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The world of prefab and modular homes. |
The Marmol Radziner blog has lots of news about their recently completed Palms House.
The home's specs:
- 2,800 sf
- 3 bedrooms
- 2.5 bathrooms
- living/dining, kitchen, office
KTLA, a TV station out of LA, visited the house last week and filed a number of video reports (hosted by a slightly overbearing correspondent). One is seen above. A couple others:
- the first floor (3:11)
- the second floor (2:24)
- the exterior (3:02)
Back in June (sorry we missed this!), the home was featured on Planet Green Channel's Renovation Nation:
Our episode highlights the green features of prefab building and follows the Palms House as it traveled through our factory.
Be on the lookout for a re-run in your area.
We don't usually cover non-residential prefabs, but a quick blurb published in the The Times (UK) caught my eye last month:
Work has begun on Britain’s first flat-pack school, which is arriving in a convoy of 20 lorries from a prefab building specialist in Switzerland.
St Agnes CE Primary in Longsight, Manchester, will be built from ready-made wooden frames that cut construction time, saving hundreds of thousands of pounds. Six hundred computer-cut wooden panels will be added, to complete the three-storey building. The biggest panels weigh two tonnes and are 12m (36ft) long.
Manchester's Evening News provided a little more info and the above video:
The panels will be made in a factory near Lausanne in Switzerland which specialises in manufacturing pre-fabricated panels from sustainable forests nearby. Holes for doors, window and sockets are drilled in advance using precise cutting techniques.
Other advantages:
Designers say the specially-treated timber joists are even more fire-resistant than steel, which can buckle and break under high temperatures.
Last year we covered a house in the San Francisco area that used a similar system made by Thoma Holz in Austria.
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| http://momahomedelivery.org |
I'm a little obsessed with the progress updates over at MoMa's Home Delivery blog. Not least: several of the videos are great -- but some of their best are hidden behind a proprietary interface.
Try this. In the top right corner of their blog, move your mouse over the image. With luck, a control bar will slide up a bit from the bottom. Click the tiny square icon on the right and notice that the hard-to-read gray text on a light gray background changes. In theory, that means you switched to another video. In practice, it's hard to tell since there's not much action in some of them.
The time-lapse installation videos are definitely worth a look -- though it would be much better if each video was in a separate post that bloggers could link to.
The LA Times featured the above video (3:03, following a short advertisement) of the install of the 
Marmol Radziner prefab in Venice, CA that we mentioned last week.
Jetson Green enjoyed the video:
It's fun ... because you can see Ron Radziner's enthusiasm bubble inside as he explains one of his company's newest creations. These guys are having fun, you can just tell.
Inhabitat's Prefab Friday took a look at La Reserva:
This stunning prefab in Colina, Chile, is the work of Santiago-based architect Sebastián Irarrázaval. Despite its unique form, it is not meant as a custom design but rather a housing solution that can take shape repeatedly. Constructed of concrete, steel and timber, the 120 square meter structure (1290 sq ft) lives large with a simple geometric that is at ease with the surrounding landscape.
Plenty Magazine's blog covered the BURST* models that will be a part of the upcoming Home Delivery exhibition at MoMA:
“Everyone thinks prefab is just a big chunk of house you dump on a site and then you bolt it down,” says [designer] Gauthier. “Ours is a little bit more like an Ikea project. It’s thousands of pieces that can all be handled and stitched together on site.” Though the interior of the Burst*008 house will be modified to respond to the constraints of New York City and the MoMA’s specific building requirements, the structure will share many attributes with its Australian seaside counterpart.
This is a great video from New England's NECN:
A little context:
One year ago, the Lee family was unhappy with their home.... They decided to take their old house down to the ground and build a modular home on the land....The Lees ordered their modular home from a Pennsylvania company. They went modular not because of money, but because of time. The house was assembled like a puzzle - piece by piece.
Each box was about 85% complete on the inside when it was put together....
Modular was clearly the way to go.
Also featured: Sean Sweeney of Heritage Modular.
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| http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/04/11/prefab-friday-custom-designed-wieler/ |
Inhabitat's Prefab Friday showed off a WIELER home:
Architect Dustin Ehrlich has created a custom prefab home near Chapel Hill, NC. Commissioned by his parents and constructed by WIELER, the structure mixes stone, wood, stainless steel and rusted corrugated metal to create an extraordinary first, and lasting, impression.
