Robots That Build (But Still Won't Do Windows)
The brainchild of University of Southern California engineering professor Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis is a computer-controlled robotic gantry that can build concrete walls layer by inch-thick layer, and Khoshnevis believes such technology could pave the way for completely automated construction. "Our goal is to completely construct a one-story, 2,000-square-foot home on site in one day, without using human hands," the professor explains. It is expected that later versions of the robot gantry will be capable of building compound curves as well as right angles, while Los Angeles architect Greg Lynn believes such machines could change the face of architecture. "I'm convinced this will allow you to make beautiful, innovative and as yet unimagined kinds of houses," he extols. The robot came out of Khoshnevis' desire to apply the principles of rapid prototyping to architecture, and the professor envisions a larger version of the device that "prints out" houses in concrete. Khoshnevis also holds patents in sintering, a chemical process in which powders are turned into solid shapes by computer control. After the machine is perfected, the drying process for concrete will need to be accelerated in order for the technology to become commercially viable. Khoshnevis notes that architects could sell fundamental designs that customers could then adapt and tailor to the concrete printer using special software Khoshnevis' project is a joint effort between USC's engineering school and its Information Sciences Institute; funding has come from the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research Khoshnevis is seeking $5 million to continue developing the robot technology, known as contour crafting. (www.nytimes.com)
New York Times (03/11/04) P. D10; Wertheim, Margaret
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Bill Would Make It Easier to Convert Apartments Into Condos
A controversial proposal would change California law to make it easier for property owners and developers to convert apartments into condominiums, a trend that has been growing nationwide in recent years. Democratic assemblyman Joe Canciamilla is sponsoring the bill — which removes some local restrictions on the sale of converted condos, or "rondos," in an effort to promote homeownership in the state. Rondos first gained popularity in California in the 1970s and early 1980s but fell out of favor in the wake of construction defect lawsuits and stringent building standards that made conversions cost-prohibitive. However, the properties are regaining popularity in California as well as in Miami, the District of Columbia and elsewhere in the nation. Indeed, New York-based Real Capital Analytics counts 15,488 apartment-to-condominium conversions in 2003, compared to just 5,865 units that were converted the year before. Under California's AB 2175, meanwhile, rental units could be sold as condos if: the conversion is approved by a majority of tenants, renters are given the opportunity to buy their units first, and those who opt not to buy are allowed to continue renting. Despite these assurances, tenant advocates are likely to oppose the measure. Housing advocate Christine Minnehan of the Sacramento-based Western Center on Law and Poverty worries that the legislation could force poor people who cannot afford to buy out of their rental units. (www.mercurycenter.com)
San Jose Mercury News Online (03/10/04) Johnson, Steve
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What Slowdown? Home Sales Heat Back Up
A number of housing economists are revising their home-sale outlooks for 2004 as interest rates remain under 6%. Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft, for instance, now predicts that sales could jump from 7.2 million in 2003 to a new record of 7.3 million this year. Though low interest rates generally make homeownership more affordable, buyers in California, Nevada, Virginia, Florida and other hot markets will watch prices soar due to high demand and a lean supply of properties for sale. Mortgage rates will eventually rise when the job market improves; but in the meantime, real estate agents are urging buyers to pen personal letters to sellers, eliminate appraisal or inspection contingencies and agree to escalation clauses if they hope to emerge victorious from bidding wars. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (03/11/04) P. D1; Simon, Ruth; Hagerty, James R.
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Housing Boom Attributed to Boomers
Citing Census Bureau statistics, Cheryl Russell of newstrategist.com reports that the baby boomer generation has emerged as a driving force behind the blockbuster housing market. The sector cranked out an unprecedented 6.1 million resales and roughly 1.85 million housing starts last year, pumping the national homeownership rate up to 68.3%. Homeownership was highest among those between the ages of 55 and 64, at 81.4%, followed by those aged 65 and up, at 80.5%. Russell notes that baby boomers will swell the ranks of those two age categories over the next 20 years. (www.centerformediaresearch.com)
Center for Media Research (03/08/04)
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Great Room Moves Outside
The great room has gained popularity among home owners as a means of merging the kitchen, dining room and family room; and, now, the concept has moved outdoors. A growing number of home owners are creating outside spaces to cook, eat and entertain. Though exterior great rooms lack actual walls, many are housed under gazebos or pavilions for shelter or use posts or columns as boundaries. Upscale gas grills, islands with sinks and appliances, outdoor fireplaces or fire rings, water gardens or fountains and high-end outdoor furniture are just some of the many accessories used to outfit these spaces. Lighting is also important for cooking and accentuating the landscape, and waterproof table and floor lamps make it possible for outdoor great rooms to be used after dark. (www.chicagotribune.com)
Chicago Tribune (03/07/04) P. 16; Walsh, Michael
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Homeownership Rates Rise in U.S.
