In early September I wrote an article about the history of manufactured homes. I was excited about the assignment because I have always had a soft spot for mobile home parks and vintage trailers. My idea of a fun Saturday is driving through a cool old park and taking photos.
While researching the story, I contacted really cool people who are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject. I had a near private history lesson with the resident historian of the RV/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame. I spoke with organizing members of the Tin Can Tourists, the Mayor of Briny Breezes, consultants for the Manufactured Housing Institute, and a realtor who specializes in selling million dollar mobile homes in Malibu's Paradise Cove. I was also on the phone with executives of leading home manufacturers such as Cavco, Champion, and Silvercrest.
I discovered that factory-built housing has an incredible history, is a huge business and an extremely popular lifestyle choice. There is great value and quality in manufactured housing and there is also great misconception. I had only scratched the surface, and wanted to know more.
I bought Allan Wallis' "Wheel Estate: The Rise and Decline of Mobile Homes" on Amazon. I was told it was essential. Within the first few words, I was seduced by some serious dramatic prose. Wallis calls the mobile home "the single most significant and unique housing innovation in 20th century America…. No other innovation has been more widely adopted nor simultaneously more broadly vilified." This is good stuff!
I created this blog as a landing pad for all that good stuff that I will learn and share and see that has to do with manufactured housing. The title of the blog "Mobile Manufactured & Modular Living" is straightforward; its web address - mobimanumodu - is kind of playful. As a person who loves words, I was smitten with how the first four letters of MOBIle, MANUfactured, and MODUlar all follow a consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel pattern.
Welcome.
Some premade homes are incredible! Very contemporary and very efficient. A good way to provide housing at a lower cost, just has never caught on. The walls, roofs etc are all made at the factory then shipped for assembly - great design.
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with you, yet there is still so much misconception about factory built housing. I intend to enlighten people and open their minds. Help me!! :)
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