Concept
PiHouse is licensed under the GPL (General Public License).
You can build this bolted post and beam framing for housing and many other uses. It is designed to be resource efficient and an easily assembled building system: What’s yours for? You are encouraged to use this info. to design and develop your PiHouse. PiHouse resulted from researching US manufacturers of affordable housing suited as platforms for promoting the sustainable technologies – renewable energy, energy and resource efficiencies – collectively in situ.
The concept explores methods and designs which surpass conventional US nailing-gun stick-built housing, with a cost similar to manufactured homes, and resulted in research models, experiments in full-size construction, graphics and accurate numbers.
It is named PiHouse because it subdivides a circular footprint into eight. One eighth of a circle is 45 degrees. One section alone looks like a slice of pie.
Materials are regular 14’ long and standard 92 5/8” 2-by-4 studs, standard 4’ X 8’ panels, and ½” nuts and bolts. Construction is post-and-beam framing for up to three floors to 28’ high by 28’ long. These measurements are provided in Imperial (feet/inches) and are also available in metric and other units of measurement.
The basic structure looks familiar but unconventional and is adaptable and strong, drawing on old and new methods akin to post and beam. The result is a reduction in materials used.
The concept is for a house that is good to come home to.
The concept achieves standardization, not by outcome but by means, achieving repetitious manufacturing but not repetitious housing.
The PiHouse is a concept which can create a comfortable and affordable, resource-efficient living space or workspace.
It allows for an individual to design, construct and assemble the post and beam frame themself or with help, using standard materials available at the wood yard and builders supply store and basic tools. The frame design provides potential for modular and gradual expansion.
The construction produces minimal waste, as the measurements have been calculated to make use of three standard lengths of wood and standard 4 X 8 panels.
Occupants can understand and participate in the construction, which can change or grow with easy reclamation and on-going re-use of the materials without waste.
The roof is an integral part of the house frame and eliminates the need for trusses.
The frame invites individual customization to suit the occupants, such as the positioning of windows, interior space layout and the locating of sheer walls.
- Benefits include:
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- easy to construct
- strong
- less wood than a conventional stick-built home
- self-respect and quality living or work spaces
- vertical interior walls
- readily available materials
- start small and expand as funds become available
- ongoing reusability of materials