posted 09-16-2003 03:12 PM               

there is next-to-no information readily available and only limited resource available on the web in my area for a modern(ist) home.

my partner and i have 3 children in our blended family, 2x5 year olds and a 12 year old, and find this type of home to be extremely kid-friendly and supportive of our outdoorsy, yet highly technologically focused lifestyles.

i just started reading the boards and find the suggestions and plans to be inspiring.

right now we're still looking at land, but are jumping in with both feet.

i'm very interested in a modernist house network that would provide resources for architects, design/build firms, construction resources, and furniture, not to mention healthy home advice, etc.

discovering dwell and running across a copy of "25 homes under 2500 square feet" has completely changed our outlook/priority on what home means.

posted 09-16-2003 03:57 PM               

There have been several people on the boards here in the vacinity of Detroit who were trying to get a group of people together to buy a big enough plot of land to develop their own subdivision.

Scroll down through all the old messages here - it may be in the Dwell Labs topic, or in the Matchmaker topic. You have to connect up with these people and see if you are looking in the same area.

--

You know what - I think those threads got lost with a server crash that happened a little while ago.

Well a member here that goes by Gattina was the thread starter. I'll try to find her email and we'll see if we can connect you up.

posted 09-17-2003 09:12 AM               

i just got back into contact with a former co-worker. he was partner in the (health care, masterplanning, and educational) architectural firm where i had my first "real" job and he has retired from the commercial aspect of architecture and is focusing on home building. he's an amazing artist and just invited me to see his home and one he just finished in birmingham, mi with features/philosophy compatible with mine.

he also works closely with builders in my area, so looks like i'm set for now, but i'm still interested in participating. no need to keep my resources to myself if we decide to go with him as our architect!

i've read every single post, i think(things are slow in the auto industry - so i have a lot of time at work) and never saw anything about detroit - something about toledo, but i'll keep looking.

i'm naturally an activist-type, so i'll be around to offer whatever assistance i can

lepage

posted 09-18-2003 10:11 PM               

Gary

posted 09-19-2003 03:55 PM               

Sorry to be off this thread for a while. In conjunction with the announcement of the availability of the LV Home (see my earlier post), I wanted to let folks know about what I can do for the movement to JUST DO IT (as was the mantra in another recent Dwell forum).

It seems there is consensus that creating a "network" to connect consumers to producers of modern housing products is key to creating a large and vibrant market for modernist housing. And it seems that without a lot of resources to throw at the network, the internet is a necessary (but not in and of itself sufficient) part of the strategy to conduct outreach to all modernists.

For the past six weeks, I've been building LiveModern, a website to help promote and sell the LV Home. As I was building the website, there were also a bunch of conversations on this site about what funcionalities a "network" website should include. I've taken a first stab at the functionality that could be part of a "network" site, and you can see that now as you poke around the LiveModern website.

The primary feature is the establishment of directories, as I think simply finding each other and what we have in common is the biggest challenge we face. What I've done, however, is simply set up a simple structure, and it -- as well as the whole concept of the site -- needs to be verified by the community before proceeding much further. I'd be happy to help the community proceed.

Also note that I've included the mission statement that was posited as the founding document of the emerging network. I helped draft the statement, and would be happy to facilitate more discussion on LiveModern about how our mission and vision can be realized.

I suggest as an immediate next step that the conversation on how best to proceed start on the reproduced mission statement page (at the bottom -- yes, it's another new tool!). Those that participate now will be on the ground floor of building a home of our own.

Marshall

posted 09-19-2003 04:23 PM               

We can now build directories of products and services, build our own project pages to blog the progress of our own Modern projects, and create discussion threads to seek answers to the questions we encounter in our efforts to build and live modern.

I've created a home page there under my familiar id lavardera and experimented with posting a news item. I want to encourage you to go over there and do the same. Build a simple home page and explain even in the briefest words why you are there, what is the project you hope to do and where, how you became interested in having a modern home, etc.

