Aero house?

I've not heard of them - they seem to be a japanese company.

However the concept of a lightweight pod/modular construction is valid and doable.

We have them here constructed from a variety of materials - even shipping containers.
 
Yeah Japanese designer, trusses are manufactured in China they seem to have some potential, I have a friend who has just become obsessed with them and wants to build, but he thinks he will get it done for half of normal construction costs. I am just trying to help him think through the issues. So far I can see hurdles that will need to be overcome:

1 - They are strong laterally but not across the trusses and require either the strength of the plywood or another brace for wind
2 - Basix - they still need insulation etc
3 - Drainage, I can't see any provision for water to be captured off the roof
4 - As a result of the above, councils will need to be convinced
5 - If cladding the frames with ply and then another product cost savings may not be what first thought.
 
We have them here constructed from a variety of materials - even shipping containers.

Westminster who is your preferred "pod" manufacturer here? Our council is anti shipping container. My bud wants to build a modular home in stages. It would be good to get him some comparable options to cost against these guys. Thanks.
 
Yeah Japanese designer, trusses are manufactured in China they seem to have some potential, I have a friend who has just become obsessed with them and wants to build, but he thinks he will get it done for half of normal construction costs. I am just trying to help him think through the issues. So far I can see hurdles that will need to be overcome:

1 - They are strong laterally but not across the trusses and require either the strength of the plywood or another brace for wind
2 - Basix - they still need insulation etc
3 - Drainage, I can't see any provision for water to be captured off the roof
4 - As a result of the above, councils will need to be convinced
5 - If cladding the frames with ply and then another product cost savings may not be what first thought.

Most importantly practically none of it will be tested to comply with Australian Standards so probably can't be used, might not comply with BCA and will have to be certified at his expense that it will etc etc etc

Westminster who is your preferred "pod" manufacturer here? Our council is anti shipping container. My bud wants to build a modular home in stages. It would be good to get him some comparable options to cost against these guys. Thanks.

These are some of the ones that I think look awesome, unfortunately none of them are cheap cheap but they are ones I drool over :)

http://www.podfirst.com.au/index.php
http://www.archiblox.com.au/ (expensive but amaaaaaazing)
http://www.novadekomodular.com.au/
http://www.logixbuild.com.au/#!studio-pod/cj1m
http://prebuilt.com.au/
 
Given the number of one-off houses in build, surely a lack of certification wouldn't be that much of an issue with the Aero House product?

If there's scope for tweaking the specs then they could make the necessary changes to meet the Australia standards. For example, adding extra bracing, water recycling, etc.

Another alternative would be to look at a post and beam house. Some of the New England houses can have bays added to them easily, and there appear to be a few companies building similar things in the UK.

If the factory built model is what's attractive then take a look at some of the German companies. No idea if it would be possible to import one into Australia, but Huf Haus would be a starting point. But they fall into the reassuringly expensive bracket!

http://www.huf-haus.com/en/home.html

20f4d78e-32bb-4d21-ae73-41ff17c9bdfc_seven_hundred.jpeg
 
I have been in the building game for 35 years encompassing 3 different countries.

The problems with these type of properties are always the same,these concepts are not new to the market.

They are; 1/Trades do not receive sufficient training so many mistakes are made in the initial build and not uncovered by inspectors etc due to inexperience in a type of building which they have never encountered before.

2/Cost blow outs,again due to trades and professionals working in unfamiliar territory.

3/Future maintenance is extremely costly to impossible as builders/trades attempt to figure out both construction methods and sourcing of original materials.

I would personally steer clear of these types of dwellings until they make up a considerable percentage of the housing market,which going on my previous experience will probably be never.
 
Not quite a pod but built in Oz to BCA standards: http://prebuilt.com.auprebuilt.com.au

Thanks SNM, WM and Mush good points.

Checking out these options and I have a few good pointers for my buddy if he decides to persevere with his original.

I also know the guy that has/is/appears to be taken (taking) over this company. Will check that out too they have some good local examples down my way but not quite the sleek modernism of prebuilt.com.au
 
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