Open Source Building Alliance Operation
URL = http://architecture.mit.edu/house_n/projects.html#osba
Mission
"The goal of the Open Source Building Alliance is to develop key components of a more responsive model for creating places of living where: (1) Developers become integrators and alliance builders to offer tailored solutions to individuals, (2) Architects design design-engines to efficiently create thousands of unique environments, (3) Manufacturers agree on interface standards and become tier-one suppliers of components, (4) Builders become installers and assemblers, and (5) Customers (home buyers) become "designers" at the center of the process by receiving personalized information about design, products, and services at the point of decision." (http://architecture.mit.edu/house_n/projects.html#osba)
Description
"MIT Open Source Building Alliance Operation (OSBA) is a project run by the House_n department, and it will operate as an open source organization. A website will be established for idea generation, technical evaluation of OSBA recommendations, and public comment. OSBA members and affiliated academic researchers will engage in research to develop, test, and establish prototypes and test beds.
It is a very well structured project, and it addresses in a clear way the mass-customization aspects and the opportunity to let people modify their homes through time. Also, we should mention that they are addressing a very important issue such as distributed generation (here you can find an introduction) and how it could be implemented in future buildings." (http://www.openp2pdesign.org/blog/archives/741)