Architecture, Downloaded

"Customers may choose among three Turnbull plans (they range from 650 square feet to 924 square feet) and build them on their own property. The $1,500 charge for the plans is a fraction of the 10% to 15% of construction costs normally paid to architects."

"Readymade house plans are not a new idea. You can get books thick with cookie cutter blueprints for ranch houses and split levels, and you can find thousands more at Web sites like eplans.com or garrellassociates.com."

"Of the roughly 29,000 plans sold by houseplans.com, less than 100 are by notable architects like Turnbull. But the list is growing as the company bets that designs by nationally recognized architects appeal to a broad sector of design-conscious buyers in the middle ground between high-end commissions and generic mass housing. In addition to Turnbull, their roster includes Nick Noyes, Dan Tyree and Ross Anderson, and David Wright, with more on the way."