I want to live in a trailer!

I wondered how long it would take... We've all seen them: highways adorned with lots full of no-money-down, double-wide homes with faux rock exterior details and the ever-popular plastic shutters. They're efficient, mobile, inexpensive, and ready for immediate occupancy (often without a credit check). Now, these rectangular American Dreams on wheels have stopped trying to mimic their permanent counterparts and have once again become irresistibly modern. Modern design has found its soul once again.

Let me explain. Over the last several decades, it seemed that modern designers had abandoned their core roots: simple design for the masses. By the early 1950s, fiberglass and plastic were confirmed as the design materials of the future. They're cheap, easy to mold, and durable. For example, the now famous Eames molded chairs won design awards in the late 1940s for being an inexpensive, yet appealing, design. Today, reproductions require a pretty penny at Modernica or Design Within Reach.

So imagine my pleasant surprise to see the typical mobile home retailer displaying a modern home that's also easier on the environment. It seems that modern design is going mainstream and becoming more affordable. Granted, there's always been the Roccio Romero's of the world (I love her LV house) who've taken modern design principles and created homes someone like me could afford, but the i-house from Clayton Homes brings this concept to the no-assembly-required crowd. Even better, these homes come equipped with some appealing earth-friendly add-ons (e.g., solar panels). It's time the trailer home received the upgrade and respect it deserves. (Update as of 8/10/09: The folks at grassroots modern recently pointed out that another design group, ClearSpace Modular Homes, has entered the inexpensive moderning housing rhealm. What a welcoming trend.)

Shipping Container Home Near Springfield, MO

via 8747 House

During a recent visit to our favorite Springfield, MO coffee shop, Coffee Ethic, I found myself in a fascinating discussion with the barista about design. He talked about a architectural endeavor his friend was in the midst of completing, a modern rural container home. With a little investigating online, I found out that the owner had a budget of $150K and wanted a modern home. When his architect's original plans would be way over budget, they opted for a 40% cost saver - used shipping containers. (Apparently, you can get the containers delivered for around $2K.) You can find out more about the Missouri project (including a great link to a flickr slideshow) at 8747 house.

I have loved this idea from the start when I noticed this innovative use of a building (or built) material in magazines and other blogs. This would be a perfect alternative to a modern shed in our backyard (i.e., office and guest house). Plus, the good ol' web has plenty of resources (e.g., Web Urbanist) for buying, designing, and building said structure. hmmmmm....