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When this process was started, there were no pre-set notions or ideas. A fundamental question needed to be asked – what minimum standards should a new home have? To get the overall cost down significantly, it is necessary to take a hard look at many of the features that have become expected with a new first home.

What should be a suitable amount of square footage? How many bedrooms and baths? Covered parking? Fenced yards?

Over time, the phenomenon of house creep has become evident. In the 1950s and 60s, being raised in a 1,200 square foot home with three bedrooms and one bathroom was a hallmark of the middle class. Such a home might have had a carport but no garage, but if it did, it typically accommodated just one car.

To chart a path forward, we must reconsider the concept of a starter home. In Houston in the late 70's and early 80's, two-bedroom, two-bathroom condos were the go-to first homes for many. However, this segment of the housing market has disappeared, leaving a gap yet to be filled, often described as the "missing middle."

Various housing forms have been explored for inspiration. To enhance attainability, homes must become smaller. Thus, Park Model RV 's were the initial style examined for layout, design ideas, and architectural details. Over the past five years, the Park Model RV industry has evolved swiftly, significantly enhancing the appeal of small spaces. The efficiency and usability of these units are remarkable. Regulations stipulate that these units cannot exceed 400 square feet. Drawing inspiration from these designs, enlarging them creates a small home with an ideal scale. This concept is not about a tiny home community, but rather a community of small homes, akin to Seaside in Florida.

Inspiration also came from the shed roof design, which was viewed as a marketing differentiator and a statement of uniqueness. Currently, most homes in this compact, economical segment adopt a 'cottage' style, so it was deemed preferable to distinguish from the rest – conveying that this is not just different, but superior. The design reinforces the mid-century modern aesthetic as well.

So the following styles were mixed:

Mid-Century Modern
Park Model RV
Small Home
Bay Home

The combination of a Park Model RV's efficiency and slightly larger scale, a mid-century modern design, and the panoramic views typical of a Bay Home or Cottage Court culminates in a novel style known as 'New-Century Modern'. This term underscores the concept that it represents something distinct and superior.

The homes have been designed with long term sustainability and low maintenance in mind.

If attics and ductwork are eliminated and mini splits are used, servicing and replacing the units will be much easier than traditional HVAC systems.

Smaller homes mean less square footage to heat and cool, lowering utility costs.