The Foothill Catalog:
Revitalization through predictability. Unity without uniformity.
Sears Archives
The Catalog Home: A Short History
The concept of The Foothill Catalog is modeled off of the Catalog Home program popularized by Sears and other home kit companies in the early 1900s. Between 1908 and 1942, Sears, Roebuck & Co. offered a range of home styles in a catalog format to be ordered as a kit of parts, shipped, and then built by a contractor or the homeowner. At the time, the Sears Catalog Homes were a response to the growing need for middle class housing in suburbs across America. The prefabricated and repeatable nature of these designs allowed for an affordable and expedited method of construction.
Introducing the Foothill Catalog
*Images shown below are concepts only - the Catalog’s designs will be contributed by participating design professionals.
The design and construction of a custom home is typically cost-prohibitive to all but the wealthiest of Americans.
Some residents displaced by the wildfires may feel that they do not have the resources or emotional bandwidth to pursue the traditional home building process, with not only the design to consider, but construction cost and permitting among other variable aspects. Some will find large disparities between the cost of rebuilding a home and the amount they will receive from insurance payouts. As a result, many may feel they have no other option than to sell their land and leave the community to seek more affordable living options.
Along with the risk of losing community identity through the attrition of its residents, the risk of losing the physical identity of a neighborhood, often embodied in its architectural character, is also very real.
The Foothill Catalog is ultimately designed to be a resource for homeowners searching for an option to rebuild affordably, efficiently, and sensitively.
It is a collection of home designs developed through partnerships between architects, engineers, builders, local government, and the community. Plans are designed to be repeatable yet with a variety of sizes and orientations. The architectural style should be reflective of the eclectic mix of the local character, heritage, and community vision for the future.
Imagine flipping through a catalog and choosing a home that is already pre-approved, ready for construction, and comes with a predictable cost. It is not a custom home, but the catalog’s range of designs reflect the rich history, diversity, and soul of the foothills. Together, we are able to re-establish a community identity that is greater than the sum of its parts.
How will The Foothill Catalog work?
1. Spread the Word
The Foothill Catalog represents hope that real, affordable resources will be available to displaced residents when the time comes to rebuild their home, encouraging all to fight to remain in their community.
2. Assemble the Partnerships
The collaboration of Architects, Engineers, Builders, Public Officials, and community members will generate a unified vision to create efficient, affordable, and locally-appropriate designs for the Catalog.
3. Design the Catalog
Construction and design professionals will partner to produce a series of home designs. A sensitive understanding of the diverse urban and architectural traditions of these communities will enable these designs to represent a legitimate revival of their character and identity.
4. Estimate Construction Cost
Local builders and material suppliers will work together to develop predictable and transparent cost estimates to be published in the Catalog along with each home type.
5. Pre-Approve Plans
Collaboration with authorities having jurisdiction to review and pre-approve these designs will maximize the speed of construction to effectively retain and rehome as many original community members as possible.
6. Rebuild Our Community
The published Catalog will feature a wide variety of beautiful yet affordable home designs ready to be constructed — simultaneously replenishing the depleted housing stock and retaining the character of the Foothill community.