Prefab homes have always been a part of the Dwell DNA. Here you will find prefab homes published in dwell magazine as well as great prefab home ideas. Prefabricated means either panelized, modular, or kit homes. Prefab architecture works for both remote sites and dense urban spaces. Modular homes are popular but can be the most expensive to customize. It is best to change as little as possible when buying prefab. Possible advantages of pre fab include lower cost, higher degree of precision, and less construction waste.

Channeling Midcentury Modern in Northern California
A Silicon Valley couple call in the firm behind Apple’s most recognized retail locations to design a relaxed retreat.
This Northern California Prefab Gets a Dose of Universal Design
Thanks to a prefab in-law unit, an octogenarian modernist lives independently on a peaceful, verdant site in Northern California.
Steel-Clad Prefab Modules Perch Lightly in Northern California
Two architects collaborate on a modular compound that celebrates an unspoiled Sonoma landscape.
6 Northern California Prefab Homes With Verdant Forest Vibes
Perched lightly on the land, these prefab homes celebrate the beautiful landscapes of Northern California.
Modern Prefab Cabins for California State Parks
Students dream up modular structures for camping around California parklands.
7 Coolest California Prefabs
With their main components manufactured in a factory and assembled on-site, prefab homes often cost less to build, offer a higher...
A Modern Prefab Addition to a Mid-Century California Classic
A 1950s Joseph Esherick home in Berkeley, California, inspires an addition that pays homage to the past yet is poised to host the...
Highly Accessible
Having lived in, and loved, a modern house built in 1954 in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood since buying it in 1996, architect...
A Northern Californian Renovation Brings Warmth to the Wilderness
A former architect and practicing artist transforms a neglected property into a welcoming homestead for creative pursuits and...
A Geodesic Getaway in Northern California Asks $475K
This one-of-a-kind "Dome Home" features impressive woodwork and a groovy, geodesic design.
7 Reliable Prefab Companies in California
You don’t have to look far to find a host of experienced designers and builders of prefab homes in the Golden State.
A Concrete Guesthouse Commands a Ridge in Northern California’s Wine Country
A string of concrete-and-glass guest suites hugs the terrain in Sonoma, California.
Thoughtful Design Details Warm Up a Modern Family Home in Northern California
When the San Francisco firm l'oro began designing a family home in Mill Valley, California, they challenged themselves to create...
A Northern Haven
North Haven, a rocky island in Maine’s Penobscot Bay, is quintessentially New England.
9 Modern Prefabs in the Desert
The barren beauty of a desert landscape can be a source of inspiration for off-the-grid prefab living.
A Meticulously Restored Midcentury Hits the Market in Northern California
In Marin County, just north of San Francisco, the Woerner House is a dynamic theater of light and views.
The Legacy of Sea Ranch, a Utopian Community in Northern California
Here’s what you need to know about the idyllic, seaside community of Sea Ranch, located 100 miles north of San Francisco, which...
Camp Out in a Comfortable Tent or Airstream in Northern California
When husband and wife Chris Hougie and Teresa Raffo came across a defunct campground outside of Mendocino, California, the...
Northern California’s Infamous Flintstone House Is Being Sued as a ‘Public Nuisance’
The town of Hillsborough, California, deems the so-called Flintstone House to be “intrusive” and a “safety hazard.”
7 Glorious Golden State Prefabs
Many architects in California regularly take on the challenge of experimenting with alternative construction methods.
An Elegant Eichler Hits the Market at $1.15M in Northern California
Enjoy the delightful connection of indoor/outdoor living in this lovingly preserved Marin County Eichler now on the market for...
A Southern Californian Prefab Is Paradise for the Whole Family
A pair of Icelandic prefab pioneers deliver an efficient family home in Culver City.
An Atypical Modern Home in Southern California
If good fences make good neighbors, then Shino and Ken Mori are the best neighbors ever.
A Family’s Cramped Bungalow Is Replaced With an Accessible and Affordable Prefab
In Santa Monica, a couple go all in on a prefab home that’s flexible and accessible and unabashedly part of their neighborhood.
Modern Home in a California Resort Town
A storied 1980 party house enters a mellower chapter of intimate gatherings filled with canapés, crooners, and cocktails.
Bodega Bay or Bust: Taking the Airstream Globetrotter to Northern California’s Coastal Gem
The Dwell team zips up the Pacific Coast to spend the night in an European-inspired Airstream, explore a rugged nature preserve,...
A Resilient Residence Replaces a Home Destroyed by Wildfire in Northern California
After a devastating blaze, a Napa Valley couple rebuild with durability in mind.
Fall Under the Spell of This Northern California Wine Country Retreat
Boasting LEED Silver status, this stunning, cedar-clad courtyard home in Sonoma County is deeply tied to its natural surroundings.
A Perfectly Preserved Midcentury Pad in Northern California Asks $1.975M
This is California dreaming at its finest.
A Barn-Inspired Retreat in Northern California Hangs Over a Hillside
North of San Francisco, Faulkner Architects draws on agricultural influences to create a striking homestead.
A Delicate Renovation Revives a ’70s Beach House in Northern California
Butler Armsden Architects’ retooling of a Stinson Beach retreat allows one family to bask in the outdoors.
A Waterfront Home With a Private Dock Asks $6.38M in Northern California
The Tiburon residence’s arched windows and terraces look out over the San Francisco Bay.
Robin Williams’ Former Northern California Home Lists for $7.25M
Set on a double lot, the Mediterranean-style home looks out over the widest part of San Francisco Bay.
A Modern Multiunit Prefab Prototype in Vancouver
A Vancouver architect maxes out a commercial lot to create a multiunit prefab tower that takes smart urban planning as seriously...
A Northern Californian Home With Postcard-Worthy Views Seeks $8M
The well-appointed estate in Tiburon looks out on San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Following a Two-Year Renovation, Northern California’s Sea Ranch Lodge Reopens This Fall
At the heart of architect Al Boeke’s 1960s seaside community is the Sea Ranch Lodge, which has now been revitalized for a new...

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