This week Apple’s Tim Cook, joined the ranks of large corporate planned giving for housing, earmarking a $2.5 billion allocation toward affordable housing and first time home buyer assistance in California. This announcement follows on the Facebook and Google commitments to California, earlier this year, plus Microsoft’s half a billion commitment in the Seattle area. While this current wave of affordability and homelessness concern has a different etiology, the objective, an affordable home, is the same. Just what kind of homes are they thinking about? I was struck by a 3-D Printed Homes post in Pocket today. Tiny homes at scale.
With many positing a crisis in US housing affordability, homelessness and the cost of redevelopment, you may be wondering whether and if, real solutions exist, on a scale that may be needed, if home affordability, home availability or homelessness, were to become a more pervasive condition. Enter Jason Ballard, visionary housing philanthropist and part-time new home construction industry disruptor and his vision for 3-D printed homes. Check out this adorable community center prototype in Austin.
With two completed prototypes in Austin, and 50 planned this year in central America, who doesn’t want to see this guy succeed? “We believe that 3-D printing can deliver dignified housing faster and cheaper, and with less waste and better performance and better design,” he declares… Check out Tom Foster’s (@tomfoster2) full story in Inc. Magazine’s very nice feature on Ballard and his 20 employee firm using Icon build technology… If Mr. Ballard hasn’t had a meeting with Sir Richard Branson of Virgin yet, he probably should. NASA is apparently interested in building homes on Mars while the US Military sees great potential in the technology as well. Perhaps Sir Richard will provide transportation and some investment capital from Virgin Galactic (who recently debuted on NYSE) Icon Build may one day provide housing in space.
Tiny Coastal Homes Currently For Sale
Sorry we are experiencing system issues. Please try again.