FLETCHER, N.C. (WLOS) — From building permits to move in ready in seven days.
A North Carolina affordable housing developer is doing it in western North Carolina and this week he’ll showcase the design for the nation as one of 40 exhibitors in HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase in Washington, D.C.
It’s also a potential solution in the affordable housing crisis.
UNFOLDING SOLUTIONS
“Our company’s mission and my passion have always been affordable housing,” said Barry Bialik, standing in his Fletcher warehouse, a crew of half a dozen men working feverishly behind him.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Compact Cottage, which specialized in efficiency, mulled ideas for designing functional, affordable homes quickly. An idea unfolded, literally.
“How do we solve the problem in a different way?” Bialik asked his team, who delivered on the design.
“The house folds flat so that we can get it to sight much easier,” said Bialik. “When you build a house on site, 20% of the lumber goes in the dumpster.”
What they’re now calling Origami Homes reduces waste by manufacturing the entire home in a Fletcher warehouse, with essentially no waste.
“It’s completely plug and play,” said Bialik.
Everything, including the kitchen sink.
“When the walls stand up, we have the roof, the roof is already made, we kind of slide that on,” explained Bialik, as he stood watching the house unfold.
The walls are pre-wired with electricity in the warehouse. The bathroom is also constructed before arriving on site, built out with the flooring, toilet, shower, and vanity.
“We slide this into place, and we slide it through the front of the unit,” explained Bialik.
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One side of the bathroom forms the bedroom wall; the other creates a closet.
“Once this is in place, the kitchen slides in and connects to the bathroom,” said Bialik. “Our goal with our project here, we can go from getting a building permit to someone living in it in 7 days.”
Bialik submitted the company’s design to HUD for its Innovative Housing Showcase. Two weeks ago, Bialik got a call.
“You’re in,” HUD said.
They’ve been scrambling since, devising a winch to stand up the house in the tightest of spaces.
“We had some crazy logistics to figure out,” explained Bialik.
Tuesday, September 2, the home will unfold near the US Capitol and Smithsonian, revealing a new concept for manufactured housing with cost savings. It makes the home an affordable option for someone just starting out.
“If this was a starter house for someone, it could then be added onto,” said Bialik.
Versatile enough that it remains an option as their family or needs grow.
“This can become essentially a primary bedroom, and we can add on a whole other house to it,” said Bialik.
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The design, already being used in West Asheville and throughout the mountains, is patent pending.
With help from area building inspectors, they say they’ve been able to assemble parts of the home in the morning, have it inspected and move forward with a second inspection in the afternoon, typically unheard of in the building industry.
You can find more information about Origami Homes HERE.
