Frank Vafaee of Proto Homes
In 2008, Frank Vafaee, Manish Desai, and Andre Farhang founded Proto Homes. The Los Angeles-based company designs, builds, and sells homes as products. "When you buy a phone or a car, you expect it to be innovative and to have the latest updates," says Vafaee, the company's CEO. "That's what we're doing by selling houses as products."
Proto Homes first structure is the Sunlight Residence—which the company plans to build upon for each subsequent model. "Just like you get a new generation of cars every year, you'll get a next-generation house each year as we track any deficiencies or inefficiencies," Vafaee says. Here, we chat with Vafaee about the company, the home, and his take on prefab. Vafaee will join Mark Rylant of Method Homes at Dwell on Design in Los Angeles June 24-26. The Sunlight Residence will be part of Dwell on Design's Westside Home Tour on June 18.
Why treat a home like a product?
When you buy a product like a phone or a car, you expect it to be innovative and have the latest updates. It's easy to access and easy to check out. It has options. When you purchase a service like a home, you don't get all of that. Once you look at a house as a product, however, what you expect from it changes and you suddenly have those options, updates, innovations. That's what we're doing by selling a house as a product.
With the ProtoCore at the center, the rest of the house is able to be open and surround the core. Vafaee and his team call the living areas the "hyperspace."
Like most prefab houses, a Proto Homes structure is part prefab, part site-built. Tell us more about the building process.
We call it hybrid construction. We make all our walls in the factory and drop them at the site. In panelized construction, you then send in the electrician, plumber, and so on to install the wires, pipes, et cetera. We prefab the entire infrastructure system and drop it into the center as the ProtoCore. The ProtoCore is like a car engine. In a car, most of the stuff that makes the car function is under the hood so when you need to replace a spark plug you don't have to tear out the seats, when you change the oil filter you don't have to rip open up the trunk. The ProtoCore is eight-feet wide, eight-feet long, and 22-feet tall. It houses the furnace, condensers, water heater, and so on. The toilets are all wall-mounted and are already installed in the core. We put it in the middle of the foundation and build the house around it.
Here, the insides of the Sunlight Residence's ProtoCore.
How is the living space organized?
There are no other houses like this because of the flexibility we offer. You can choose to have no bedrooms besides the master bedroom, and then if you have a kid or two down the road, you can buy the components to make bedrooms. Then, when the kids leave, you can take everything out and regain your big open space. The system is based on armory practices and the idea of components that can be taken apart and put back together again.
The living room at the Sunlight Residence illustrations one arrangement option for the hyperspace.
Why should someone choose a prefab home like those by Proto Homes over a stick-built home?
It offers a very predictable construction process. That's the goal of all prefab: to create a predictable experience. Our homes are completed in about three or four months.
This illustration shows how the house can be altered to create additional rooms as needed.
The Sunlight Residence puts into action the multiroom FlexZone plan.
Join us at Dwell on Design in Los Angeles June 24-26 and hear Vafaee and other leading prefab designers and manufacturers speak about the latest in prefab design and when and why it makes sense. Take the Westside Home Tour on June 18 to see the Sunlight Residence in person.
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really cool concepts! are there more details available either from dwell or from the designer/manufacturer?
The concept of the "ProtoCore" makes sense, but it seems that construction should take less than three to four months.
I do like the ProtoCore. It reminds me of a 93 year old house I know well with all of the major mechanical rooms in a stack (bathroom, kitchen, laundry).
There is no information about the yearly "updates and efficiencies." Does this mean that we have yet another disposable "product" in the waste stream? Or (as I hope) does the core get removed and retooled and recycled back at the plant? How much does that cost?
