Ask HN: What would you build if you would be a multi-billionare?

Re:Ask HN: What would you build if you would be a multi-bill... by hellified on Monday August 25, 2014 @02:52PM (#8223394)

A modular, standardized system for building houses where you buy X external walls, Y internal walls, window type A, skylight C, flooring sections, etc .... Walls would be come wired for electricity with snap together connections, roof sections with pre-wired solar panels. Allow people to order parts and put together their own home, or do so with friends like an old fashioned barn raising.

Tornado damaged your house? Order those parts again, disconnect the damaged ones, snap in the new stuff. Baby on the way? Disconnect an external wall, add a few more panels and you've another room, no need to move. Use recyclable materials (melt down one of the 'airplane graveyards' and use the steel and aluminum for a start).

The goals would be to reduce the waste involved in constructing houses as well as achieve economies of scale through mass production that would allow buying a home to be no more of a commitment than buying a car. No more 30 year mortgages, no more being 'house poor'.

Young and just starting out in life? Buy enough for just a kitchen, bath, and bedroom ... add more as you can afford it.

Open the standard for wall, floor, roof, etc... connections so vendors can offer 'after-market' parts for your home if you want something special or more individualized.

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Re:Ask HN: What would you build if you would be a multi-bill... by FiatLuxDave on Tuesday August 26, 2014 @01:47PM (#8228497)

I like this answer, because you have put some thought into this. I would add to your idea these things: a) all components are "man-portable", so that they can be put together by people without the use of cranes or heavy lifting equipment (this is a big deal in construction), b) have external mounting points so that they can be attached firmly to a building skeleton, allowing for building out a skyscraper using only manpower once the skeleton and elevators have been put up.

I will say that here in the South, we have a similar product which is located in "trailer parks". It is worth looking at the failures of the existing trailer parks when looking at ways to make cheaper housing.

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Re:Ask HN: What would you build if you would be a multi-bill... by penetrarthur on Tuesday August 26, 2014 @10:34AM (#8227265)

Sounds like you have been doing quite a lot of research.

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