Its easy to do - register, go to your folder, create a default document as your home page.

The sooner you become familiar with the tools and format, the sooner we can give Marshall feedback to fine tune the site to do the things we want.

posted 09-19-2003 06:19 PM               

I'm new to this forum/thread having recently seen a post on from joe b on the eichlernetwork bb. I haven't had a chance to read the entire thread or the other related threads, but I think the concept is great. Just as things cycle back into the fore, I think there will be a resurgence of demand fo modernist type housing.

And, if there is demand, builders will build.

My sweetie (an architect) and I live in a leased Eichler in the SF Bay Area and dream of building a modernist home of our own. We would love to hook up with other like minded folks out here to get this process started.

Thanks,
pgg9350
san mateo, ca

posted 09-19-2003 07:06 PM               

Forgive me if I rain on this parade....

But, I want to make a comment on the website livemodern.com. Marshall posted the link in a very recent message on this thread.

I know he has put in alot of work on this forum but the livemodern.com website seems more like a big advertisment for his personal project/enterprise: the LV prefab home.

I was hoping for a website which would be more of a community of like minded folks, where they could come together to promote modern/ist homes and living without undue emphasis on one particular plan or design. Marshall, remove the "LiveModern features the LV Home, a prefab house by Rocio Romero" emphasis and you'll turn off fewer potential members.

pgg9350
eichler tenant and
hopeful future owner of a non-prefab modern/ist house

posted 09-19-2003 08:46 PM               

I won't speak for Marshall, but my guess is that his offer is to simply give "ModNet" a home...other then the Dwell site.

The Dwell House is an great project. But purists could say it is just a commercial vehicle for Dwell, the architects and the competition's SPONSORS. For the record, I find nothing wrong with the commercialization of such projects. Many times that is the only way to pull off such an ambitious endeavor. I'm sure if Dwell had been forced to underwrite the entire project it would have never seen the light of day.

If you've been lurking on this site for any amount of time you will know that the LV is probably the single most awaited announcement in this "community". It is a pioneering effort in a niche that has been long overlooked. It won't be for everyone, but I see it as a salvo to affordable modernism.

I also see Dwell as promoting interesting residential architecture that is obtainable. This means, among other things, affordability (the term "affordability" can be debated). The Dwell House had a realistic budget and promoted the use of prefab technology.

I may be speaking out of turn but I think "ModNet" is an extension of the "Dwell Lifestyle" and likewise "Pre-Fab" is a legitimate variable in the equation of affordable modernism. Not the only solution, but certainly an attractive one.

posted 09-19-2003 08:46 PM               

You are right, because Marshall is marketing the house he has created a lot of content that is loaded into the site. This has two reasons, so please pardon me, the master of the obvious, while I explain them

1. Marshall has timed the introduction of the site with the launch of the LV home. Sneaky fellow that he is, he's got his stuff up front while the whole site is empty. He knows that when the site becomes populated he is not going to have the whole spotlight to himself.

2. Marshalls entourage of content demonstrates the extent of functions at the site available to providers of products and services. You don't want to start a site like this completely empty.

Remember we are looking for participation of the whole Market, not just a community of consumers. Its not just a message board - there will be commercial content, I resist calling them ads, because they are not paid for. Content can be posted by anyone participating in the marketplace for modern housing.

He has taken the initiative, and I can't knock him for doing it this way. Eventually he will be just one vendor among many, and I think we all agree, the sooner the better. If he abuses the controls of the site to favor his product unfairly he will only suceed in losing the confidence of the community, and I think he knows that.

posted 09-19-2003 11:14 PM               

Gary

posted 09-20-2003 10:16 AM               

Thanks to all of you that have taken the time to check out what really is a first draft proposal of what could be the network home.