Nathan, have you visited the Proto Homes website? There's more information here: http://www.protohomes.com/Vision.aspx. If you'll be in LA 6/24 or 6/25, Frank will be giving a talk at Dwell on Design: http://dod.dwell.com/people/563
Fantastic project. A brilliant concept of ProtoCore, creating very varied sensations. Inside, pure and minimal attract innovative pieces such as the Portuguese brand Myface, where shapes and colors have no limits! (www.myface.com.pt) or (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Myface-New-Surfaces/109823312374838)
Wow! This home is brand new, modern, and yet it's affordable....I love the concept and it's about time someone built a house that's practical and will change with time! Also, I came across a blog that talks about possible financing options which make this home even more attainable. FINALLY! :) love it - http://protohomes.losangelesrealestatevoice.com/2011/05/23/proto-homes-financing-home-mortgage-us-bank-home-loan/
Hi Nathan, (I see that Jaiden has already mentioned the financing blog for Proto Homes | Partners Trust- thank you Jaiden!) - if anyone is interested in Proto Home updates, scheduling a private tour, future projects, & more you can find it all at: http://protohomes.losangelesrealestatevoice.com/
I am a potential client, but there isn’t enough information about buying such product? For instance: Price per square foot? Choices of materials with price comparison? Energy efficiency / green options are they available? Is assembly included or if not, how would you charge? by pieces or by square feet? Does the type of material make any difference in assembly charges? Are they high maintenance? Or considered affordable-maintenance? How about product's insulation? Is it going to be hot in summer times and freezing cold in winter times? Or they come with the latest insulation solutions? How about the foundation? Do they come with a foundation or how does it work? How stable and safe are these homes in cases of earthquake, fire, storms, or mudslides? Floor plans - How and whom can help the clients with floor plans in case of any modifications? How expensive they are? You see, in this bad economy the most important issue for the buyers like me is the "Expense, especially the final out the door expense." The pictures were great and beautiful, but how about practicality and affordability? Please advise. Regards, Maryam Zand
Hello Maryam, You’re asking great questions so let me get started here by telling you that the price per sq. ft. is approximately $210 and that includes a totally finished house - foundation, windows, doors, all appliances, finishes, lighting, network, cameras, iPad, etc. Things that are not included are landscape/hardscape, site prep (varies from site to site). Building permits are included however; the fees payable to the city for the permits are not included. Such fees are different from city to city. Assembly is included in the price and the type of material does not make any difference in the assembly charges. What’s the best part? After you prep the site, it only takes 3-5 months to have the finished product!! Proto Homes are smart homes and as such part of their value proposition is that they work for you, by needing in this case low maintenance at an affordable price to answer your question. There is an array of choices when it comes to materials/finishes to chose from but do not necessarily affect the bottom line. We will soon have samples available online for viewing and also at our model home if you are in LA and would like to come and take a tour.
There is an array of choices when it comes to materials/finishes to chose from but do not necessarily affect the bottom line. We will soon have samples available online for viewing and also at our model home if you are in LA and would like to come and take a tour. Proto Homes has incorporated into its DNA if you will, a long list of energy efficient elements and will keep adding more as the product keeps on evolving over time. Here are some of the green elements that a Proto Home comes equipped with: KitchenAid Energy Star appliances, GreenGuard-certified wall insulation, EcoClad exterior panels, Sunguard Low-E dual pane windows from Jeld Wen, Dual Flush low flow toilets by Duravit, Takagi Energy Star Tankless Water Heater and so much more! Now to answer the question about how would a Proto Home perform during an earthquake here is what we know: the City of Los Angeles does indeed have the most stringent structural requirements for resisting earthquakes. To build our first home in LA, we had to go through a rigorous plan check and approval process. As a matter of structural stability, Proto Houses are particularly top light, which makes them ideal for earthquake prone areas. Proto Homes do not have roof rafters, ceiling joists or ceiling drywall. Roof diaphragm is interlocking corrugated steel panels, which offer a tremendous sheer value. I hope I’ve answered most of your questions and I invite you to visit for further details updates or set up a private tour of Proto #1 if you’re in town. Regards, Monica
I viewed the house in Baldwin Hills area great fundamentals, easy to live with design
I want to create possibilities to market these homes in London Ontario Canada. please send me more info on how this can become a reality. I Am sure it will be a success!
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