An Introduction to Prefab
An early example, the Manning Portable Colonial Cottage, provided the means for reliable shelter in British colonial outposts located far from
anything that might have resembled
a Victorian-era Home Depot.
Between 1908 and 1940, Sears, Roebuck, and Company sold over 70,000 prefabricated house kits by
mail to enterprising do-it-yourselfers across North America. These ready-to-assemble homes featured precut wooden components cross-referenced to a blueprint. Thanks to robust engineering, durable materials, and some good craftsmanship, many of these homes are still in use.
After World War II the United States faced a severe housing shortage, and several ventures attempted to use industrialized factory-built housing to solve the crisis, including Lustron Homes and the General Panel Corporation. The Eames House, in Pacific Palisades, California (1949),
explored the idea that a home could be constructed from off-the-shelf
industrial parts and harness economies of scale for ready-made components.
In the 1970s the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsored Operation Break-through, which advocated the use of factory-based industrialization and mass production in the national home-building industry as a way to drive down costs and make housing more affordable. Unfortunately, Operation Breakthrough did not break through, and the entrenched method of site-building homes remained in place.
Throughout the 20th century, the promise of prefab captivated architects and designers. Luminaries like Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, and Buckminster Fuller were among many who experimented with prototypes intended for mass production—–a goal none of them achieved.
The last decade has seen a resurgence of interest in prefab as entre-
preneurial architects redefine the architect-client relationship around
a product-based business rather than a service-based practice. Most of today’s models are manufactured in small quantities to the same codes and with similar materials to site-built houses.
The most widely cited benefit of
prefab is economy of scale, as compo-
nents or entire homes can be produced
in large quantities. But this is not a
prerequisite for success. There’s value in faster project schedules, fewer weather delays, and more efficient use of materials thanks to optimization and quality control. One of the primary benefits for the buyer is predictability: Predefined design details and construc-
tion processes give the client a degree of surety about the outcome that
is often absent in custom projects.
-
Prefab Prototypes: Site-Specific Design for Offsite Construction
- By: Peter Anderson, Mark Anderson
A detailed guide to six different prefab systems, weighing the pros and cons of each and explaining how they work.
Articles
-
101 Prefab
Everything you wanted to know about prefab but were afraid to ask! We've tapped the brain behind popular web resource FabPreFab to explain the birds and bees of manufactured housing.
-
Prefab Parlance
From Kynar and Galvalume to SIPs, the terminology associated with prefab construction can be daunting. We asked a handful of architects and designers to help us build a prefab glossary of the top…
-
Prefab, Proven
In January 2003, we issued a challenge to 16 architects: Design a modern prefab home for $200,000. Here’s the story of the house that resulted from that challenge—and what we learned…
Products
-
Magic Box
Each built with custom dimensions / 11' W x 11' D x 11' H model
-
K3
-
Standard Cabana
Dwell Collection
-
Mapping Prefab
In just under ten years, dozens of prefab projects from all over the world have graced the pages of Dwell. We sifted through our archives to find some of our best-loved pieces, revisiting stories…
Tips
-
An Introduction to Prefab
The basic principle of prefab, whereby a home is fabricated in one location and then delivered to another, has been around for at least a few hundred years.
-
Think Smaller. Think Efficient.
Don’t target a prefab project and forget to adapt your wish list to fit the capabilities of the task at hand. A prefabricated house or commercial project has certain limitations, one of which…
-
Prefab is Not Necessarily Less Expensive
It certainly can be, but as with any project it depends on the architect, the fabricator, and how everything is organized in anticipation of installation at your site. Your architect needs to be…
Videos
-
Design Leader: Michelle Kaufmann
As part of our Design Leaders video series, prefab specialist Michelle Kaufmann shares her philosophy on sustainable modular construction.
-
Contained
In a quest to create some private space in a soaring loft, two San Franciscans turned to shipping containers as a design solution. View the final transformation, which includes a teak-and-copper…
Event
-
Prefab Education Workshop
Join Ryan E. Smith, professor of architectural technology and author of Prefab Architecture, in the Prefab Education workshop on January 13th, 2012. Learn about the history of industrialized…
Advertising
Advertising
Advertising
Related Products
-
Magic Box
Each built with custom dimensions / 11' W x…
-
K3
This shed is perfectly suited for a contemporary…
-
Standard Cabana
This is the greenest prefab I’ve seen: They use…
Latest
-
02.03
Friday Finds 02.03.12
It's a balmy Friday here at Dwell's San Francisco office, and…
-
02.03
David Stark Pop-Up Shop
New York designer David Stark is the ne plus ultra of event…
-
02.03
Test Kitchen Before-and-After
In our February 2012 issue we featured the new experimental…
Follow
Dwell
-
Sofia Coppola has a nice loft for sale in Little Italy, but how 'bout those bentwood Breuer chairs? http://t.co/w4OdmvgZ #design #hubbahubba
-
Huge crowd at the sf #design center for @dwellprez and @dianabudds talking social media.
-
Getting ready for the social media and #design panel at SFDC http://t.co/gnBp543c
-
The new anteak line from @walkerzanger looks pretty good. #Design #tile
In theory prefab construction sounds great. From my experiences in actually building one, it's the worst idea ever! Typically you are dealing with a design company and a prefab factory. Both play the blame game regarding responsibilities of construction details and warranty. Architects love them because of this large grey area of responsibility. When something happens (and it will) everyone points the other direction and runs. Costs went through the roof. To sum up, the house took longer to build, it costed a lot more $$$,$$$.$$, I have no one to call for warranty items, and the list goes on and on, and on, seriously. Never again!!!! Don't get fooled. "If it sounds to good to be true, it is"
I'm planning on the next purchase for a home and I would like some information on prefabricated homes. Can you help me please. Thank you, David
I would love a comment by Dwell to "Robert 03/04/2009"'s comment above. TIA
Robert, Which prefab company did you use? I would like to know so that if I do end up going this way in the end that I might know who to avoid. -Anne
I can understand Robert's frustration but you can't just "curse" the system simply because it didn't work out for you. Did he do his homework by investigating the architect's/designer experience in prefab and the manufacturer reputation? There are numerous of beautiful prefab homes built around the world you couldn't tell the difference. Be proactive, after all it's your home.
As home designers, we have a great deal of experience in dealing with fabricators. The good fabricators have facilities and trained crews similar to, or in conjunction with truss manufacturing. Do your homework - ask for a factory tour if possible as well as references. I know there are some "kits" that I would avoid but by doing your homework you can choose a fabricators that is doing it right and will provide you with a house that is far more square and true than anything that can be stick-framed on site.
RSS Feed
Add a Comment