OurStory Small Houses

Following a 2019 Brookings Institution report that argues “replacing detached single-family homes with ‘gentle density’ could increase the number of homes available and bring down average housing prices in high-cost locations, while retaining the physical scale of the neighborhood,” OurStory is a housing system based on the single-family house. While affordable housing needs in urban communities benefit from multi-family complexes, or smaller “missing middle” housing types and the high density these types bring to a city, there are many communities where the single-family house and its variants are still relevant, or necessary. Thus, OurStory is not an argument against density or collective housing, but for the house to be one of a broad set of solutions to the housing crisis. The project proposes reimagining the single-family house to address housing needs in existing neighborhoods, vacant odd-lots, new dense developments and to uncover new opportunities for the type. As one example of its use, OurStory provides a new option for housing older adults wishing to downsize and remain in their neighborhoods as they age.

OurStory houses are designed for accessibility, energy efficiency, low embodied carbon construction, and low maintenance. The building envelope (exterior walls and roof) is constructed with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) to increase energy efficiency, improve air quality, and  reduce material use and construction waste. SIPs can reduce construction labor cost by up to 55% over conventional wood “stick” framing. Storage cabinets and consolidated “wet wall” merging kitchen and bathroom utilities are prefabricated in a shop to increase precision and accuracy. Together with the SIPs, the prefabricated units are delivered to the construction site at just the right moment, limiting construction time, saving cost and disruption to the existing neighborhood. Heating and cooling is via electric heat pump with an ERV heat exchanger to maintain fresh ventilation in the air-tight house. The floor is an efficient and attractive polished concrete slab on grade. This may be upgraded with an optional hydronic in-floor heating system to improve comfort and reduce indoor dust circulation. Appliances are all Energy Star rated. Considering all the knock-on benefits of the SIP system, the overall and long-term costs are less than conventional construction.

See Corby + Benson for the design and construction of the first two houses in the system.

OurStory argues for a housing model founded on the belief that cost should be based on  long-term affordability. This approach dignifies the resident with eminently livable and energy efficient spaces. To offset a space efficient, small floor plan (less than typical home square footage), SIP panel construction allows for a generous, lofty high ceiling without sacrificing building performance or increasing cost – the SIPs are both building structure, insulation, and vapor barrier. The incremental added cost to build with SIPs over stick framing is offset by long term energy savings, benefiting the occupant’s carbon footprint, and their wallet. Custom made cabinetry replaces stud framed, permanent closet walls while increasing the amount of storage that can be accommodated in a small area. Adaptable window locations, and the optional bay window, help to visually extend the living area with “borrowed landscapes” from views to the exterior. Simple solutions such as the polished concrete slab on grade floors eliminate the need for layered finishes to save cost while providing a clean, contemporary look. These floors can be simply polished and sealed or for an upgrade, ground to expose aggregate for a terrazzo look.

OurStory maybe be build in many different settings, including, where permitted, as a detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) adjacent to an existing home. This guide was adapted for an Omaha audience by Partners for Livable Omaha (Livable Omaha), from information created by Casita Coalition in California, and then reviewed by Omaha-based lenders for accuracy. While this information is Omaha specific, many of the recommendations are applicable to other communities in the USA. For more information about Livable Omaha, visit www.Livable.org or contact Jessica Scheuerman at jessica@livable.org.

Download the guide here.

Please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous survey to give your feedback on the OurStory house designs and our upcoming development project in the Benson neighborhood.

For more information on this project, visit www.livable.org

For questions, contact jessica@livable.org