What topics would you like to see in a book about steel houses?

Have been asked by high-end book publisher to submit a proposal. They’ve accepted my topic: contemporary steel houses, and my full pitch is due in one week. I want to feature architect steel houses but with proviso they don’t exceed 2,000 square feet and are relatively low cost. Underlying theme will be looking at the economics of housing in US and the push towards using steel shipping containers. I will not be looking at many of the prefabs being touted around because most of them including Adam Kalkins are ridiculously expensive and anyway have been over-exposed in press already. I’m also looking at issues of embodied energy because it’s not so simple as saying “wood good” and “steel bad”. I want this book to be an inspiration and resource for those of us (yes me included) priced out of market or who want to re-examine our thinking about sustainability.

If I was “consuming” this book, I would want it to be comprehensive. Your summary seems to already be eliminating many facets of the debate about steel houses and I am not sure that I would want to pay to read “I haven’t discussed Adam Kalkin designs because they are expensive”. I would want to have Kalkin designs discussed and, if you like, to have your opinion cited that they are too expensive because…… Perhaps you get what you pay for and again this is another facet which should not be ignored simply because you personally don’t agree with high cost housing. It comes down to what you want the book to be, a comprehensive reference source or an already decided before you write it homily.

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