Modhabitat of Laguna Beach, CA is revolutionizing the prefabricated building industry. Started by Mike Embury and John Bedford of Modern Studio Furninshings, Modhabitat is changing building standards for the good of your pocketbook and most importantly, reducing our carbon footprint on the world.
Budget Friendly Construction
Modhabitat delivers the turn key solution for sustainable living incorporating stunning modern design for almost a quarter of the cost of timber, light steel or stick framing. (The price per square foot starts at $50 where as stick framing, the least expensive of the traditional construction options starts at $150.)
MHS Technology
With the use of a patented system called MHS technology, the world’s first load bearing modular aluminum structural building system, they are building a new foundation so to speak. This innovative technology has been quietly developed and patented over the last 15 years by inventor Tim Siahatgar. By offering a superior green lifestyle through integration of design principle and renewable technologies, Modhabitat’s structure is fully recyclable and relocatable with a minimal residual human footprint.
Made Locally
The approved system’s materials are all made in America, within 500 miles of its source. One of the many amazing benefits of their system is it can be flat packed and para-dropped into affected disaster areas with instructions and a few impact wrenches for easy assembly. The system is engineered to have 10 components (no land fill waste). It can fit all standard doors, windows etc. as well as utilize local materials.
Adaptable and Easy to Assemble
Modhabitat presents living solutions easily adaptable for any architectural application with the use of MHS modular components precisely built & assembled on site. The unique simplicity and flexibility of this structure truly allows it to sit lightly on land and adapt to the nature of its environment as an optimal example of sustainability.
The system allows it to be erected on site in 1/3 the time of regular construction with relativity unskilled labor. It can provide sustainable communities lasting at least twenty times longer than a typical structure with very little maintenance. Also, since the system can use footings instead of a concrete slab, it greatly reduces the structure’s foot print on the environment and enables it to be movable and expandable.
Approved By Mayor of Los Angeles
What about durability? Thanks to Smith Emery Labs, it has been rigorously tested to ensure resistance from earthquake and severe wind events. And they’ve partnered up with solar/wind/water technology providers as we move forward to develop fully sustainable communities. Even Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa has put his stamp of approval on the MHS system.
What Makes Modhabitat Different?
This new technology is a post and beam framing system that uses aluminum extrusions that are connected by a patented, concealed bolt-clamp component. Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) or a combination of other panel materials are used to slide into the channels of the framing members. Due to the precise engineering and use of aluminum as its main material, Modhabitat proposes an endless number of advantages. Here are just a few of the benefits of the MHS technology:
• Remarkably Strong and Durable
• 100% Recyclable and Renewable
• Eco Friendly
• Aluminum frame is light and absorbs impact more efficiently in case of a Natural Disaster
• Sustainable, easy maintenance, flexible, expandable, and re-locatable
• Less Labor
• Fast, quick installation. Easy to assemble and re-assemble
• Assembled on site
• Standard modular components
• Cost effective
• Wind resistance of 170 mph
• Outstanding insulation
• Appreciates over time
• Aluminum does not burn or contribute fuel to the spread of fire.
• Aluminum frame is dimensionally stable, won’t shrink, rot, bow, creak, split or decay.
• High corrosion resistance
Intrigued by this exciting innovation of construction, we caught up with Mike Embry to find out more about Modhabitat.
LA’s The Place: What impressed you about the aluminum building structure technology?
Mike Embury: I think the question should be is what did not impress me about the system because it literally revolutionizes the entire building industry. But if you want one answer it would be the systems claim that no lives will ever be lost due to our structure falling!
LATP: Why do you think this technology is so much better than regular home construction?
ME: There are many reasons why but some of the most notable would be: much safer as per the testing data, 1/3 the time to construct and it will last 20 times longer than regular home construction. There is no hidden labor or material costs like in traditional construction. It can be easily added on to or taken apart to move to another location. It is also fully sustainable in its life cycle tests.
LATP: Is there a warranty on them? How long?
ME: Yes, it is 4 years…the industry standard is 24 months.
LATP: Are there special tax breaks for building a Modhabitat?
ME: Yes, the system qualifies for the USGBC Platinum build and customers should expect to receive $65.00 back a foot from the federal government.
LATP: You mentioned that the Mayor has approved the plans, does this mean it is approved by the DBS (Department of Building and Safety) as well?
ME: The mayor approved the technology through the LARR to be built in anywhere in California up to 3 stories. The DBS gets its approval from the LARR, so yes.
LATP: Do you provide a special assembly team to put together the Modhabitats?
ME: Yes, the engendered components are shipped and erected on site by Modhabitat’s certified assembly teams.
LATP: How long does it take to assemble?
ME: Depending on the schedule of the completed foundation, one can be up in a matter of a few days.
LATP: Because of the new technology, who services and maintains the Modhabitats?
ME: Since we pre-designed and engineered the system it takes very little maintenance. We have an established a maintenance team as protocol for any issue that may arise.
LATP: Design-wise, can you custom design your own Modhabitat or are there models to choose from? Can the models by modified?
ME: We offer 10 different models ranging from our S1 at 850ft to our S10 at 4500ft. We, of course, offer any custom design under the sun from an English Tudor to modern Architecture. What’s funny is people in general think stucco is normal on the side of buildings, when it’s whole purpose for being invented in the first place was to hide all of the imperfections in building. So yes, we can even put stucco on it if that’s what the customer would like.
LATP: Where is the first sustainable community slated to be built?
ME: We are working on a number of projects and one that I would like to note is the Ranch located in San Clemente CA, where we will be building a humanitarian retreat community.
LATP: Where can we see a Modhabitat home in the flesh?
ME: We have homes built in Santa Barbara to offices in La Jolla using the technology. There are about 6 buildings up in California.
After your finished building your beautiful, eco-friendly home, you’ll need to furnish it. Modhabitat’s sister company, Modern Studio Furnishings, will complete your dream home, inside and out. To read LA’s The Place article on MSF, click here…
To get your very own Modhabitat home, contact Mike or John at [email protected] or:
Modhabitat Inc.
290 Broadway Ave,
Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA
(949)376-0103
www.modhabitat.com
This is very exciting! I’d love to live in one of these houses!