What’s New at the International Builder’s Show (IBS)

This is the second in a series of articles to tell you what is new in the Building Business and today specifically what we experienced at the IBS. We will start by telling you what we saw at this year’s New American Home.

Each year since 1984 a new home has been built near where the IBS is held. The purpose is to highlight materials and practices shown on the floor of the convention halls. The 2013 version was built by Blue Heron of Las Vegas, a builder/architect/ interior design firm led by second generation home builder Tyler Jones. His company built a 6721 square foot, 4.5 million dollar home on a 1/3 rd acre lot in the hills of L as Vegas.

The home was built to rigid green building standards and used as its consultant the National Association of Home Builders Research Center. NAHB’s Research Center has been fine tuning the requirements for earning the Green Building Designation for several years and has now had them approved for publication as an industry standard.

The home contains 3 bedrooms, a home office, and a library. There are 5 half baths and 4 full baths. Dominating the views from each room are the water features. There are 2 zero-edge pools, various ponds canals and walls that have a continuous flow of water over them. Additionally the pathway between some of the living areas may be stepping stones across a pond.

Nowhere in the home do you lack the sense of openness. Many of the rooms have disappearing glass walls achieved with motorized glass doors that stack into a wall. Out each of the openings is a living area. It is almost a mistake to try to quantify the size of the home without including in the square footage the many patios, cabanas, the sky deck and the outdoor kitchen. Did I say kitchen? Pardon me, kitchens and bars.

Many of the finishes were new and unusual. Some flooring materials were used on some of the ceilings and some decking material, used on the walls.

The builder had one of his suppliers invent a manmade stone wall material that was found on interior and exterior walls. Then he used another wall finish that was captured loose rocks between a steel mesh.

The home has gas fired condensing units for the HVAC system. There is a gas fireplace in each bedroom, living area and outdoor retreat. Photovoltaic panels can be seen from the highest outdoor area, the sky deck. The home can be operated electronically from a cell phone, Ipad, etc... Lights, thermostat, music, fireplaces, security system, I’m sure I’m missing something, can all be remotely controlled.

As I write this I’m filled with the sense that I’m not doing the home justice. So let me direct you to a web site with both videos and pictures of it under construction and after completion and fully decorated. I have in my office more information about this beauty. If you would like, call me and we’ll set an appointment so that you can see what I have. Also if you can’t afford a $4.5 million home call me, then again if can afford one call me. http://www.tnah.com

The article coming up next week will talk a bit about design of new homes, what are the trends and who says so.  


For comments about this article contact Ronnie Godfrey at Ronnie@RGodfreyHomes.com or call 817 988 0149.