The Ultimate Guide to Prefab: 65 Modular Home ...
The Ultimate Guide to Prefab: 65 Modular Home ...
Getting Started With Prefabs
Are you a relative newbie, or just need a refresher on the question of “modular” versus “prefabricated”? You’re in luck: we’ve got you covered with the basics.
Prefab, Modular, and Kit Homes—What's the Difference?
Though this 2,808-square-foot home in East Sussex, England, used to be an old workshop, Sandy Rendel Architects transformed it into a beautiful home. The building shell was made of SIPS (structured insulated panels) and was prefabricated off-site.
Builders, developers, designers, and architects have developed a range of homes that are composed of prefabricated, modular, or kit-of-parts components that can allow for lower costs, faster and easier on-site construction, and even higher quality spaces. Here, we delve into the differences—and similarities—among these manufactured residences.
11 Modular Home Floor Plans Suited to Various Needs
With an exterior resembling that of a contemporary ranch-style home, the 850-square-foot Casita 850 by MA Modular houses two bedrooms and one bathroom across one floor.
We’ve gathered the floor plans of some of our favorite prefabricated and modular homes to appreciate not only how they look from the outside, but also how they function spatially.
State-by-State Prefab Resource Guides
These reliable companies across the United States are here to help you make your prefab dream home a reality.
Arizona Prefabs
Fairbrook Homes is based in Chandler, Arizona with more than 25 years of experience in modular, mobile, and manufactured residences.
Arizona might be known for its beautiful national parks and lunar-like desert landscapes, but it also features successful prefab and modular home companies.
California Prefabs
The Office of Mobile Design, founded by Jennifer Siegal in 1998, focuses on prefabrication of portable, demountable, and relocatable structures.
California’s diverse weather makes it hard to imagine prefab homes that suit the various climates. But fear not, here are some trustworthy companies that design prefab homes throughout the state.
Maine Prefabs
Go Home by Go Logic constructs modular homes with a contemporary feel, inspired by traditional New England architecture.
Maine’s nautical history, natural landscape, and classic architecture offer much to residents. Prefabricated and modular homes are becoming popular, often inspired by local farmhouses and cabins.
Massachusetts Prefabs
Boston-based Turkel Design offers the Axiom series of prefab houses, launched in 2015, with 11 distinct designs starting at around $800,000.
Prefabricated homes in New England have never looked so appealing.
Minnesota Prefabs
Designed by HGA Architects and Engineers, these prefab cabins were designed off-site before being transported and set atop a series of concrete piers.
If you’re seeking to build a prefab home in Minnesota, these four firms are ready to assist.
New Hampshire Prefabs
Established in the 1970s, Bensonwood refine the forgotten craft of framing buildings ranging from traditional timber frames to energy-efficient hybrids.
If you’re located near New Hampshire and seeking to move into a modern prefab, look no further—we’ve rounded up five top prefab home builders in the area.
New York Prefabs
Cocoon9's Cocoon Cabin is a versatile one-bed, one-bath dwelling outfitted with natural materials like bamboo and wood. It also incorporates sustainable features like solar panels and a green roof.
New York State hosts companies that build modern prefab or modular homes pushing the envelope of building technology.
Ohio Prefabs
Cleveland-based evoDOMUS specializes in high-end, energy-efficient homes with custom designs, ensuring you’re not purchasing an off-the-shelf model.
If you live in Ohio and are thinking of trading in your traditional build for a new prefab home, assistance is nearby.
Oregon Prefabs
Based in Salem, Oregon, Ideabox builds prefab residences from a sustainable point of view—making them beautiful, efficient, and affordable.
If you're thinking about a move to Oregon or daydreaming about setting up a winter cabin near Mount Hood, consider these prefab home builders and designers.
Pennsylvania Prefabs
Founded in Pittsburgh in 2012, EcoCraft Homes is a family-owned organization emphasizing energy-efficient homes that can be built in as little as 90 days.
Prefab home construction is popular in Pennsylvania. Check out five modular home companies building contemporary, prefabricated homes.
Washington Prefabs
Established in 1997, Artisans Group designs eco-conscious prefab homes throughout Seattle and Portland areas.
Washington has risen to the top of the prefab residential market thanks to well-established builders and architects who prefer eco-conscious features and local materials like Western cedar.
Regional and Topographical Prefab Guides
Get inspired by these prefabricated marvels from all across the globe.
Kit Home Companies in All Seven Continents
Australian modular prefab company Ecolive designs and builds environmentally responsible, affordable, and resource-efficient homes and commercial buildings.
Owning a modern kit home pique your interest? Good news: we’ve assembled a list of kit home companies in all seven continents for you.
The Best Prefab Homes in Australia
For her family’s house near Melbourne, Anna Horne created a series of wooden prefab modules using a design from the company Prebuilt.
Homes from the land down under respond to challenging locations and climate change with modular solutions.
