By Peter Levelle, Designer

On March 17, Undercurrents embarked on its first outing—a discussion entitled BetterHomeBuilding. (Undercurrents is a staff-initiated design forum: a platform for the development of ideas and design through experience and inter-studio cross-pollination.) The gathering was presented by the Architect’s Newspaper and moderated by Sam Lubell, with panelists William Krisel, Leo Marmol, Zoltan Pali, Harlan Lee, and Neal Payton. Builders and architects were invited to discuss improving the architectural quality of residential developments and how to get architects more involved with mass-produced and tract housing.

The panel discussion started out with the question, “why is modern architecture shut out from developed tract homes?” Answer: cost. Among the many factors that influence the decisions of developers who build tract homes, a major factor is cost. The cost of post and beam construction, the cost of materials, and the unpredictable resale value of ‘modern’ architecture causes builders to shy away from designer-driven spaces.

In a market-driven world, architects must creatively employ standardization to bring the cost down. Some suggestions to reduce cost included: 1. Taking micromanagement out of the equation, 2. Treat the house as a product, 3. Use a modular/prefab system, and 4. Use pragmatism of perceived style.

Another way of looking at better home building is to prioritize quality over style. While architects like Leo Marmol and Zoltan Pali are building quality design, their $600-800/SF cannot compete with the $45/ SF house that the Orange County developer claims he is building.

Aesthetics, and defining “modern,” was also a topic passionately debated. Among architects there was a tendency to think that contemporary architecture was superior to the vernacular style in residential design. One architect posed the question, “Why should we let the public drive style?” One suggestion was that perhaps most people want to live in a traditional environment, but work in a modern environment. By the end of the discussion, the passion and tension in the gallery put everyone at the edge of their seats—solidifying an interesting evening of discourse.

What is your opinion on modernizing tract homes? Join the conversation, leave a comment.