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Over the last two years, homes and offices of distinctive appearance have been sprouting all over one modestly sized town in southeast Iowa. Over 100 of these buildings have already been completed, and more are yet to come. In Fairfield, a town of 10,000 citizens, no fewer than a half-dozen developers are working as fast as they can to meet the demand for structures built according to the principles of Sthapatya Veda.
These astonishing statistics come from Maharishi Global Construction (MGC), a local company that provides the proprietary design technology for all the new Maharishi Sthapatya Veda projects. According to Billie Jean Billman, MGC's director of sales and marketing, the building trend "has resulted in over $90 million worth of construction in Fairfield."
Characteristics of Sthapatya Veda
So what kind of buildings are these? They are usually easy to recognize by a roof ornament called a kalash, a main entrance facing east, and a fence or wall encircling the building.
The interiors are special too. There is always a central space kept open--a core of silence in the middle of the house--called the brahmasthan. And the rooms are arranged inside according to a special layout. For example, the kitchen will often be in the southeast corner and the living room on the west side.
What's so special about these features? The inhabitants say these new homes make them feel healthier, happier, even more successful in their business. And office workers often report they think more clearly and feel more energy at the end of the day. Some people come as guests for a day or two, and notice they're suddenly feeling more rested and their stress has melted away.
Where did this architectural system come from? Even though it looks new to us, it has been around for more than 5,000 years. The building principles come from an ancient science of building in accord with nature, called Sthapatya Veda.
"The hidden architecture of nature is so precise and orderly in its structure," says Doug Greenfield, president of MGC. "Through Maharishi Sthapatya Veda design the precise formulas of nature are applied to the design of a home or building, giving the occupants an environment that is nourishing, life supporting, and directly connected to the cosmic intelligence of nature."
While Sthapatya Veda buildings may cost more than their traditional counterparts (due to use of non-toxic materials, the extra space needed for the brahmasthan, and MGC's consulting fee), developers have been working to provide affordable buildings for every budget.
Options to Fit Your Budget
Although the term "affordable" means different things to different people, it is used here with reference to the least expensive Sthapatya Veda home-building options available. The ones discussed below fall in the $100,000 to $160,000 range (not including land). The high-end homes (here termed "non-affordable") typically range from $400,000 to $1,000,000 or more.
Home designs that meet Sthapatya Veda criteria are available at MGC or through some developers. If you want a custom-designed home you can also hire an architect, who will be able to get guidelines from MGC. And if you want to minimize all the hassle involved in the home building process, you might want to consider a package deal.
The final cost of your home will be determined by the kind of materials used, the type of construction, the total of all the secondary expenses, and the amount of work you are willing to do yourself.
Sthapatya Veda architecture emphasizes the use of natural, non-toxic building materials. Certainly, some of these are quite expensive, but a whole range of affordable non-toxic materials is also available.
"Standard wood-frame construction done according to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda design can be affordable," says Greenfield. "We often recommend many construction materials that are used in traditional construction methods: 2x4 and 2x6 framing, external grade plywood, HardiBoard [wood fiber and cement board] siding, uncirculated cellulose insulation, sheet rock, or a beautiful tongue and groove wood interior finish. These are all examples of cost-effective, natural, and non-toxic materials. They are being used extensively here in Fairfield and also at the Heavenly Mountain Resort in North Carolina."
When you are aiming at affordable construction, the least expensive solution is the manufactured home (mobile home type), followed by the modular home, and then by the somewhat more expensive "stick-built" home. The last is also known as standard wood-frame construction, which, by the way, is the one used in about 95 percent of homes today.
Manufactured & Modular Home Options
Manufactured and modular homes are more affordable than stick-built homes because they are built at the factory and then shipped to your location, usually in two or three sections. The sections are then put on a foundation and stitched together locally. According to Don Hoelting, president of Fairfield Homes, who sells modular and manufactured homes, "Modular homes are considered to be of higher quality than the manufactured ones because, by law, they must meet much higher standards, the so-called UBC code." Modular homes, for example, have an all-wood structure, whereas the manufactured ones come with a steel frame.
Modular homes built according to Sthapatya Veda principles are available through Fairfield Homes. Don Hoelting and his partner Michael Hauth have located a factory in Indiana that makes modular homes of unusually high quality at the price of $45 to $55 per square foot (not including land, foundation, or MGC fee). The standard features of these homes, for example, include Anderson windows, Kohler fixtures, and reverse-osmosis water. The manufacturer can also create nine-foot ceilings by request.
Fairfield Homes currently offers four standard MGC home plans, which are being adopted for modular construction. More plans will be available in the future. Other options for non-toxic materials are available, such as cedar, HardiBoard, stucco or brick siding, cellulose insulation, wool carpets, and tile roofs. As an example, the estimated total cost of an 1800-square-foot modular home (at $52 per square foot), including MGC design fee and foundation, is between $123,000 and $132,000.
Wood-frame Construction
The third type of construction is the stick-built home. Such homes are built on site, which naturally takes longer and costs more. However, according to Jimmy Sinton, who is currently planning his own Sthapatya Veda development north of town called Painted Prairie Estates, "The normal cost of building such a home can be reduced through efficient design, smaller size, and choice of less expensive types of non-toxic building materials."
Another factor that lowers the cost of stick-built homes is the choice of pre-designed home plans versus custom-designed ones. "When you select one of our Sthapatya Veda home plans," says Sinton, "everything is already set and the builders can start working right away. There are a few custom choices you can make, such as the color of the tile and carpet. The rest is already designed by us, using good quality, non-toxic materials. If you want to add more custom features, your cost will be much higher due to the additional architect's fees."
His home plans include both stick-built and modular homes. In terms of pricing, Sinton estimates the total cost of one of his planned turnkey packages, containing a new three-bedroom modular home, one-acre lot, and all additional expenses, to be around $146,000.
Stick-built home plans as turnkey packages are already being offered by Tim Fitz-Randolph, developer of the first Sthapatya Veda village--Mandala One Village, about three miles north of Fairfield. He offers 13 different house plans, all designed by award-winning architect Anthony Lawlor. The plans can be modified (at an extra cost), or you may also bring your own plan.
"Everything is built using non-toxic materials and quality construction from the foundation up," says Fitz-Randolph. Their least expensive turnkey package, which includes a two-bedroom, two-bath house, costs $158, 000.
"One of our goals is to be affordable," says Tim, "but our first priority is to make homes that are beautiful and comfortable. We look for ways to accomplish this at affordable prices."
What distinguishes Mandala One Village is that the entire development is designed according to principles of Sthapatya Veda. The village is also the site of the Maharishi Vedic Observatory, and most homeowners will be able to view it from their windows.'
Other Options
Other types of construction, such as log homes and straw-bale homes, are currently being used by some families who are doing much of the work themselves in order to keep the cost down.
All of the above developers point out that, when comparing prices, you have to compare "apples to apples." That is, compare the total costs for each option you are considering. This means including costs such as the house, lot, septic system, utilities, driveway and grading, fence, closing costs on mortgage, and MGC review fee.
The list of developers provided here is just a sampling and meant to be a starting point in comparing different options. And if you are undecided about whether to build a low-cost Sthapatya Veda home now or wait for a couple of years until you can build a more luxurious one, Doug Greenfield advises homeowners to enjoy the benefits right away: "Get the shape into the ground, build an affordable home now, and upgrade and add your embellishments later."
