Can a prefab smart house developed by MIT transform architecture? Could it replace architects?
"The home-building industry could be transformed, MIT researchers argue, if it adopted the mass-customization methods being introduced in other industries...In much the same way that Lands' End, Nike, Ford, and BMW are investigating computer-based manufacturing to offer customers swappable or "mass-customized" components for their jeans, sneakers, and cars, so could thousands of unique house parts be customized to buyers' demands...announced the formation of the Open Source Building Alliance, adopting the modish programmer terminology to depict a modular, component-based, everyone's-invited approach to building...When customers can "design" their own houses--customizing their preferences online from a menu of choices as they might a computer--what is left for architects to do?"
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Living For Tomorrow
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop
When it comes to solving traffic problems, the current federal administration is on track for failure, waste, and hypocrisy.
Can Geothermal Energy Fuel Hawaiʻi’s Future?
Gavin Murphy, a New Zealand-based consultant with experience in indigenous-led geothermal projects, argues that Hawaiʻi is poised to achieve energy independence and economic growth by respectfully developing its untapped geothermal resources.
Climate Gardening: Cultivating Resilient Landscapes in Los Angeles
TreePeople’s 4th Annual Urban Soil Symposium explored how climate gardening, soil health, and collaborative land management strategies can enhance urban resilience in the face of climate change.
Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California
California now has 48% more electric vehicle chargers than gasoline nozzles, reflecting its rapid shift toward clean transportation and aggressive zero-emission goals despite federal pushback.
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