His commentary echoes that of the founders of Habitat for Humanity, as do some of his methods: those low-income home buyers for whom he builds must put in their own labor during construction. Other than that, though, Huntsville's Dan Phillips, creator of Phoenix Commotion, has taken low-income housing to new edges of green sourcing and affordability.
The materials in homes he's built range from recycled (as in, shattered) tile, mirrors, and shingles to ... cattle bones, and Osage orange (bois d'arc) wood slabs. He portholes his homes with Pyrex lids and crystal platters, and one of his ceilings looks eerily like a picture framer's display (because it's made of discarded sample corners).
Not all his homeowners have succeeded, but even foreclosed ones have resold quickly. He doesn't build typical suburban palaces, but it's well worth checking out what he's done. Monthly payments on a Phoenix Commotion home (no, it isn't a non-profit corporation: he pays employees who help with the building, although modestly so) have ranged from $99 to $300, and sometimes, people still can't make the mortgage.
- Sarah's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Front page
Comments
do want!
iwantoneiwantoneiwantoneiwantoneiwantoneiwantone
a colleague from my former employment [the one where we wore those lovely plastic suits] left to start up his own recycled building materials business. i should try to track him down and see if he's still doing that.
Owner builders build more than buildings
First, great picture and what a lovely structure! The ability of people to provide their own housing at a cost that leaves them with economic security and independence is not only important to their comfort and financial stability, but it builds communities. I and three friends built a subdivision for ourselves, and cooperated on the building of our homes. The cost savings were huge, and the resulting community raised our children and made us free. I got the idea from my parents, who did the same thing. It works!