LV Kit Home

One of the oldest forms of prefab is the kit home—a series of parts assembled on-site, typically by the buyer. Rocio Romero’s LV and LVL homes (2003/2004) are examples of kit houses that have been used for a number of purposes, from affordable primary residences to vacation homes such as Luminhaus in Amherst, Virginia. Romero’s prototype for the LV Kit Home was a simple but elegant corrugated metal and glasswalled house for her parents situated on the coast of Chile.

The LV Kit Home, first issued in 2001, is 1,150 square feet with two bedrooms and bathrooms, a large living and dining area, and a kitchen. The LVL Kit Home (2004), 10 feet longer and with a basement, offers a third bedroom or expanded master suite for a total of 2,830 square feet. The kit, which does not include the entire house, contains exterior walls, roof structure, and exterior metal finishes along with detailed specifications for the foundation, windows, doors, and utilities. It arrives on a single flatbed truck, and depending on the choice of model, is priced at $32,900 or $40,050. Final costs depend on factors such as material finish choices for cabinets and floors, the types of appliances and fixtures selected, and the cost of labor for contractors and subcontractors. Estimates based on real-world experience reflect a price of $88 to $110 per square foot. Romero, operating out of Perryville, Missouri, has merged modernist sensibilities with contemporary do-it-yourself attitudes to produce an inexpensive alternative.

http://rocioromero.com