7 Coolest California Prefabs
Icelandic design studio Minarc built this Culver City family home with mnmMOD, a local prefab company. Minarc’s prefabricated panels minimize energy consumption and reduce the home’s carbon footprint.
Here are seven good-looking prefabricated homes in California that we love.
7 Glorious Golden State Prefabs
This Marmol Radziner–designed prefab house was trucked onto its remote Northern California site.
Many architects in California experiment with alternative construction methods. These seven modular homes make the most of the varied landscape, pushing the envelope with innovative prefab designs.
10 Coastal Prefabs That Bring Modular Housing to the Beach
This compact prefab vacation home in Onemana Beach, New Zealand, was built in collaboration with architecture students from Auckland’s Unitec Institute of Technology.
An efficient prefab can become a coastal retreat with a spectacular view. We’ve gathered prefabs in diverse locations worldwide, providing inspiration if you're plotting to build a beach house.
6 Modern Modular Homes We Love in Colorado
The Outward Bound cabins, designed by the University of Colorado Denver’s design-build program, have steel frames that lift the structures above a three-foot snowpack while supporting corrugated-steel “snow roofs.”
Colorado offers a broad variety of modern, weather-appropriate prefab homes. Here, we review some of our favorite modular homes in this outdoorsy destination.
9 Modern Prefabs in the Desert
This desert home’s prefabricated components were made in Marmol Radziner’s factory near Los Angeles and trucked over to the one-and-a-half-acre site.
These prefab homes are nestled into their harsh desert surroundings—thanks to features that help them deal with extremes.
10 Prefabs Found on the East Coast
This modular system by Resolution: 4 allows architects to customize a home’s floor plan by stacking, lining up, and joining factory-built modules.
Paneled, modular, and kit residences are more affordable and eco-friendly than traditional structures—and they’re popping up coast to coast.
6 Weather-Ready Prefab Homes in Florida
Cubicco, a Miami-based housing company, creates homes designed to meet winds up to 180 miles per hour, meeting Miami Dade County’s hurricane zone code.
We take a look at models and completed residences in Florida that benefit from prefabrication and modular construction, while meeting standards to withstand the state’s conditions.
4 Innovative Prefab Homes in Georgia
Based in Atlanta, Compass Green develops modular homes that are technologically advanced, energy-efficient, and use local, renewable materials.
These modular, kit, and prefabricated homes in Georgia will make you rethink traditional Southern architecture.
7 Hawaiian Prefabs and Kit Homes
Kapoho by Teak Bali Hardwood Homes is comprised of three structures connected by a large wrap-around deck. The walls of the Hawaii prefab home are finished in mango wood.
If you enjoy breathtaking landscapes and sunny beaches, then Hawaii is perfect for you. Consider these seven prefabs and kit homes.
8 Inspirational Island Prefabs
This prefab home on the Isle of Skye in northern Scotland is mostly made from locally sourced materials. The timber-framed model, evoking simple agrarian barns, can be constructed on-site in as little as one day.
Island living is aspirational. These prefabricated homes on islands around the world will give you the inspiration you need.
5 Marvelous Prefab Homes in Michigan
This two-bedroom, two-bathroom Hygge Supply model was built on a corner lot in Traverse City, Michigan.
Homes in the Great Lakes State will make you reconsider prefab design possibilities.
19 Modern Prefab Companies Perfect For Mountain Living
“All of our products are conceived for a ‘zero impact dwelling,’” says Torino, Italy-based Leap Company. “[The mountains] make the best setting to test our products and to find winning solutions to build and live in every place.”
Check out 20 prefab companies creating perfect modern mountain homes.
7 Prefabs Set in Nature
Tucked away on the edge of a small lake surrounded by mountains in western Norway, the 376-square-foot Bjellandsbu cabin by Snøhetta is made with locally sourced stones and features a grass-covered roof.
Prefabricated buildings leave minimal construction waste and can be built without damaging much of the land. Check out these seven prefabs in stunning natural sites—from California to Norway.
10 Outstanding Prefabs in the Pacific Northwest
Architect Oliver Lang and his partner, Cindy Wilson, co-created Monad, a multiunit prefab prototype in the Pacific Northwest.
The Pacific Northwest drives environmentalism, energy efficiency, and eco-consciousness. These 10 buildings showcase the diversity and range achievable in prefabs, both in customizations and reducing footprints.
These 8 Prefabs in Seattle Make Us Want to Move to the Emerald City
The Genesee Townhomes, constructed in Method Homes’ manufacturing facility in Washington, were delivered as 12 nearly complete units, cranked into place, and joined at their West Seattle site.
Surrounded by water, mountains, and forests, Seattle is a hub for modern design. With high real estate prices and low inventory, prefabricated homes are gaining popularity.
10 Kit Home Companies in the South
This 14-by-16-foot modern dwelling by Kanga Room Systems is perfect as a guesthouse. It also becomes a good investment as a short-term rental during tourist seasons in Austin, Texas.
Known for charm, wide-open spaces, and sunny skies, the South is a welcoming place to call home. These kit home companies can help realize your prefab home building ambitions.
