Chad Ludeman's $100K house. Image courtesy azsustainability.com.
The interior. Image courtesy goodmagazine.com.
I’m not sure it’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, but this home’s concept – build small, use little, save lots – is impossible to ignore. Chad Ludeman has almost finished his demonstration project in Philadelphia, an 1100-foot home that uses all sorts of simple innovations to save energy and money (the construction costs a mere $100,000).
The idea is to buck new construction’s trend of extravagance – massive, costly, inefficient McMansions. Ludeman’s creation is the opposite: It has been dubbed the McMini, a tiny box of a house that has lots to offer. It boasts recycled drywall, heated floors, air exchangers to maintain temperature, tankless water heaters powered by solar panels, earth-friendly paints and energy efficient appliances. If you have the latest version of Adobe Flash player, you can check out some of these features here.
It sounds like Ludeman’s main goal of affordability has meant cutting some corners of quality, so upgrades may be necessary sooner rather
than later – a definite con. But if the changes could be done with the same mind for efficiency as the rest of the home, it would be worth it.I have to admit, I’m more of a traditionalist when it comes to design; but if I were moving to Philly and looking for an inexpensive two-bedroom rowhouse, I would totally live in one of these. It would be the ultimate chance to lead by example. Like the article says, it’s just what America needs – to think small for a change.
May 8, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I think the modern, minimal design of the home looks great. I’m glad a pauper like me can get a cheap, handsome home these days.
May 8, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I think that it looks very 2000ish and I too would test it out if I moved to Philly!