As I developed the site, I knew that it would appear to be overweighted toward LV Home content, since I had a lot of content (that is how I make my living). But I also knew that in time there would be much more content that was not LV Home-related, added to the site by others, that would minimize this appearancce. That process has already started. See Greg's announcement about his new stock plan. Other people have made their own home pages as Greg has (check out Christy's -- lots of links!). Once you get off any of the LV Home pages, then the LV Home really has only a minimal presence (the "sponsor" box and any recent news items). That is by design.

Again, beyond the LV Home content, this is a first draft proposal. Now is the time for the community to comment on what they want. If I can do it, I will (resources permitting); and if not, I'll tell you that and why. In building a community, you have to start somewhere, and this is simply the start.

Marshall

posted 09-22-2003 08:44 PM               

How about making the page with the mission statement and the general theme of the organization as the first page. Below that would be all other commercial interests. I'm afraid that many other potential members will see the LV page first and not look any further. I closed the site as soon as I saw that it was really a large ad for LV homes. Subsequently, I went back to this forum and saw the link to the mission site. Otherwise I would never have known that the website is at all affiliated with this group.

I realize that you, as the creator should have some "superior billing." However, like I said, many folks will look not further than the first page....

posted 09-23-2003 07:20 AM               

As I see it, we have a dilemma here, if there is a conflict between the promotion of the LV Home and the interests of the association in some people's minds. Personally, I see no such conflict, myself, as the site is the commercial portal I envisioned when I brought the idea to everyone in the first place. I was not talking about some sort of portal that had no advertising. Exactly the opposite, in fact. If we are to build a market for modernism, then let's build a marketplace. Anything less is not going to benefit anyone except people who just want to talk about modern houses. I didn't intend this to be yet another Dwell website, but a commercial crossroads where buyers and sellers could meet and do business. I'm trying to make a living from my work, afterall, and so are Marshall and Greg. Keep in mind that this site only exists at all due to the sponsorship of Rocio Romero, otherwise, it would have to be paid for by us all. That we are each receiving free access to promote our various interests on the site is the work of Marshall. He has arranged with Rocio Romero to include this for the exact purpose of giving the site enough varied content that it won't come off as simply Rocio Romero's LV Home website. To that end, though, I would suggest making the additional content a bit more prominent. You really have to dig a few layers to get to my content, or Greg's. If we were to strike a better balance between LV Home content and all other content, I think this could work to the satisfaction of all. To acheive this, I believe, involves placing more visible cues to the additional content (i.e., mine, Greg's, and anyone else's)on the first page; i.e., banner ads, or something of that nature, instead of the rather obscure hypertext links that are there now. The first page needs to look more like an open marketplace for all than a huge ad for the LV Home, and I think this is what most of you are getting at, right? In other words, commercial content is what we want, but let's make it's distribution throughout the site more democratic. I realize, of course, that this is subject to Rocio's approval, but if she is truly wanting a site in which other commercial interests can occupy the same space, then I'm afraid that, to satisfy everyone, she'll have to loosen up her control of the site just a little, to allow more visibility of other interests. Frankly, I was expecting to see a banner with my Modern Home Design logo on the first page; not an obscure hyperlink that takes you through two or three pages of content before you arrive at my page. I know, I shouldn't be griping; this isn't costing me anything, but, this is what needs to happen if the front page is to be seen as anything more than just an ad for the LV Home, which is the way people are seeing it now.

Addendum: Actually, from earlier discussions with Marshall, I knew and expected that any banner ad for my own business would be considered paid content; i.e., I have to pay for the additional content. I was fine with this, at first; afterall, the hosting costs are coming out of Rocio's pocket, not mine, and it wouldn't be right of me to expect her to allow me the same access she has and pay her nothing for it. But, this brings me to the sticky question of what happens next. If the disatisfaction with the site as it is now can't be reduced or eliminated because Rocio won't budge from her current concept of how the site should look, feel and operate, then what? I hate to sound like an ingrate, but, if the site can't be sufficiently democratized to the extent that it satisfies those involved, then I can easily see those who feel that they are being, shall we say, given less attention, going elsewhere and starting another website. When Marshall first revealed the site, I had the nagging feeling that this might be the way things would wind up. While I would rather that didn't happen, and that we would all be united, instead, I don't see how that can happen if one party is holding the purse strings and the rest of us are treated as vassals and serfs, beholden to the feudal lord....er, lordette. But, that's just my two cents. What do the rest of you think?

