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.

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.
Pretty Fabulous

In order to fairly evaluate the pros and cons of today’s prefab design, we broke it down according to various criteria. Here are just a few examples of the benefits prefab has to offer.
Taking Care of Business

A look back through the history of prefab reveals a few failures that proved to be great opportunities for learning and improvement.
The Big Easy

Most prefab manufacturing facilities house loads of heavy machinery, but not every design must be constructed on the factory line.
Joel Turkel on the Future of Prefab

The future of prefab is an increasingly nonarchitectural problem.
Leo Marmol on the Future of Prefab

More and more people are coming  to us informed about the complete benefits of prefab construction.
Peter DeMaria on the Future of Prefab

Some people assume that yet-to-be-invented high-tech materials and systems will be the saviors of  our construction industry.

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An Eichler-Inspired Modular Home in California

With a sleek prototype in Emeryville, California, under its belt, Simpatico Homes sets out to redefine prefab's cost—and footprint.
Setting the Stage

Blessed with an enviable site on the sylvan shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington state, architect Anthony Pellecchia and his wife, graphic designer Kathy Wesselman, wanted to create a…
Palm Springs Modernism Week: Origin Home Tour

Join Blu Homes February 17, 23, and 24, from 12 to 4 p.m. for an exclusive tour of the Disneys’ Origin home

The Disney family is graciously opening their new Joshua Tree home to visitors during Palm Spring Modernism Week. The Disneys have paired two Blu Origin home units and a separate guest unit to create one unique space set against the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert. Experience the stunning architecture, precision engineering and green features of one of our most popular and flexible designs.

Shuttle service to the home tour will depart from 6225 Sunburst Avenue, Joshua Tree, California.

Visit bluhomes.com/events to RSVP today. The event is free.
5 Prefab Houses in Far-Flung Locations

We've corralled a collection of prefab homes located on precarious hillsides, atop mountains, in remote deserts, and next to pristine lakes to show the building method's versatility.
The Suburbs Strike Back

Swedish prefab specialists Smedshammar + Holmberg are on a mission to rescue their compatriots from boring suburbs—and their deep-seated suspicion of architects.
Prefab Parlance

From Kynar and Galvalume to SIPs, the terminology associated with prefab construction can be daunting.
NYC Post-Disaster Housing Request

In 2007, New York City's Office of Emergency Management launched an international housing design competition, What if NYC?, calling for solutions that would address how to keep residents safe and…
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 building; the principals of construction; prefab's connection to the environment and sustainability; cost, timing, and scheduling of modular construction; and current case studies. The cost is $250, which includes a textbook, and $225 without. Five CEU credits can be earned by attending the course.