9 Modern Prefabs You've Got to See
You won't believe how far prefab architecture has come until you lay eyes on these stunning modern designs
For a long time, the term "prefab" had about as much architectural cachet as "double-wide" or "trailer park." But about a decade ago, that all changed when a handful of talented architects, designers and engineers started making beautiful, modern, ecofriendly homes. Really stunning homes, actually.
It was a prefab revolution.
While they have become a great choice for anyone considering building a home or adding an outbuilding, there are still many misconceptions about prefabs, both positive and negative.
If you're thinking of going prefab, here's some stuff you should know:
It was a prefab revolution.
While they have become a great choice for anyone considering building a home or adding an outbuilding, there are still many misconceptions about prefabs, both positive and negative.
If you're thinking of going prefab, here's some stuff you should know:
- They are not necessarily less expensive than traditional construction. In addition to the actual house, you have to consider the foundation and any site preparation or grading that needs to be done. Putting a prefab on anything besides a flat lot can get expensive quickly.
- They are not allowed everywhere. Many jurisdictions don't want them. It's a leftover prejudice from the pre-prefab-revolution era. But there you have it.
- They are not cookie cutter. While you do chose from a package of options, and each model has a set design, there are all sorts of ways to personalize prefabs, depending on the company you are working with. Everything from the number of bedrooms to the number of stories to the type of tile is up to you.
- You can't order the house and then put it up yourself with some buddies. The entire process requires professionals, and you will need to hire a contractor accustomed to prefabs to handle it all.
I have long fantasized about having a prefab plopped down in my backyard to serve as an office. This 92-square-foot beauty is by Sett Studio.
This is a customized desert home by Marmol Radziner Prefab, one of the leaders in modern prefab. It has established designs and the ability to create a completely customized home.
Blu Homes now owns Michelle Kaufman's prefab designs, including the Breezehouse and the Glidehouse. Its fixed-pricing includes everything but the site preparation, and unlike many other prefab companies, this company has its own factory.
A two-story prefab by Stillwater Dwellings in Seattle. Stillwater's fixed-price packages focus on energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
This modern three-bedroom, two-bath prefab from Resolution: 4 Architecture is not what most people think of when they hear "Vermont cabin."
You don't need a wide-open space. Many prefabs, like the Bronx Box by Resolution: 4 Architecture, are designed for urban infill.
Here's the deck of the Bronx Box.
Clean lines, minimalist materials and lots of light are another common feature of modern prefabs. This one is by Method Homes.
The open kitchen in the C6, a sustainable prefab home by LivingHomes in Santa Monica, California.