Freddie Mac reports a boost in the nation's homeownership rate from 68.4% in the third quarter of 2003 to an all-time high of 68.6% in the fourth quarter. In other news, the national home-price appreciation rate hit 8.4% last year, after reaching a 27-year high of 17.8% during the fourth quarter. Home values on the West Coast jumped 13.1%, exceeding the appreciation rate of all other regions. (www.latimes.com)
Los Angeles Times (03/07/04) P. K14
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The New Trends in Home Design
Builders are catering to demand for large vacation homes that accommodate several families with mini-master suites, dormitory-style rooms and plenty of privacy. Teardowns also are gaining popularity, especially in neighborhoods with top-notch schools, soaring land prices and small homes. The trend is evident, among other locales, in northern Lake Michigan — where production builders are razing older houses and replacing them with $1 million-plus dwellings. However, many communities, worried that teardowns will radically change the landscape, have imposed height restrictions and other requirements. In response, builders in Lake Michigan are digging elaborate basements with lofty ceilings and upscale amenities. Meanwhile, multifamily developments are popping up across the country, even in Southern and Western locales that have long favored single-story structures. Multifamily construction generally involves infill projects on vacant lots, mixed-use developments with ground-floor retail, or high-rise and mid-rise condominium towers. (www.philly.com)
Philadelphia Inquirer (03/07/04) P. J1; Heavens, Alan J.
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Roaming Around the House
Jupiter Research projects that the number of homes equipped with Wi-Fi will jump from 4% in 2003 to 8% this year. Wireless technology is going mainstream now that devices are cheaper and easier to install, but scores of home owners still complain of dead spots. More and more residents want wireless Internet access; and companies are now offering antennas, range extenders and signal repeaters to fill service gaps. Still, some home owners are forced to install additional base stations to reach all corners of their dwellings. However, these gadgets may not solve all of their problems. The limited range of antennas and the need to purchase devices from the same company to ensure compatibility are just some of the drawbacks. Some of the most problematic properties are ranch homes, where the signal fades from one end of the house to the other; and two-level homes, where the signal may not be able to reach all the way up. The homes most suited for Wi-Fi, meanwhile, are newly constructed abodes built with drywall, thinner wood and less brick. (www.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal (03/05/04) P. W10; Albergotti, Reed
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If You Haven't Looked at Steel Roofs Lately, It's Time You Did
More and more home owners are opting for steel roofs over those made of wood shingles, clay tiles, slate and fibrous cement. Steel roofs can withstand earthquakes, fires and strong winds, and they are rust-resistant and strong enough to walk on. They also keep residences cooler during the summer. Home owners will spend more for steel roofs, but they are lightweight and more durable. Moreover, they can be purchased in a multitude of colors to match a dwelling's architectural style and can even be coated to resemble shingles, slate and tiles. (www.ocregister.com)
Orange County Register (03/05/04) Harder, Nick
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Not Your Father's Flooring
Today's home owners are throwing out carpets in favor of hardwood floors, which are perceived to be as elegant as crown molding, chair rails and wainscoting. According to the Pittsburgh-based Hardwood Information Center, wood floors can boost a home's resale value by upwards of $10,000. Home owners like hardwood floors because they are easy to clean and durable. Hardwood also is gaining popularity because it offers a number of options in terms of the type of wood, finish and price. Home owners can opt for reclaimed wood from old factories or barns; exotic woods like cherry or red mahogany; engineered wood, which is moisture-resistant, for use in basements; or laminates. They also must choose between prefinished or unfinished wood — the latter of which requires sanding, staining and varnishing after installation. Home owners are even using tiles alongside hardwood and having inlays and designs put on their floors. (www.chicagotribune.com)
Chicago Tribune (03/05/04) Koziol, Nina A.; Knight, Molly