Gary

[This message has been edited by GaryR50 (edited 09-23-2003).]

posted 09-23-2003 08:37 AM               

At least for this early stage in the site's development I think this is the best place to start because it immediately show any new content on the site.

posted 09-23-2003 11:27 AM               

I put some comments on this thread at http://livemodern.com/Members/Marshall/openhouse at LiveModern (go to the bottom of the page).

Marshall

posted 09-23-2003 02:43 PM               

it is a good way to get the new schtuff.

posted 09-24-2003 12:13 AM               

Anyway, how do I edit my content, under "Resources/Stock Plans," Marshall? Or can I? I would like to have access to editing that content, as I don't believe it's up to date or reflects what I'm currently doing. Also, as I said above, my content is buried at least three layers deep on the Live Modern site, and the search function doesn't turn up any of my content, either. This leaves me somewhat dismayed as to how anyone is going to know I'm there at all. This is part of the issue of democratizing the commercial interests on the site, which I mentioned above. I appreciate the fact that the LV Home is the main sponsor, but there should be more readily noticable evidence that the LV Home isn't the ONLY business there. Unless someone happend upon my home page, or blunders into the stock plans section, they have no idea that Modern Home Design is there at all. The same goes for Greg's content. You know, it WAS my idea to start this "community" in the first place, and I had in mind creating a vehicle that would promote ALL businesses involved equally. I just don't see that happening on Live Modern, yet. If the only editing access I am allowed is for my "home page," then I don't see how this is going to benefit my business. Convince me I'm wrong.

posted 09-24-2003 12:48 AM               

If LiveModern.com is going to "be" the modernhouse.com we all envisioned, then it will have to have a slightly different structure where the LV home is not the main focus. But I'd like to work with what is already there to see if we can come to a compromise that makes everyone mostly happy.

posted 09-24-2003 06:21 AM               

Gary

posted 09-24-2003 09:19 AM               

See the comments Gary posted on LIveModern this morning, in reply to comments I posted yesterday and referenced above.

posted 09-24-2003 10:21 AM               

I'm not certain if Marshall ever said the site's main goal was to be THE modern housing network site? He's a business man and is running a business. Why SHOULD he finance others business ventures for free?

He allows other companies to post their commercial information at no cost. I think that is very generous of him. I know I certainly don't do the same on my site.

Any site can be run inexpensively at first. But, as site traffic grows, the costs compound. Trust me I know...my site receives over 15 million hits per month.

If a site does not plan for increased traffic from the outset it will be crushed by exponential costs. I've seen it happen time and time again.

The way I see it, yes Gary came up with the concept, and others contributed ideas. But Marshall contributed quite a bit to the conversation and then put the time and effort into building the site. It's a good effort in a very short time and I understand and respect what he has acomplished in this short time. As I mentioned earlier, if Marshall's site is not what people thought/hoped it would be then the group needs to step up and create it's own.

If you look at the original ModNet thread I offered the organization free web hosting and my site development expertise. The offer was met with a wall of silence, so I simply assumed that had been covered already and moved on, no problem. Building a web site is easy, building a successful web site is a lot more difficult then people imagine.

Just my $.02

posted 09-24-2003 01:15 PM               

Gary

posted 11-11-2003 04:27 PM               

This note is just to let Dwellers know that there are a couple of discussions underway at LiveModern that relate to the topic of this thread:

* Strategy on developing the network: http://livemodern.com/forums/livemodern/talkback/1068078386/view

* Ideas on how to promote the modernist housing: http://livemodern.com/promotemodernism/view

Everyone is welcome to participate. Please note that you must be registered on LiveModern to add comments to a discussion. It's free and easy.