A modular home is a low-cost housing option that is built in a factory and then constructed on-site at the new location. Modular homes are typically built by manufacturers who specialise in mass-producing these types of houses. They come in a variety of dimensions, shapes, designs, and price points. A modular home is made up of pre-fabricated components that have been shuttled or flown from a production facility to the construction site. Walls, roofs, floors, doors, windows, cabinets, prefab cabinetry, equipment, and so on are examples of these modules. They also usually come with all of their hardware pre-installed.

Are Modular Homes the future of architecture? - Sheet1
Modular House by A6A_©Nathan Louëra

Modular homes have the advantage of allowing builders to construct custom designs without having to worry as to how much materials will fit on-site. This ensures that the end product will have no wasted space. It can also save time because everything needed to construct the structure is brought together in one spot rather than scattered throughout the project.

Are Modular Homes the future of architecture? - Sheet2
First ever modular homes lifted into place in Bolton_©pbctoday.co.uk

The term “modular home” isn’t necessarily a new one. There are likely to be a handful at any long-term building site, military facility, or industrial space. Is it, however, their sole purpose, or may they be the future dwellings of an increasing human population?

Are Modular Homes the future of architecture? - Sheet3
Housing Crisis_©iStock-642690564

Housing supply often appears to fall short of needs as the global population expands. This frequently causes property prices to increase over a period or to be excessively high during periods of scarcity and great demand. The term “housing crisis” has unfortunately become overused on television and in newspapers. For a variety of reasons, modular homes can deal with these (and other) issues. Some of these are self-evident. Modular homes could be built fast, with standardised methods and units. This means that budget increases and construction delays are less likely. Because these elements are well-known, expenses may be kept low, resulting in dwellings that are far less expensive to construct. Indeed, you’d have a good idea of how much you’re spending.

Time-saving | Modular Homes

When contemplating a modular home, among the first topics that come up is how soon the procedure can be completed. When compared to other conventional home construction techniques, a modular home could be constructed in half the time. Traditional construction methods might take months to finish, whereas a modular home could be completed on-site in a couple of weeks. These are among the most quickly built homes you can own, and no reason to worry about weather conditions or other difficulties that can hinder construction.

Building offsite eliminates 80 percent of the overall construction activity, lessening the effects of any local disturbances and allowing work to continue even in inclement weather. When the house is finished, it is moved to its new location in a flat-packed planes

Flexible spaces

These homes include built-in “modules” that may be joined in several methods, allowing you to personalise them to your liking. You might be able to add more or lesser modules, or just select from a variety of conventional designs. Of course, this assumes that the end-user purchases them directly. Municipalities, businesses, and governments can all benefit from this flexibility, even if they aren’t.

Are Modular Homes the future of architecture? - Sheet4
Flexible spaces_©Tiago Casanova

Modular homes now have the additional advantage of minimising the influence of local buildings on people’s daily life. Most people don’t like seeing construction sites when they go for a walk, and they don’t like it much more when they’re directly beside their homes. Because the bulk of the work is completed in a factory before being assembled just on the worksite, the time taken for such a project to come to fruition is drastically lowered, resulting in fewer disruptions to the surrounding community.

Are Modular Homes the future of architecture? - Sheet5
Modular Flexible Spaces_©Mecanoo

Eco-friendly

Modular homes could be environmentally beneficial. Builders can assure that the materials used in your home are safe for the environment and sustainable thanks to the streamlined method utilised to produce modular homes. The indoor modular approach allows building trash to be effectively managed on the job site. Manufacturers may easily access sustainable and environment and sustainable materials thanks to the versatility of the design and construction process. Modular homes could also be constructed to have as little influence on the environment as possible.

How is it constructed ? | Modular Homes

Most modular home companies have in-house engineering departments that design these homes using Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Modular homes are built in an indoor industrial setting, starting with the first blueprints. These aren’t, however, “mass-produced” houses; and with help of this modular building approach, builders and individual consumers may swiftly develop customised homes. When the modules are finished, they are moved to their new destination, where the home is assembled and finished by the builders.

Sheet6
©Plant PreFab

The modular building technique, also known as factory-built, system-built, or prefab buildings, is revolutionising construction around the world by providing a quick, cost-effective, and efficient approach to constructing a home. Commercial applications, such as office buildings, can also benefit from modular construction. Even better, these construction methods may be simply adapted for flexible living and future development. It’s also worth noting that several people would consider modular homes to be a solid investment, and they’re growing in popularity. They have a great likelihood of increasing in value, which makes them a desirable house investment. 

Are Modular Homes the future of architecture? - Sheet7
Self-powered Homes_©Cosmic Studio

While factory-built homes may appear unusual now, designed modular communities could become far more ubiquitous in the coming years. We might be asking, “Which factory did that come from?” rather than “Who designed your house?”

References:

  1. UNStudio. 2022. Modular Construction in Architecture: The Future of Flexible Design. [online] Available at: <https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/15612/modular-construction-in-architecture-the-future-of-flexible-design?utm_campaign=UNStudio+-+%28Post-Corona%29+Flexibility+and+Adaptability+Report&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Mailer> [Accessed 29 May 2022].
  2. McFadden, C., Trosper, J., Loeffler, J. and Conversation, T., 2022. Everything You Need To Know About Your Future Modular Home. [online] Interestingengineering.com. Available at: <https://interestingengineering.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-future-modular-home> [Accessed 29 May 2022].
  3. Journal. 2022. The Future of Architecture: Why Modular Construction Will Take Over the World – Architizer Journal. [online] Available at: <https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/the-future-of-architecture-why-modular-construction-will-take-over-the-world/> [Accessed 29 May 2022].
  4. Davis, D., 2022. Modular Architecture Is Back. Is It Better?. [online] Architect. Available at: <https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/modular-architecture-is-back-is-it-better_o> [Accessed 29 May 2022].
  5. Journal. 2022. 7 Homes That Prove the Future of Architecture Will Be Prefabicated. [online] Available at: <https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/prefab-homes/> [Accessed 29 May 2022].
  6. MYMOVE. 2022. Modular Homes: Pros and Cons, Cost, and Buying Guide | MYMOVE. [online] Available at: <https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/trends/basic-facts-about-modular-homes/> [Accessed 29 May 2022].
Author

A final-year architecture student who enjoys traveling and learning about culture, architecture, and history. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and scribbling down her ideas. She attempts to capture many perspectives on the world through her writings.