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Bathroom Beauties
Representatives from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies estimate that home owners boosted their spending on remodeling from $153 billion to $214 billion between 1995 and 2001, during which time bathroom expenditures surged from $9.9 billion to $10.5 billion. Bathrooms once were used solely for showers and other basic activities, but today's home owners consider them as places to relax and retreat from the world. Steam showers, body jets, flat-screen televisions, small refrigerators, waterproof stereos and radiant-heat floors are just some of the accessories found in new bathrooms. Some home owners are even shelling out more than $1,000 for toilets with heated, massaging seats and air-drying functions. Less affluent home owners, meanwhile, can choose from a multitude of tiles and wallpaper patterns to jazz up their bathrooms. According to NAHB economist Michael Carliner, many new homes have a bathroom for each resident. (www.chicagotribune.com)
Chicago Tribune (03/05/04) Polsky, Carol
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For New Buildings, Digital Models Offer an Advance Walk-Through
Philadelphia-based AEI Digital, a branch of architecture firm EwingCole, allows buildings to be displayed in a highly detailed, three dimensional digital format. This allows people to experience what a structure will be like before it is constructed. John Weber, director of sales for the Philadelphia Phillies, says a cyber replica of the franchise's new ballpark helped familiarize the city with the new stadium and also helped boost advertising, sponsorships and the number of seats sold. The technology used by AEI is based on tools previously used by the video game and motion picture industries, says AEI Digital's president Michael Schuldt. Berkeley, CA- based architect Jonathan Cohen adds that such computerization can help people assess how buildings will function under multiple conditions. Schuldt notes that architects and engineers have traditionally used separate systems for design and construction. "It's just not practical right now to walk around with a laptop or large PDA on a construction site to get this information," he says, but by using digital models, details can be added to make buildings "as close to photo-realistic as we can get it." A digital model from AEI costs approximately $35,000-$60,000 to make, based on degree of difficulty, says Allison Holt Smith, director of business development. (www.nytimes.com)
New York Times (03/04/04) Marriott, Michel
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Handhelds Could Run Desktop Software
Radixs Private Ltd. of Singapore plans to roll out an operating system for PDAs, cell phones, tablet PCs and other handheld devices. The company's Motion eXperience Interface (MXI) will bring Windows, Linux and Java-based software to mobile gadgets. "You can have your full desktop experience, with the applications deployed without any form of code rewrite," remarks Radixs Chief Executive Chandrasekar Rathakrishnan. Forward Concepts analyst Will Strauss says it is too soon to tell whether MXI will help handhelds replace laptops, considering that handhelds have smaller displays and keyboards. (www.internetweek.com)
InternetWeek Online (03/08/04) Dunn, Darrell
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In the Cards
With PCMCIA cards from Verizon Wireless, Mobile Networks and other cellular providers, users can access data on their handhelds, laptops and desktop PCs at broadband-like speeds. These cards cost $30-$150, and users must shell out another $40-$80 per month to use the cellular network. High-speed wireless data services are currently available in only a few metropolitan areas; users in other locales will be able to access data at speeds similar to dial-up modems. (www.entrepreneur.com)
Entrepreneur (03/04) P. 37; Hogan, Mike
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In Living Color
Before investing in a color laser printer, companies ought to take their budgets and production needs into consideration. The Dell A960 is a wise choice for small business at just $179. The A960 performs standard faxing, scanning and copying functions, but users must have Windows 2000 or XP in order for it to work. Businesses that need documents printed quickly should consider the $1,000 Xerox Phaser 8400, which prints a single page in just six seconds. Both the $699 Samsung CLP-500 and the $1,999 Brother HL-4200CN have automatic duplex functions, but the Samsung prints only five color pages per minute. (www.entrepreneur.com)
Entrepreneur (03/04) P. 40; Kooser, Amanda C.
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