In Knoxville, Tennessee architects have turned a mobile home into a new “industrial-chic ‘i-house’.” Some say the home got its name because the long core of the home (the mobile trailer) as the base of the “i” and the guest-room office which is box-shaped is the i’s dot. But the builder’s CEO argues that the “i” in “i-home” stands for innovation, inspiration, intelligence and integration.
The concept was originally constructed as a moderately priced “plug and play” dwelling for the many environmentally conscious homebuyers. The innovative green home features solar panels, as well as numerous energy-saving products. Builders believe that the estimated costs for electricity and heating is around $1 per day. The price of the i-home is around $100-$130 a square foot depending on amenities and add-ons. Compared to a traditionally built house at around $200-$300 a square foot, this could be a really big product for the builder, especially if you consider these homes are eco-friendly too.
A prototype was unveiled in Knoxville and was priced around $140,000. This included a fully furnished 1,000 square foot model, with a master bedroom, full bath, open kitchen and living room. There is Ikea cabinetry, two ground-level deck areas as well as a separate “flex room” with a second full bath and second story deck with a canopy. That sounds pretty innovative to me, they may have started with the metal base but they definitely turned it into something beautiful, unique and sell able.
For more about these “i-homes” go to: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090506/ap_on_re_us/us_clayton_i_house
