The architectural marvel pictured above is a project called “Habitat 67” and it’s a stunning example of modular construction at work.

It was designed by Moshe Safdie and built in Montreal, Canada, in 1967 as part of Canada’s Expo 67, whose theme was “Man and His World.” Safdie created Habitat 67 to offer a glimpse of how humans might live one day in densely populated urban environments.

The structure is comprised of 354 modular, interlocking concrete cubes that create 148 living units, each with its own garden. Interestingly, although the units appear to coexist in the densest of environments, Safdie designed the space so that none of the units would share a wall with neighboring units. Safdie also intended for the structure to provide small, affordable living units – which they were initially – but the units have since skyrocketed in price due to demand and their unique nature.

When is a rest facility more than a rest facility? When its modular design allows for the addition of multiple service features as well as added sustainability and environmental friendliness.

The Ready-To-Go Rest Facility was originally designed to be used as an interstate roadside rest facility, but was modified for use in other locations, such as school athletic fields, amusement parks and golf courses. Customization and flexibility are key ingredients in this design, allowing for the addition of “bolt on” concession stands and visitor information areas (above right).

A unique floor system allows the structure to be set on a slab floor, improving “wearability” and allowing for increased system flexibility (though it can also be set on a standard floor system). A service corridor between the two restrooms offers easier maintenance and the ability to upgrade the facilities systems without majorly interrupting service.  Additionally, green energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, can be easily integrated to make the building self sustainable.

BOTTOM LINE: Even small structures can benefit from big thinking.

To download a PDF that includes all features of this plan, please click here.

Like it? Don’t like it? Think something should be changed or added? Please feel free to comment on this design by leaving a comment below.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently published a story about a growing crisis involving American families who are having a difficult time keeping up with house payments. The following are some excerpts from the article. For obvious reasons, we like the ending.

One of the primary causes of the housing bust was that homes cost too much to begin with, […] forcing Americans to take desperate measures to obtain financing.

Now they are struggling to keep those homes, which often requires two incomes and the loss of family and community life due to being constantly on the road while their children are spending 10 to 12 hours a day in day care. With unemployment rising and commuting costs up, many families can’t make it work anymore.

Whereas the American dream became an obsession with ever-bigger homes, [John] Wasik, author of a recently released book that examines the housing crisis, “The Cul-De-Sac Syndrome: Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dream.” said that in the future, people need to think of ways to build homes and cities that are more suitable for the global environment.

“Homes shouldn’t be energy hogs in the future,” he said. “We can go to modular homes built in factories. Think of all the people we could put back to work and make homes more affordable.”

We might be a bit biased, but we couldn’t agree more!

You may remember, we discussed the $8,000 tax credit being given away by the federal government to first-time homebuyers who purchase a home before December 1, 2009. Basically, you get that $8,000 back in a tax refund next year, which is a nice chunk of change for any upgrades or appliances you might need to buy for your new home.

But what if you can’t buy a new home because you don’t have the money for a down payment? According to AccountingWeb.com, some states are helping with that, too, by offering no interest, no payment loans (until June or July of 2010) to be used as down payments that can then be paid off with the $8,000 tax credit next year. Not a bad deal, eh?

So far, Missouri, Colorado, Delaware, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Kentucky have all developed similar loan programs for monetizing the tax credit. Idaho, New Jersey and Ohio are working on programs.

If you’re interested (and why wouldn’t you be?), check out more details about the loan programs here.

When it comes to educational facilities, can a design be both functional and aesthetically pleasing? Can it also be energy efficient without draining the construction budget? The answer to both questions is yes.

Most educational facilities get the job done, but offer little in terms of design and visual appeal. They may also put building maintenance and costs ahead of higher priorities, like the students and the learning environment. The Excel Homes Eco-Friendly Classroom addresses those concerns with a facility that not only provides a mentally stimulating environment, but one that’s also available in many different designs (outlined below). This cost-effective design also offers environmentally friendly features like Energy Star and green certification, which meet or exceed local codes and provide long-term energy cost savings.

Though the Eco-Friendly Classroom can be free-standing, it will likely be used to complement an existing educational campus. The following renderings show two different exterior options – one modern and one traditional – which can be used to help the Eco-Friendly Classroom blend into its surroundings or stand out from the crowd.

BOTTOM LINE: Form, function, energy-efficiency and affordability. With the Eco-Friendly Classroom, you really can have it all.

To download a PDF that includes all features of this plan, please click here.

Like it? Don’t like it? Think something should be changed or added? Please feel free to comment on this design by leaving a comment below.

If you want news and views about modular home building, you can stop by Modular Musings. Everyone knows that. But Excel’s architects – in particular, Excel’s new Director of Architectural Design and Innovation, Steven Saffell – come up with outside-the-box designs all the time, but many of them never see the light of day.

That’s why we created another blog, called The Excel Drawing Board. On the Drawing Board, we’ll feature some of these innovative designs and allow readers to comment on them. If it gets positive reviews, it might join the Excel catalogue. If not, it’s back to the drawing board.

The blog features everything from single-family residential designs to commercial residential designs to office space concepts. Feel free to check it out, and don’t be afraid to tell us what you really think of some of those designs!

Here’s good news for Pennsylvania homeowners and businesses considering the switch to solar power. The state legislature finally passed a solar-rebate program designed to help offset the cost of purchasing and installing solar systems. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article, the average 5-kilowatt residential solar system costs between $35,000 and $40,000. A system like that would save around $900 in annual electricity costs.

The stimulus, called the Sunshine Program (more info here), will provide $100 million in funds, which will be used to offer rebates of up to 35 percent of the cost of installing a residential or small business solar power system.

That also means the creation of lots of jobs for solar contractors throughout the state, which makes the Sunshine Program a win-win for everyone involved.