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The world of prefab and modular homes. |
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| m3house.com |
Santa Monica-based Minarc has a (minimal) new website for their M3house.
We first encountered Minarc last April. Treehugger covered them again in July:
We admired the Minarc house by Tryggvi Thorsteinsson and Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir when it was in Dwell; now we learn that they are offering it in a prefab version. The designers...have wanted to design a high-tech modern home that only used materials "in their most organic form and that used recycled materials wherever possible."...They are offering three modular versions built from 2x6 walls, lots of insulation and radiant flooring.
land+living shared several images of a non-prefab prototype from a tour last year. The Minarc brochure (pdf) released at the time explained their 
eBOX series 05. It looks like the M3house will be quite different.
We look forward to more details on the new home. The image above is the only thing on the new site; what a tease!
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| www.lot-ek.com |
Here's a recap of prefab coverage from blogs and beyond.
Ecogeek shares thoughts on a new SIP-based prefab out of British Columbia:
"Why design with SIPs? First, as an Architect, I like to see my designs carried out as precisely as possible. Many SIP factories have computer aided manufacturing rigs that cut the panels to within a 1/16", which is unheard of in construction. Second, SIPs are energy efficient, they have minimal air leakage and very high R-Values."Also, check out our post on SIPs.
In March, Treehugger posted some good photos of the home coming together.
Last week, Inhabitat's Prefab Friday took a look at LA-based Minarc's prefab offering:
"With their new M3 House they will be able to design and deliver an all inclusive package (minus the land and the foundation) that gives their clients a site specific house which also makes the most of the best qualities of factory built prefab...What's more incredible about M3 House is the limited amount of time spent on-site for final assembly. Once the foundation is complete, M3 House can have your 2,500sq foot home ready for furnishing in only 8-10 hours."This post also has an interesting series of comments about the "affordability" of prefab.
This week, Inhabitat highlighted a new container home from LOT-EK:
"The idea is simple: transform a single shipping container into a single dwelling unit that is complete in its flexibility, mobility, and scalability. Designed for the modern-day nomad, the MDU can easily be transported from one spot to the next, fully-loaded with all the live/work amenities you could ask for."
Preston Koerner of Jetson Green comments on the "greenness" of large homes, and discusses with others in the comments:
"My values and beliefs were partially created through my experience living in Japan. I like minimalist. I like clean, sharp lines. I like modern. I like small, but functional. I appreciate that a grain of rice means something, especially when times are tough. And this is why I'm excited to hear the news of Muji coming to America..."
