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Articles by Novid Parsi
The Year Ahead for the Residential Construction Industry
For builders, 2023 likely will bring declining demand, rising costs, and continued mental health struggles. But builders also will benefit from lessons learned.
Bamboo: Not Just for Your Floor Anymore
Illinois-based Lamboo produces an engineered bamboo that can be used for interior, exterior, and structural applications.
Inflatable Concrete Homes: Building Faster and Cheaper
A New York startup called Automatic Construction pumps air into plastic fabric, then fills it with concrete—creating a house’s structure at 20% of the cost.
Building Homes on the Moon? It’s Possible, with Innovative 3D Printing
Tennessee-based Branch Technology 3D prints material that solidifies in midair as it’s being printed—resulting in lightweight structures and custom designs.
Tiny Homes That Are Sustainable and Affordable—But Not Cheap
South Carolina’s Eclipse Cottages builds compact units that help homeowners live “more abundant” lives—instead of maintaining, and paying for, square footage they don’t use.
Top 2023 Kitchen and Bathroom Design Trends
For its 2023 report, NKBA surveyed almost 600 industry members about what their client homeowners want.
Learning How Our Homes Affect Our Health Through Biophilia And More
In Rochester, Minn., Well Living Lab, in collaboration with Marvin, is developing a smart, connected test home to research the impacts of indoor environments on health and well-being.
The Path from Net Zero Energy to Zero Carbon
After building high-performance, energy-efficient homes for 30 years, Colorado’s Thrive Home Builders takes on a new target: carbon impact.
The Six Grand Winners of the Housing Innovation Awards
Since 2013, the Department of Energy has honored innovative builders constructing zero energy ready homes. This year’s winners include 26 homes in 18 states.
Accommodating Climate Change—With Elegance
Architecture firm FORMA creates an award-winning design for a beachfront home that hovers above rising waters.
The Benefits of Biophilic Design, Without the Economic or Environmental Costs
Mississippi-based Modern Mill uses discarded rice husks to create a wood-alternative building material called Acre.
For This Cohousing Community, 'Community' Is the Operative Word
Outside Seattle, Sunnyside Village plans to build 32 cottages with shared outdoor and indoor areas—including a common house that serves as a coworking space and a second living room.
3D Printing, Prefab, Modular—A Startup Delivers All Three in One
California-based Azure Printed Homes 3D prints accessory dwelling units using recycled plastic.
Foam Homes Deliver Efficiency and Savings—and Can Withstand Hurricane Winds
An Arizona company has devised a homebuilding system that creates an entire structure out of lightweight foam covered with a cement composite.
Giving Buyers the High-Performance Features They Want
After surveying hundreds of home shoppers to find out what they most want in their homes, Tri Pointe Homes announced several new standard offerings.
Catching the Wave of Build-For-Rent
RangeWater, a multifamily developer and manager, has been making a serious foray into the BFR sector.
Taking Glamping to the Next Level
At Utah’s Bear Lake, Conestoga Ranch offers a luxury camping experience and is now building 35 year-round, Alpine-style cabins.
BlocPower Wants to Green the Nation’s Buildings
The New York-based climate technology company electrifies and decarbonizes buildings—more than 1,200 of them so far.
Shipping Containers, Steel, Wood: A California Firm Goes 'All In' on Modular
Studio One Eleven finds that modular construction can be a more cost-effective, efficient way to deliver affordable housing.
Why Do Construction Workers Stay or Leave?
Pay isn’t their top consideration, according to a recent survey conducted by Building Talent Foundation.
As Wildfires Worsen, Consider Homes Made of Steel
A California builder reimagines the military Quonset hut as a noncombustible home.
Does 'Sustainable' Have to Mean 'Expensive'?
A Massachusetts nonprofit asked the building community about its net zero and net zero ready projects—including how much more they cost. The results might surprise you.
Webcam Tech Keeps a Watchful Eye on the Job
For over 25 years, EarthCam has developed webcam technologies that allow builders to monitor and document construction work.
New York’s Largest and Tallest Mass Timber Building
For the six-floor condo building, MESH Architectures deployed mass timber for its aesthetic and environmental benefits.
