As they tour the Show Village homes that will be on display during the upcoming NAHB International Builders’ Show, scheduled for January 12-15 in Orlando, Florida, attendees will see significant effort focused on containing construction costs, listing prices, and building size, and on making the most of green marketing. 

Unless they’re touring the New American Home 2011, an IBS highlight that traditionally leans hard on extravagance.

The New American Home set for visitation this time around likely will not disappoint on that count. Built by locally based Continental Homes and Interiors, the 8,500-sq.-ft. Energy Star-certified home is designed in a style its architects say combines Greek Revival with what they call American Empire – a look that evokes the Mediterranean touches common among large homes in the Sunshine State. The project, which is aiming for Emerald certification under the National Green Building Standard, was custom built for local clients on a couple of infill lots on the south shore of Lake Davis, a choice location not far from downtown Orlando. An existing building on one of the lots was deconstructed, notes the builder, so that many of the materials could be reused.

Visit the beach homes – and get your mind off winter

Most other stars in the Show Village constellation are aimed at a much broader market and explore possibilities in modular construction. One such entry is the NextGen Flex-Home, whose design and performance features can be modified by the homebuyer, and whose installation can be completed in less than 90 days. 

Also in the modular category will be three homes tailored for beachfront (or at least near-the-beach) locations. The homes, designed and produced by Palm Harbor Homes and Nationwide Homes, in collaboration with Professional Builder magazine, range in size from 528 sq. ft. to more than 3,000 sq. ft. The smallest is a one-bedroom one-bath called the Eco-Cabana, with an insulation system that includes 2 in. of closed-cell spray foam combined with a layer of fiberglass batt, a metal roof rated for 150-200 mph winds, and a price range of $39,000 to $75,000. 

Next in size is the Sea Breeze, which has a relatively narrow (30 ft. wide) front but 2,687 sq. ft. of interior space, about 780 sq. ft. of outdoor deck space, and a price range of $180,000 to $300,000. It’s compact rectangular shape, the National Association of Home Builders noted in a recent press release, makes the house suitable for not only for coastal settings but for rural areas and urban infill. 

A resort rental, and KB Home’s NZE product

The largest of the beachfront models, Treasure Sands, a four-bedroom that includes 3,060 sq. ft. of interior space is, as the press release points out, designed specifically for the resort rental market, with accommodations for multiple families and large groups. Like the Eco-Cabana, it is designed for severe storm conditions, with a wind rating of 150 mph. The price of the model that will be at the show is $295,991.

Another IBS tour stop (in another Orlando neighborhood): the KB Home GreenHouse, a 2,669-sq.-ft. single-level home with style elements by Martha Stewart and design and construction features intended to bring its performance to net zero energy. As mentioned here before, the house, which is equipped with an 8.57 kW solar power system, also is geared to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense specifications for new homes.