On the Cora website, several designers have started blogs on putting together a new plan which would reflect CORA's preferences on an appropriately designed house. At this time, there are three guys working on it. One typically does large coastal commissions in New England worked out diligently with gridding and golden section layerings with traditional detailing done in an almost post modern way. Another specializes in modern designs with a bent towards affordability and plan book type applications. The third is from Texas and does well worked out plans in traditional styles.

I thought it might be interesting to contrast their work with the kind of home a developer might do to bring a product to market to sell in a tough economic environment. The kind of home most of the Cora designers vilify, but which most of the population tends to buy. It might be interesting to contrast the design goals and process so as to better understand not only where the housing design profession is at this point in time, but also to see where it might be heading. It would be curious to see what the buyer has to give up in terms of amenities as well as what he would be gaining in terms of design purity.

I'm not sure what the cost issues should be in this comparison. The other guys are working with a much higher cost per s.f. than a production builder would ever contemplate to hit a mass market. One the one hand, I could start with a much higher s.f. to compensate.

On the other hand, it will be much more informative to limit the s.f. to an equal amount, to see how the room arrangements and sizes might compare. The difference to the buyer will then evolve into how much more disposable income can be directed towards other goals than housing, i.e. recreation, education, charity, saving the planet, whatever.

We're building simple 2 story plans with 2 car garages for about $110.00 per s.f. in our area (builder's cost) so I'll use that as a guideline. This kind of product goes on a lot which can be bought for $100,000 to $125,000.- Outsale price to the public would be $400,000. to $450,000.

In this price range, I'll be competing with the likes of Pulte and Ryan, who typically sell at about 135 a foot. For 400k they are going to give you nearly 3000 s.f.- so my little 2100-2200 house better give a lot of bang for the buck.