An App that Delivers Learning to Construction Workers’ Phones
On3 engages builders, manufacturers, and trades in the creation of learning and development videos that meet their people’s needs.
Volumetric Building Companies (VBC) Uses Holistic Approach to Modular
By taking on the entire design, construction, and installation process, the Philadelphia-based manufacturer produces modules more efficiently, says CEO Vaughan Buckley.
The Impact of Energy-Efficient Appliances for Low-Income Households
Habitat for Humanity studied the financial and environmental benefits for homeowners who received thousands of Whirlpool fridges and ranges.
Building in Backyards: ADUs as an Affordable Housing Solution
One way to provide more housing? Construct accessory dwelling units in people’s yards and then rent them out, says an Atlanta architect.
Today’s homeowners consider the connected home a given. Now they want higher-quality, more efficient smart home products.
The 14 Winners of the AIA Housing Awards
The recipients demonstrate innovative, sustainable design. And several show that, with housing, small can be mighty.
Creating and Connecting the Construction Workforce
NCCER’s CareerStarter platform wants to be the place where employers, educators, and job seekers all come together.
A startup loyalty program incentivizes tenants to pay rent on time and landlords to reward them for it.
For multifamily properties, Allbridge takes care of their technology needs—from planning to installation to support.
As the tiny-homes market grew, industry members sought common standards.
Recreational land and farmland surge in value, according to a new poll of realtors.
Getting the Offsite Players to Play Together
Australia’s PT Blink brings its offsite technology and methodology to the US.
5 Inefficient Home Spaces That Could Use a Redesign
Our home designs are inefficient, but they don't have to be. BSB Design’s Dan Swift applies ergonomics to residential interiors, and lists five spaces that designers should focus on to increase efficiency for homeowners.
Unleashing the Power of 3D Design Tech
For a Michigan firm, the technology isn’t the point—it’s how you use it.
More Homes Go Up—But Still Not Enough
Even as they constructed more homes in 2021 than the year before, builders couldn’t keep up with demand.
The Burgeoning BFR Market Gains a Major Investor
A Los Angeles-based investment firm plans to bring efficient designs to the fast-growing build-for-rent sector.
Renters Want Smart Tech—and Will Pay For it, Too
A Rent.com survey reveals that offering even a single smart device can attract tenants.
Two organizations join forces to help fill the construction labor gap by means of education and connection.
Habitat for Humanity 3D Printed Home Just Found its Newest Resident
After 3D printing its first two homes, and partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build more, Alquist is just getting started.
Office buildings need tenants; people need homes. Office-to-housing conversions could be the answer, says a California architecture firm.
Driving Efficiencies in Modular Homes
A Colorado housing developer takes a Toyota-inspired lean manufacturing approach to produce modular units more efficiently.
Affordable and Efficient? Check and Check, With Tiny Homes
Thinking of downsizing? This Georgia project shows that micro living can deliver major benefits.
Finding a Bettr Way to Build Homes
Florida startup Bettr Homes has a plan to disrupt the nation’s homebuilding industry.
What If Housing Affordability Isn’t The Problem?
The answer to the housing affordability crisis may just be in your own pocket. A new app wants to fix the housing shortage by streamlining the financing and building of new homes.
Women in Construction: Carla Ferreira Takes an Early Lead in Residential Development
The Aurora Highlands executive learns from her developer dad and other women mentors.
Startup Aims To Assemble Houses Like Cars
Assembly OSM brings auto and plane technologies to residential construction.
Getting Buildings to Talk With the Grid—Not Just At It
The DOE funds 10 projects to test innovations in efficiency.
‘Smart’ Windows Promote Good Sleep, Peer-Reviewed Study Finds
When residents lived with smart windows, their nights and days got better.
Investing in Zero Energy Ready Homes Pays Off For Garbett Homes
The Utah builder took a leap of faith with zero energy ready homes—and has been rewarded for it.
It's Build-for-Rent Boom Times For This California Developer
Los Angeles-based Haven Realty Capital has seen rapid growth with single-family rental developments.
Research Tracks the Pandemic’s Impact On the U.S. Home
New homes are getting bigger and more flexible, according to recent data and surveys.