Jetson Green shared a video on container architecture:
In this super informative interview, G Living sits down with Peter DeMaria to talk about his work using containers in modern home design and construction. I was really impressed with DeMaria -- he tells you everything you ever wanted to know about container architecture...Jetson Green also discovered the iT House blog.
Apartment Therapy New York discussed the New York Times' coverage of prefab sheds.
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The m-house is another small prefab home from the UK (we mentioned the home back in September):
...over 1000 sqft of beautifully designed and detailed contemporary house or office. It is entirely manufactured under controlled factory conditions, which guarantees both quality of build and delivery time. m-house arrives in two pieces, each 3m (10' approx) wide, which are then joined together on site, which takes about a day. It comes completely fitted-out and ready for you to move into immediately, and delivery is 12 weeks after order.
Features include:
under floor heating throughout (electric or gas)
solid fuel stove for cosy nights in front of the fire
fitted kitchen with loads of worksurface and storage
fridge, freezer, hob, oven and dishwasher (all Neff in Europe)
utility/ drying room with a washing machine with a decent spin speed
tiled bathroom with nice sanitaryware and a mains pressure shower
big double-ended steel bath with a view out of the window
kingsize bed decks with storage below and big shelves for books
fitted wardrobes with mirrors inside the doors
nice wool bedroom carpets
For some great images of the m-house, check out Ken Sparkes' flickr photostream. And watch this video of the designer from the BBC.
In addition to news articles and websites, we blogged about several videos of prefab and modular homes last year. A full list of videos we covered, in the order we covered them:
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| wired.com |
Systm, a web video series from Revision3, files a long, detailed video report from the WIRED LivingHome:
This $4 million home in LA isn't exactly what we think of when wanting to integrate more green, eco-friendly aspects to our lives, but it does offer up some great options. LEED certified and designed by architect Ray Kappe, this home offers a great, simple way of constructing a house without compromising the uniqueness of a custom built home.
Check out the multimedia page on the WIRED LivingHome site for additional photos and videos.
Here's a unique hybrid wall panel, sort of half SIP, half straw bale:
The Enviro Board panels offer a superior building product that is easy to handle and assemble. Today's Enviro Board Panels are solid "concrete like" fiber panels comprised of highly compressed straw fibers. Through the Enviro Board technology, panels are extruded through the mill in a continual process, covered with a durable waterproof paper membrane, cut to desired lengths and end-capped. Panel density and thickness can also be adjusted.The Enviro Board panel replaces conventional and traditional building materials, such as drywall, thermal insulation, exterior moisture barrier (typically tar paper) and exterior plywood. In addition, because of its 32" width, using Enviro Board panels requires 50% less studs and eliminates unnecessary expenses in the form of materials and labor needed to assemble the materials.
From YouTube:
(Hat tip: Materialicio.us)
Some new videos of prefab homes have come across my radar in the past few weeks.
Marmol Radziner released a video of the installation of the Nevada House 1, an 11,000 square foot megahome in the Nevada desert.
SG Blocks has two videos at YouTube, including an interview on the Art Fennel Report:
Another shows the construction of a home with SG Blocks containers:
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| openhousenyc.tv |
Resolution: 4 Architecture's modernist prefab appears on video:
On this edition of Floorplan, OpenHouse NYC host George Oliphant talks to a homeowner, a homebuilder and a home seller to get the definitive breakdown on how a modular home is built, designed, sold and used.
The video also includes a tour of a more traditional modular home.
(Hat tip: banks.com)
The National Association of Manufacturers has a pretty nifty series of blog posts and accompanying videos of "stuff being made". This week, they focus on Excel Modular Homes of Liverpool Pennsylvania:
Ed Langley, the company's president and CEO, gives us a tour of the operations starting with sales and moving through design and construction....Lots of construction techniques and philosophies that were new to us. And, it really is a good website with very detailed information -- videos of a modular home being "set," i.e., put in place, here, for example. The home goes up in hours!
Visit the original post for the link to the video. It's long, but shows many details of the modular home manufacturing process.
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| modern-shed.com |
Materialicio.us posted about the large Dwelling Sheds offered by Modern Shed.
