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The production capacity of the factory-built (both manufactured & modular) housing industry is sorely needed in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. Unfortunately, when most people think of manufactured housing, the words "trailer" and "mobile home" come to mind, which conjures up images like this:

Most citizens the Gulf Coast realize that there is a second catastrophe that could follow the first: if we rebuild the Coast with buildings far inferior to what was lost, our grandchildren and those that follow them will forever begrudge us for replacing the great buildings our ancestors gave us with something far less.

We can do much better than that... and we must. For our children, our grandchildren, and those that come after them. The citizens of the Coast realize this, and because the image above is their image of factory-built housing, they vigorously object to allowing it in their towns.

So how do we resolve this dilemma? It's clear that we cannot convince the citizens of the Coast to suddenly accept manufactured housing by just making it a little bit better. Look at how much better it has gotten since the 1972 models came out, which looked like the trailer above, and yet, manufactured housing is still outlawed in much of America.

We believe, as a result, that manufactured housing isn't the solution at all; we must change the entire paradigm. We call the new paradigm Manufactured Architecture.

So what is Manufactured Architecture? Manufactured Architecture is a design standard built around this simple test: Is the design so good that people across the market regularly choose it over the best site-built homes designed by notable architects when budget is not an issue?

Obviously, that doesn't happen now... or if it does, it's so rare that the event should be published in trade journals. Many question whether such a standard is even possible. We think it's actually fairly simple, but only if we are willing to do a few things in strikingly different ways from how they're currently done.

The manufactured housing industry has made huge construction quality strides in recent years. Manufactured homes are structurally stronger than many site-built homes, and their interiors are indistinguishable from those in custom-built homes. Yet, manufactured homes are still coded out of many cities and towns across America. Why?

The problem isn't the manufacturing process. Assembly lines are used to create the world's best automobiles, computers, and airplanes. Factories make precisely what the designers tell them to, so the fact that most people still reject manufactured housing tells us that the problem is a design problem. Design matters.

So that's where we start: with the designers. Manufacturing and selling highly sought-after Designer Homes begins by engaging the best designers. The three dozen or so designs the Guild is making available come both from well-known names and also from new talent you'll soon know.

Look through Southern Living back issues, for example, and you're sure to find names like Bill Allison, Eric Moser and Gary Justiss. And we have rising stars, too, that you will be hearing from shortly.

The first Katrina Cottages to be built left no doubt about the fact that design matters. But what sort of design? Most were actually very simple cottages, with exposed rafter tails and simple vernacular details. These designers understand the difference between loading up on expensive details and doing simpler work that resonates so deeply with people that they pull out their checkbooks on the spot. Once, this was common knowledge. Today, it takes some very special designers to pull it off.

So how do we actually make it work? It's a simple four-step process:

The first step is to connect the manufacturer with the designer. Once connected, the manufacturer selects from among the available designs and the designer turns over the design drawings.

The manufacturer then prepares their normal shop drawings, but instead of going directly into production, they submit them to the designer for review. Expect several corrections on the first unit or two because it takes time for the people in the drafting room to adjust their thinking.

Next, the manufacturer builds one prototype unit and flies the designer to their factory to review the prototype. Corrections are made on the spot. This process usually takes one day, but might take two. When complete, the designer photographs the unit and sends the photos, the corrected shop drawings and the original design drawings to the Guild.

Once all documentation has been received, the Guild places the unit on the Roster of Approved Units and notifies the manufacturer that the unit has received the New Urban Guild Seal of Approval.

The New Urban Guild Seal of Approval addresses only the appearance of Approved Units.

The New Urban Guild Seal of Approval does not address any aspect of construction quality, life safety, structural design, or fire code issues. No existing regulations are to be affected, or in particular, are to be diminished by this architectural design quality certification.

In other words, the Seal of Approval certifies only the aesthetics of the unit. But it is the aesthetics of manufactured housing that have caused existing market perception problems.

The manufacturer pays the Guild a small agency fee to connect the manufacturer with a participating designer. The manufacturer then pays the designer for time spent reviewing shop drawings and also for time spent reviewing the prototype unit. Payment for the design itself occurs in the form of a small royalty on each unit sold. The royalty also grants the manufacturer the right to use the New Urban Guild Seal of Approval and its explanatory text as part of their marketing materials.

Hiring great designers is only part of the picture. Being part of a larger program brings value that does not occur when going at it alone.

Yes. It is happening already. This is Katrina Cottage VII, manufactured by Housing International in Reserve, Louisiana. It was certified as the first manufactured Katrina Cottage ever on September 11, 2006. This image was taken in the factory on the day that it was certified:

Here it is, sitting in front of the factory between visits to various trade shows and other venues:

Because it is smallest Katrina Cottages ever designed, it can be towed by a duelly and does not need an escort.

So if you're interested in making a big impact at your trade show or other gathering, and Housing International might bring it to your event... if it isn't already committed somewhere else.

Others are in the work and will be coming online soon. Check the News page for news of newly certified units. Check the Katrina Cottage Types page for a full catalog of Katrina Cottages being produced by a number of methods. And check the Projects page for stories about some of the places where they have been installed.