Did you know that pre-fab construction dates back as far as the pilgrims, who shipped a disassembled house from England to Cape Ann, Mass., so that the new settlers would have a well-constructed place to stay? Thanksgiving might have taken place in a pre-fab house that was assembled onsite. Today, the unhappy hipsters in Dwell magazine are roasting their tofurkies and drinking craft beer in something a bit more technologically advanced, but they might be closer to their predecessors in New England then they think.
For an update on what is happening in pre-fab construction these days, here are some of our favorite examples from the Architizer database.
Desert House Prefabby Marmol Radziner, Desert Hot Springs, California
The prefab carport is positioned away from the house, so that the owners can park and then approach the house by foot, leaving the car behind.
© Avanto Architects Ltd, Linda Bergroth
Garden Shed by Avanto Architects Ltd with Linda Bergroth, Finland
The Garden Shed can be assembled with just a screwdriver and is available to purchase at Kekkilä Garden in Finland and by Hasselfors Garden in other Scandinavian countries. It is made from Finnish pine and safety glass.
© Drost + van Veen architecten
De Oostvaarders by Drost + van Veen architecten, Almere, The Netherlands
In order to protect the surrounding natural environment, the building is constructed using prefab wooden walls and floors.
© AATA ARQUITECTOS
Cabañas Morerava byAATA ARQUITECTOS, Isla de Pascua, Chile
The structure was built on the mainland and transported for construction on Easter Island, so as to not disrupt the surroundings.
© MYCC Oficina de Arquitectura
Prefab House in Cedeiraby MYCC Oficina de Arquitectura, Cedeira, Spain
This house was built in three months and assembled in three days. It is clad in Viroc®, a prefabricated mixture of cement and wood shavings whose color resembles the surrounding trees.
© Acme Architecture
Prefab Residence by Acme Architecture, Santa Barbara, CA
This is typical pre-fab house that is very eco-friendly and has large decks.
© Alchemy Architects
weeZeroby Alchemy Architects, Moab, UT
The weeZero is a net-zero home made of oxidized panels. It was made with pre-fab technology and blends in delightfully with the desert landscape.
© Connect Homes
Sonoma Connect 5 by Connect:homes, Sonoma, CA
Built in a factory in San Bernardino, Connect Homes are 95% done by the time they are shipped to the actual building site.