The Good Human's Prefab Wednesday included a YouTube video (3:38) of the Marmol Radziner factory in Los Angeles. (That video and others also appears on the Marmol Radziner site, as we discovered in August.)
Inhabitat's Prefab Friday took a break this week.
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| cnet.com |
CNET News features a video tour (5:44) of the PowerPod, by Powerhouse Enterprises.
The video includes a thorough look at the home and an interview with A. Quincy Vale, President of Powerhouse Enterprises. Sounds like the company is taking orders for the home now.
Jetson Green likes the home:
"I really like the PowerPod. It's modular, green, and very simple in design. The PowerPod could be used as a home for a bachelor or intimate duo, but it's more likely going to be used as an office, vacation abode, lake cabin, or something like that."
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| cnet.com |
Last week CNET released a video report from the mkLotus (3:13). This follows last month's visit to the XtremeHomes factory.
The video features some interior views of the house and an interview with Rebecca Woelke, who's in charge of PR for Michelle Kaufmann Designs.
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| bobvila.com |
TV meets the Web. Bob Vila's website includes a library of short video clips from the show's Modern Modular series.
Also worth a mention: Bob Vila has his own blog, On The Level. Check it out!
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| cnet.com |
CNET has released a video (3:14) showing the mkLotus being built in the XtremeHomes factory. CEO Tim Schmidt mentions a key advantage of factory-built homes: reduced construction time with employees rather than contractors. Michelle Kaufmann discusses the green features and demonstrates the NanaWall.
(Scott adds two gripes: CNET's video player is flaky, and the pre-roll ad is annoying.)
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| marmolradzinerprefab.com |
Marmol Radziner Prefab has added a videos page to their website. The videos feature some quirky footage of their factory and process set to music, and speaking engagements by Leo Marmol.
Marmol Radziner will be displaying at this year's Dwell on Design conference.
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| mkd-arc.com |
Inhabitat's Prefab Friday added thoughts on the mkLotus show house from Michelle Kaufmann Designs:
"Michelle Kauffman is known for her modern, livable, green, air and light-filled prefab designs, and the mkLotus is no exception. The modular construction allows for customization and flexibility, while sliding doors allow residents to open up their house to the elements....We can't wait to see the real thing this fall at West Coast Green!"(We covered this Building Conference a few days ago.)
The Good Human's Prefab Wednesday enjoys the video of a Hive Modular home that we posted on a while back.
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| hivemodular.com |
Equity Green took a look at the X-Line homes from Hive Modular:
"...$200 per sq/ft still isn't that bad considering the quality that you are receiving. Hive Modular is one of the best prefab, modular companies out there...especially for the price."
The Good Human's Prefab Wednesday explored the designs of Jennifer Siegel's OMD:
"...Turns out it is the model of the Show House by Jennifer Siegal's Office of Mobile Design. It was open so we went in and took a look around and it was absolutely beautiful. Jennifer was there as well to answer any questions so we chatted for a few minutes....Although a little small for a family of 4, this example of what can be built off-site just proves that anything is possible."
Inhabitat's Prefab Friday added thoughts on the WIRED LivingHome and noted that the official site now features some cool videos:
"...Combine all that with some cutting-edge technologies, like automated theatre, temperature, and lighting, and you've got yourself a 4,000 square foot masterpiece of green design."
Jetson Green's Flickr Friday showed off the Sustain miniHome:
"When you see this, you won't believe how much functionality and comfort can go into a mere 325 sf."He also pointed out this video, from HGTV, about the home:
Resolution: 4 has posted three videos of the company's houses on YouTube, including the following video of the factory process (3:40):
Another clip allows you to experience the Dwell Home open house. The third clip flies you through a 3D rendering of the home.
(Hat tip: architecture.mnp via Jetson Green)
The original Hive Modular prototype in Minneapolis is the subject of a couple different videos on YouTube. Each runs a little long, but you get a good sense for the home's details and layout from the two. Some interesting facts gleaned from the videos:
• prototype composed of three modules
• the three modules set in 3.5 hours
• cost to ship the modules to site was $3,000
This video is excerpted from the HGTV show What's with That House? and features an off-the-wall host and some neighborhood commentary (6:51):
The landscape architect who worked with the Hive Modular folks on the home uploaded this video (4:33):