OpenBuilt

Built for longevity, designed for change

Some elements of a home should last for centuries—while others may require more frequent change. In traditionally-built homes, short and long-lived materials are intertwined, making preservation difficult or impossible over time.

Bensonwood disentangles these systems, creating an airtight, insulated, structural shell, that is separate from the more frequently updated parts of the home. Extensive remodeling of interior spaces can be performed without disturbing the home’s most durable and longest-lived elements.

land

SITE

building skin

SKIN

40-100 YRS
structure

STRUCTURE

100-300 YRS
service

SERVICE

100-300 YRS
interior space

SPACE

10-30 YRS
furniture

STUFF

5-10 YRS

A layered approach to building

Click on the layers of the building below to learn more about the role it plays in making the home durable, adaptable, and comfortable.
a Bensonwood home under construction
GUIDE

Choosing Land for Your New Home

The OpenBuilt system delivers a more comfortable, durable, and adaptable home.

door draft

Single-Family Homes

Pre-designed homes and customizable Design-Build solutions.
window and thermostat

Consistent Comfort

Remains warm or cool during power outages, even for extended periods and in extreme weather conditions.
bill

Lower Cost

Minimizes heating, cooling, and electricity operating costs.
book and mug

Quiet Inside

Remains quiet inside, even when it’s loud outside.
pest control

Critter Resistant

Nearly impossible for critter infestations.
pollution

Keeps Pollutants Out

Minimizes heating, cooling, and electricity operating costs.
indoor air quality

Excellent Indoor Air Quality

Allows only clean, filtered air into the living space, even when extreme pollution is present outside (like smoke from a wildfire).
remodelling

Easily Renovated

Makes future interior renovations easier, since interior walls are separate from the timber super-structure and are not load bearing.
electric outlet

Easily Updated

Allows for easier repairs and updates to shorter-lifespan components like siding, sheetrock, wiring, and plumbing, with less waste and damage to the overall structure.