A Community Hub for Crisis Times
An architecture student imagines an innovative neighborhood center for Houston.
Colorado’s McStain Neighborhoods knows it takes more to build healthy, sustainable houses—and believes it’s worth it.
Smart Home Tech Evolves From Add-On to Must-Have
A new survey of homebuilding industry professionals by Utopia reveals the smart home tech features that builders offer as standard and upgrade options.
How to Build Solar Homes Without Losing Trees
A Virginia developer wants to keep a new home community's leafy surroundings by creating a shared solar garden.
5 Vital Components of Healthy Homes, from Meritage Homes’ CR Herro
Building science expert CR Herro outlines the most crucial factors to building—and marketing—healthy homes.
The Massive Appeal of Tiny Homes
Arizona’s Aspire Fund builds an Instagram-worthy, tax-friendly development.
Startup Creates Investment Opportunities in Single-family Home Rentals
Through startup Arrived Homes, anyone can own shares of rental homes.
Multifamily Housing Meets Passive House Design
A New York firm shows that large-scale housing developments can be both sustainable and affordable.
Survey Reveals What 1,300 Homeowners Want Most (and Least) From Their Housing
Among the biggest unmet needs in the housing market are designs and features that enhance sleep, recuperation, and relaxation, according to a new survey led by Da Vinci Consulting and the Housing Innovation Alliance.
Smart Home Tech Is on the Cusp of Widespread Adoption
But it first has to address myriad homeowner concerns—especially security and privacy.
[UPDATED] Tracking the Build-for-Rent Housing Boom
The burgeoning build-for-rent market delivers benefits to both builders and consumers. Now updated with the November 2021 infographic.
5 Top Bathroom Design Trends for 2021
A survey of 1,140 homeowners by the New Home Trends Institute reveals the most in-demand bathroom design features of 2021.
Simple Methods Yield Big Benefits For Addison Homes
South Carolina’s Addison Homes has found that high-performance construction isn’t all that complicated.
Tim O’Brien Homes Goes Big With Net Zero
The Wisconsin builder commits to making zero energy ready standard for all its homes by the end of 2022.
Denver Wants to Make Net Zero a Citywide Reality
Colorado’s capital has a plan for getting new residential and commercial construction to net zero energy in under a decade.
MultiGreen’s Data-Driven Approach To Residential Development
Multifamily developer MultiGreen aims to fill the nation’s housing gap by using digital tools.
21 Home Design Trends for 2021, Part 2
Housing market experts from the New Home Trends Institute share their top 21 home design trends for 2021.
21 Home Design Trends for 2021, Part 1
From smart home tech to personalized spaces to lifestyle-driven design, housing market experts from the New Home Trends Institute share the top 21 home design trends for 2021.
The Advantages of Offsite Wall Panels
An Arizona panel manufacturer helps homes go up more quickly, predictably, and efficiently.
Architect Pushes the Design Limits of Modular Housing
A California housing development benefits from hybrid modular-panel construction by Plant Prefab.
5 Ways Homebuilders Can Become Innovators
There are reasons the industry hasn’t fully embraced innovation. And there are ways to get past that.
Wells Fargo Incubator Helps Housing Innovators Survive the Startup Stage
At an innovation incubator funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and supported by NREL, early-stage housing industry firms get their ideas ready for the marketplace.
Housing Startup Brings ‘Builder Bots’ To Homebuilding
Williams Robotics has created a robot that builds walls. And that’s just the start.
7 Steps to Building Net-Zero-Ready Production Homes, From an Award-winning Builder
Delaware builder Insight Homes uses a wide array of innovative techniques to achieve zero-energy-ready certification for some 250 homes since mid-2019.
The Ivory Prize and Homebuilding’s Affordability Crisis
The annual Ivory Prize aims to promote innovation in an industry that has long resisted it.
5 Top House Exterior Design Trends for 2021
A variety of factors will go into—and onto—the houses of tomorrow. Here are five recent home design trends.
Factory-Made Housing Takes Hold in San Francisco
Autodesk has committed two strategic investments in Factory_OS in as many years. The goal: To build affordable multifamily housing through an industrialized construction model.
