The Glidehouse: A Modern & Sustainable House
The Glidehouse is a modern, sustainable home of the future. Built in a factory and shipped to your location, it is surprisingly affordable. It creates its own energy and is built with environmentally friendly materials.
You’d never guess this eco-savvy home was built in a factory in just 19 days DANIEL GREGORY — June 2, 2008
Features
This Glidehouse has 1,344 square feet, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. It arrives at its location with lightweight composite concrete countertops, birch veneer built-in cabinetry, slate tile backsplash, bathroom vanities, bamboo floor, and paint.
Designed by Michelle Kaufman and her husband, The Glidehouse does not boast “mobile home”. Instead, its modern California bungalow-style has high ceilings and a permanent foundation.
Modules are built in a factory and brought to the location where it is assembled. This process is immensely quicker than typical construction from suburban home companies. These homes can be built in as little as 19 days!
The kitchen, living, and dining room are in one module. The large glass sliding doors keep the room bright and airy. The master suite, guest bedroom, and guest bathroom are located in the other module.
Why Glidehouses Are The Housing Of The Future
Typical quality construction starts around $250 per square foot, and it only gets exponentially larger from there. However, the Glidehouses cost around $120 to $160 per square foot, depending on the features selected.
The Glidehouses are very environmentally friendly. It creates its own energy and has many energy-conserving features. This Glidehouse design included bamboo floors, recycled paper and fly ash countertops, a tankless water heater, and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint.
Sustainability and a low-carbon footprint are very important in today’s day and age. These homes are built in a factory very quickly, and little material is wasted. Glidehomes could also help lower-income people afford modern and eco-friendly housing.
Takeaway
We can learn a lot from the design of Glidehomes. Companies do not have to necessarily start manufacturing Glidehomes, but they can integrate the ideas and concepts of The Glidehome into new houses and construction. While it’s not feasible for all houses and buildings to be eco-friendly, The Glidehome is a start.
But The Glidehome is more than a house. It is a movement. It is a petition, for fast, affordable, modern, and eco-friendly housing for all.
