neighborhoods fairly seamlessly. The good news is that we can also clad these with other materials (like Hardi) too.

Option B looks great. any chance these will be filling the three or four lots on 2600 Shenandoah? The renderings have been there for a long time, just wondering if they are still on track.

EcoUrban - great looking homes! Hey, and kudos to your for weathering the severe downturn in the real estate market.



Question: Your homes are modular? Does that imply sections of the home are constructed offsite in a manufacturing facility? How are these sections brought to the construction site? Where is the manufacturing facility? Has the general consumer in St. Louis been receptive to the "modular" approach to home construction?



Question: What is the price point of the single family dwellings?



Question: I believe the price point of your largest two-story unit is $249k? Did that prove to be a viable price in the St. Louis market?

@ urbz- Thanks for the comment, option B has definitely been getting good feedback. As far as 2600 Shenandoah is concerned, you'd have to ask 920 development. I believe they control that parcel. Would love to see something happen there soon though!



@ ttricamo- Believe me, it has been no easy task surviving the downturn. One thing that has worked to our advantage was a fairly small-scale approach to our first round of houses. That has allowed us to be fairly versatile.



We are indeed employ prefab technology. Our first round were all modular, that is offsite construction of 90% of the home. It is then shipped to site via truck and craned into place at the site. Customers have been receptive to the benefits that come with modular, ie 2x6 construction (most site built is 2x4) and the tightness/efficiency gains made as a result of this form of construction.



Overall saleability of the homes is quite contingent on land cost. Finding good, affordable yet desirable lots on which to build has been a major challenge.

I like A the best. Has a bit of a craftsman look to it (I think I'm using the right term, at least). I like the overhanging front porch.



BTW - EcoUrban, would you guys ever branch into developing green commercial buildings?

I'll throw a bone to option a. I like the front overhang, and it should contribute to passive cooling as well, no?



Is the minimalist cornice on option c a nod to the legacy architecture in the area? It's a nice touch, and IMO would enhance option b without unnecessarily cluttering the design.



-RBB

I say B followed closely by A then C and C is pretty good.



A bit of "ornamental-ness" around the top edges of the houses could really make them pop. Not like a row of lions heads or gargoyles just something subtley ornamental and they would be even more in line with old St. Louis-style housing. I like these alot.

Finally a little love for a. I think it (a) most effectively addresses the historic feel while still pushing modern in a marketable way. Seems it could effectively fit in the most neighborhoods in the Lou. That said, it seems design-minded folks prefer b.



I like the notion of a as kind of a modern craftsman. Hadn't though of that.



Also, keep in mind that c was designed to be Universally Accessible, so that bears heavily on the design.



And yes, depending on lot orientation, the overhang on a could contribute to passive cooling.



Unsure about the cornice element. Would not surprise me at all if the architects has that in mind. As I said, they were very impressive.



btw, EcoUrban has no plans for commercial. Just not our cup of tea.



Thanks again for the continuing great feedback everyone.

I will say that I like the staggered brickwork of C better than the "stacked" brickwork of A and B. I've never cared for that look - it would be a deal breaker for me.

I really like A because of that nice front porch. Then B, then C.

I think all three options are a great start. I toured the property you recently sold at 3140 Pennsylvania and thought the construction and design aesthetic were fantastic.



Here are my thoughts on these one-story plans:



Option A:

Love the facade and front porch

Back hallway to back door uses too much space.

Maybe move basement stairs to where entry closet is currently which would make room for laundry room/storage near back door.

Master bath too small (5 foot vanity is a MUST today)

I would give up 2 feet of living/dining space to give the master a walk-in closet.

Pay attention to master window placement (for furniture layout).

Back yard is a long way from the kitchen (thinking of the grill).

Have architect show where REAL furniture would fit in the plan including a TV!



Option B:

I like the porch.

Good basement stair location.

I personally wouldn't buy a home where the kitchen doesn't look into the living/dining room, but others obviously disagree.

Use of pocket doors is great in a home of this size.

No master closet???

Master bath needs a 5-foot vanity.



Option C:

Best floor plan, worst facade.

Love the patio adjacent to the kitchen and the private courtyard!

Guest bath has universal design. Would need closet doors at laundry area to be an option.

Master bath needs 5-foot vanity.

Master walk-in closet door should be left-hand and swing in.

Watch window placement in master. Where will the furniture be placed? This is a problem in a lot of the older bungalows in St. Louis. You need room for a queen sized bed, night stands, & dresser without anything going in front of a window.

I don't understand why a bed can't go under a window. I relaly don't.



Given the choices in a small room and the modern demands wth all of the Ginormouse furniture (Queen bed etc.) what's the problem? Please don't quote Feng Shui principles.

^ Agreed. I had my master and guest beds under a window for 15 years, and loved it. I could lay on my back and look at the stars, moon, and storms.

I have a problem on of my windows not being centered under the bed. Drives me nuts

what about green roofs on these puppies? Or porch / deck like space on the roof combined with some vegetation? just curious.

GelatinousEndive wrote:I don't understand why a bed can't go under a window. I relaly don't.



Given the choices in a small room and the modern demands wth all of the Ginormouse furniture (Queen bed etc.) what's the problem? Please don't quote Feng Shui principles.

In 2009 Queen beds are not considered ginormous. With the right placement of windows and door openings, a 12x12 room can accomodate a king bed, night stands, and a large dresser or armoir.



I don't know anything about Feng Shui, but I know that most NEW home buyers want a logical place to put their furniture. Symmetry is important to many people. Many current head boards are 4- and 5-feet tall. I love the idea of placing a bed UNDER a wide horizontal window, but would prefer not to put it IN FRONT OF a narrow, vertical window.



My main point is that builder's should think of how real buyers will use real furniture and design accordingly so people don't have to put dressers, TVs, etc. in front of windows.

@AvantSTL- Really appreciate the detailed comments. Re: the 5 foot vanities, walk-in closets -- As much as we'd love to include every amenity possible, with small, efficient houses like these (and at the pricepoint we're hoping to hit) we have to make some sacrifices. That said, we're going to offer a reduction in living/dining space for walk-in closet per your suggestion. Thanks again!



@scotto- I love green roofs/rooftop decks. For some reason, many contractors here are pretty fearful of drainage issues (ie they quote really high, killing the budget). We're working on it though...