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Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

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Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#141

Post by lucideer »

jtriangle wrote: post #86
class3shock wrote: post #73

I like the ethos but to me it's pointed in entirely the wrong direction. Why not just make standard sections of 2x4 or 2x6 framing? Start standardizing window sealing details? Literally anything that will actually get some use? Instead we get opensource plywood boxes? Using plywood for all of the structural components means if you get a leak, which all houses get, you are in danger of much more significant damage tha…

It's a flawed solution based on a misunderstanding of how houses are actually built/designed/engineered. Most of what you see being built today is dimensioned based on available timber. It's part of why all the houses look the same, because it's the most efficient way to build. Everything structural gets built with 2x4's or prefab trusses (which are also made of 2x4's), windows are all standard sizes, as are cabinets…

> based on a misunderstanding of how houses are actually built/designed/engineered. Most of what you see being built today is dimensioned based on available timber. It's part of why all the houses look the same

It's worth pointing out that this is a UK-based project (where typical houses are concrete construction). A lot of the comments dismissing it are suggesting it should conform to American standards on the assumptions that those standards are universal.

As an open-source initiative it should certainly have a broader perspective than being purely UK-centric, but replacing that with a US-centric one isn't the solution.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#142

Post by ajmurmann »

foota wrote: post #110
DeathArrow wrote: post #101

Where I live people build houses mostly with brics and mortar, autoclaved aerated concrete or concrete. Wikihouse system won't help.

Where do you live? (I'm guessing it's humid?)

AFAIK this construction is the standard in much of Europe and for certain in Germany.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#143

Post by [deleted] »

mosselman wrote: post #105
ethanbond wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or perhaps if you're prioritizing things other than maximally efficient use of materials? It seems like they're prioritizing standardization, especially of methods, more than almost anything else. AFAICT we have far more excess material than excess labor, so it doesn't seem particularly crazy to me?

“It is freezing honey” “I know dear, but the house was built efficiently”

[deleted]

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#144

Post by balfirevic »

gumballindie wrote: post #120

The most expensive part of house is the land it’s built on. Remote work alleviates that. No surprise that landowners in large cities push for a return to office work, along with workers that have no desire for a life of their own. Nonetheless wood houses are frowned upon in Europe. Except in the UK where housing is low quality overall anyway.

> The most expensive part of house is the land it’s built on

No, not where I live.

> Remote work alleviates that.

Remote work doesn't change where I want to live, because I want to live where there are things to do, regardless of where I work.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#145

Post by aredox »

alkonaut wrote: post #121
omnimus wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah most countries in the world dont have 2x4s

We do in some sense but we call it something else like 45x120 or similar. That's not 2x4" but nor is a 2x4 actually 2 inches by 4 inches generally. But what we definitely don't do is stick build homes using 2x4s apart from interior walls. An exterior wall where I live would probably use 45x220mm studs and probably more wood as well for a total depth of 350+ mm.

We don't use that wood to build houses. The US is special in that respect.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#146

Post by avidphantasm »

class3shock wrote: post #73

I like the ethos but to me it's pointed in entirely the wrong direction. Why not just make standard sections of 2x4 or 2x6 framing? Start standardizing window sealing details? Literally anything that will actually get some use? Instead we get opensource plywood boxes? Using plywood for all of the structural components means if you get a leak, which all houses get, you are in danger of much more significant damage tha…

All good points, especially about the risk of leaks on the material. I've also heard anecdotally that framing is the cheapest part of the house.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#147

Post by gumballindie »

balfirevic wrote: post #144
gumballindie wrote: post #120

The most expensive part of house is the land it’s built on. Remote work alleviates that. No surprise that landowners in large cities push for a return to office work, along with workers that have no desire for a life of their own. Nonetheless wood houses are frowned upon in Europe. Except in the UK where housing is low quality overall anyway.

> The most expensive part of house is the land it’s built on No, not where I live. > Remote work alleviates that. Remote work doesn't change where I want to live, because I want to live where there are things to do, regardless of where I work.

> Remote work doesn't change where I want to live

I dont care where you want to live. Those who want to live where land is affordable should be given the option.

Given that land is expensive where you want to live this type of house build wont solve your issue - might make it worse since people have said it’s more expensive to build.

If more people would be allowed to work where they can afford property then demand in your area may drop.

Meaning you could afford buying where you enjoy. But most human farm advocates demand others to work from farms, and there is the issue. It drives land prices up in such places.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#149

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

jtriangle wrote: post #86
class3shock wrote: post #73

I like the ethos but to me it's pointed in entirely the wrong direction. Why not just make standard sections of 2x4 or 2x6 framing? Start standardizing window sealing details? Literally anything that will actually get some use? Instead we get opensource plywood boxes? Using plywood for all of the structural components means if you get a leak, which all houses get, you are in danger of much more significant damage tha…

It's a flawed solution based on a misunderstanding of how houses are actually built/designed/engineered. Most of what you see being built today is dimensioned based on available timber. It's part of why all the houses look the same, because it's the most efficient way to build. Everything structural gets built with 2x4's or prefab trusses (which are also made of 2x4's), windows are all standard sizes, as are cabinets…

> Everything structural gets built with 2x4's or prefab trusses (which are also made of 2x4's)

Neither of these statements are true. 2x6's are commonly used for a variety of reasons in vertical placement. 2x8/2x10 and even 2x12 are still common for floor joists where manufactured beams (e.g. I-beams) are not used. Trusses are not always built with 2x4s either.

I'd also mention (as a recently certified firefighter) that the use of trusses in modern construction causes real headaches for the fire service: a minor failure in one part of one truss can lead the entire roof surface to become a collapse hazard. They are efficient uses of lumber but have few other merits as a construction technique.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#150

Post by pmayrgundter »

ivyirwin wrote: post #108
class3shock wrote: post #73

I like the ethos but to me it's pointed in entirely the wrong direction. Why not just make standard sections of 2x4 or 2x6 framing? Start standardizing window sealing details? Literally anything that will actually get some use? Instead we get opensource plywood boxes? Using plywood for all of the structural components means if you get a leak, which all houses get, you are in danger of much more significant damage tha…

The last time wikihouse showed up on HN (September '23) I did a deep dive on the process I still haven't come out of. 20 years ago as a grad student getting my masters in architecture, I definitely would have had similar comments to most of what's on this page. But I don't feel that way any more and I'm actually disappointed by the negativity toward this project – not because it's not warranted, but if this were a so…

That's really interesting about Github-based versioning. My company (bldrs.ai) makes a webapp that views IFC (soon STEP) and has github integration, so any *.ifc path on GH can be pasted into our search for viz.

I'm not seeing any IFC files on Wikihouse repos, but they look old (https://github.com/wikihouse). Do you know where they're hosting?

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