| > […] so they don't have a strong incentive to hire skilled architects for the relatively small amount of custom work that comes in (I fell into this category). I'm led to believe that they hire draftsmen instead of architects. If you're going to go with a vendor with a 'catalogue' of prefab plans, then I would think you'd want to choose from their pre-designed plans. There's a middle-ground between completely prefab catalogue plans, and stuff that's built by on-site carpenters (which aren't a bad option if you're doing custom) doing 'stick built': and that's to hire a company that specifically does custom prefab frame walls: * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnnwJi40Wzo * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl3_bo-XWGQ Also using floor trusses to have no internal load-bearing walls and easier running of utilities: * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysT3zXkFGB8 'Completing' the build, prefab foundation walls: * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XZBkqlAnrw |
While architects can be talented and make a great design on so many levels, can they really fully optimize space for usability and features to a deep level? I just think of RV interior design, which amazes me sometimes with the ingenious use of space that is clearly the result of dozens of rounds of iterative design over the year.
Not that a house should be that crazy (aside from the tiny house movement) with maximizing space, but if there were industrial production, then you could get to deep optimization of the floor design.
What always strikes me with (american suburban) houses, is that they are very inefficient at vertical storage of things like clothes, dishes, and a ton of other housewares that you need on a daily basis (so you don't dump them in the basement). I walk through 3000 and 4000 sqft houses and they are only marginally better than a well designed 2000 sqft house in usability.