4 ms·

This reminds me of the Segal Method of housebuilding: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Method https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Met

This reminds me of the Segal Method of housebuilding: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Method https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Method Two of the core ideas are that the majority of the work can be undertaken by a single person with basic carpentry skills, using readily-available materials in standard sizes so there is minimal cutting and waste.

regularfry 1y ago
I'm always intrigued by the Segal method, but it's so closely tied to the sizes of construction materials available at the time and I can't help wondering if anything has changed since.
- frereubu 1y ago
  I'm sure it requires a bit of rethinking here or there, but there's a group of houses in Brighton, UK, that did it in the late 90s, a long time after Segal's original ideas: https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/grand-designs-houses/hedgehog-housing-brighton/ https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/grand-designs-houses/he... I've been thinking about doing this, and my main thought is that the insulation standards were probably effectively non-existent at the time, beyond "as few draughts as possible"! Edit: not sure if these will be geo-blocked, but there are a couple of programmes about that project here: Build: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/26262-003 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/... Revisit 10+ years later: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/46761-033 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/...
  - pfix 1y ago
    On https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Method https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Method it says it can achieve passivhaus levels. So I would say, insulation to modern standards is within its scope
    - frereubu 1y ago
      Oh, absolutely. It's just that I've seen some of the original buildings in south east London and they looked absolutely freezing - single glazing with metal-framed windows. The walls looked like thin painted plywood, but I don't think that can be the case. It looks like they've updated them now: https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/1615 https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/1615
turtlebits 1y ago
Having built a couple of smaller structures, I don't see why these can't be done today. Ignoring the current trend of building for curb appeal instead of practicality, you can build a house using standard size materials (8/10/12/16 foot). Even studs come in 92 5/8" to accomodate for top/bottom plates in 8 foot walls.

regularfry 1y ago

I'm always intrigued by the Segal method, but it's so closely tied to the sizes of construction materials available at the time and I can't help wondering if anything has changed since.

frereubu 1y ago
I'm sure it requires a bit of rethinking here or there, but there's a group of houses in Brighton, UK, that did it in the late 90s, a long time after Segal's original ideas: https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/grand-designs-houses/hedgehog-housing-brighton/ https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/grand-designs-houses/he... I've been thinking about doing this, and my main thought is that the insulation standards were probably effectively non-existent at the time, beyond "as few draughts as possible"! Edit: not sure if these will be geo-blocked, but there are a couple of programmes about that project here: Build: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/26262-003 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/... Revisit 10+ years later: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/46761-033 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/on-demand/...
- pfix 1y ago
  On https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Method https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Segal_Method it says it can achieve passivhaus levels. So I would say, insulation to modern standards is within its scope
  - frereubu 1y ago
    Oh, absolutely. It's just that I've seen some of the original buildings in south east London and they looked absolutely freezing - single glazing with metal-framed windows. The walls looked like thin painted plywood, but I don't think that can be the case. It looks like they've updated them now: https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/1615 https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/1615

turtlebits 1y ago

Having built a couple of smaller structures, I don't see why these can't be done today. Ignoring the current trend of building for curb appeal instead of practicality, you can build a house using standard size materials (8/10/12/16 foot). Even studs come in 92 5/8" to accomodate for top/bottom plates in 8 foot walls.