These 8 Homes in Texas Will Convert You Into a Prefab Fanatic
Architecture and design firm Andersson-Wise designed this prefab steel-grid boathouse. Its orthogonal frame was delivered from Houston by truck, then transported by barge to its final site in Austin, Texas.
Cost-efficient, sustainable, and stylish prefabricated homes are being embraced globally. The current prefab action in Texas is particularly noteworthy.
7 Modern Modular and Prefabricated Homes in the UK
Estonian design collective Kodasema launched this 269-square-foot micro home, built in less than a day.
Prefabricated houses addressed the UK's post-WWII public housing shortage. Today, modern prefabs meet housing demands and make strong architectural statements with their streamlined designs and eco-friendly methods.
These 7 Wisconsin Prefabs Take Modular Design to the Next Level
Milwaukee studio Vetter Denk Architects designed this eye-catching prefab on the banks of Moose Lake, Wisconsin, as a weekend retreat. The design was inspired by a screw-top jug of red wine.
These seven homes showcase how well prefabs work within bucolic settings of America's Dairyland.
For more information, please visit AUTONE.
Prefab Resources by Building Types and Materials
Prefab comes in all shapes and sizes—see the unique constructions that made the cut.
5 Prefab Deck Kit Companies to Easily Upgrade Your Home
Good Times Decking makes prefabricated deck kits available primarily in Australia, featuring various sizes and woods like treated pine and merbau.
Enhance your home's indoor/outdoor connection with one of these DIY deck kits.
7 Resources For Prefab Sunrooms and Easy-to-Install Sun Parlors
Themanacooler.com offers excellent advice on finding the right sunroom, from positioning to glass and frame choices.
A sunroom offers more than relaxation; it can serve as an office, playroom, studio, or entertaining space.
10 Prefab Garage Solutions For Auto Enthusiasts
RaceDeck Garage Flooring’s patented system can transform your garage into a showplace—even in tough environments.
Convert an existing garage, erect a prefab structure, or build from online plans with these engaging garage solutions.
10 Prefab Barn Companies That Bring DIY to Home Building Typology
Woodtex’s premade barns serve well for storage or as workshops, offices, garages, or cabins.
A prefabricated barn can be a versatile addition to any property.
12 Prefab Guesthouses You'll Want in Your Backyard
Small Sett Studio units can serve as extra bedrooms, yoga studios, hydroponics growing areas, or office spaces, usually with minimal permitting required.
Modular guesthouses offer a time- and cost-effective alternative to traditional builds or remodels.
10 Prefabricated or Modular Structures Using Plywood Creatively
Australian firm Archiblox designed the world's first carbon-positive prefab with sustainably sourced plywood and formaldehyde- and VOC-free finishes.
Plywood offers flexibility compared to standard wood blocks and slabs. Check these projects that creatively use this material.
10 Prefab Log Home Companies
Shawnee Structures offers prefabricated log homes with pine interiors and T&G pine floors.
Discover companies offering durable, ready-made prefab log homes that honor tradition.
10 Sunny Poolside Prefabs
This 3,200-square-foot structure features a prefabricated foundation, concrete panel siding, and built-ins, minimizing construction debris and toxins on the site.
Check out sun-filled prefab designs that coexist with modern pools for some inspiration if combining these ideas on your property.
10 Steel Prefabs That Are Both Modern and Practical
Manufactured with up to 70 percent recycled steel, the hybrid prefab Graham Residence in Yucca Valley, California, limits construction waste to the factory.
Steel prefabs offer durability, strength, and cost-effectiveness.
5 Strong Prefab Concrete Home Companies
Foreverhome’s precast systems provide durable, hurricane-resistant housing for coastal areas prone to storms and flooding.
Concrete prefab providers are few, but these come highly recommended.
Shipping Container Prefabs
These industrial converted homes are changing the meaning of modern prefab housing.
10 Prefab Shipping Container Companies in Europe
"Each project is unique and requires a customized design, communication, and implementation strategy with an integrated design process," says sculp(it) of Antwerp, Belgium.
Check out these amazing European prefab shipping container companies you can rely on when building your home.
16 Prefab Shipping Container Home Companies in the United States
Dietert Ranch by Thotenberry Wellen Architects in Texas exudes a rustic feel despite its industrial materials.
Check out 16 companies in the USA for building a prefab shipping container home.
10 Beautiful Island-Style Shipping Container Homes
This timber-clad shipping container house by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects in New Zealand features a drop-down deck mechanism on one side.
Compact, sturdy, economical, and eco-friendly, container homes are a great way to build a dream island getaway.
12 Shipping Container Homes That Challenge the Meaning of Shelter
Martha Moseley and Bill Mathesius used 11 stacked shipping containers to create a unique home off the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.
These unusual designs use classic shipping containers to push home building boundaries.
How to Buy a Shipping Container
Texas architect Jim Poteet helped Stacey Hill turn an empty steel shipping
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