November 2006
Welcome
to fabprefab, a web resource dedicated to tracking developments in the
market for ‘modernist prefab dwellings’.
Predominant
mass-market housing programs such as project homes or tract housing
largely fail to meet the desires of people who appreciate a modernist
design aesthetic. Custom-designed modernist architecture is beyond the
financial reach of many people and so prefab is viewed as a design and
production ideology that has the potential to deliver affordable modernism.
While kit or prefab homes have been available in a range of either "traditional"
or "alternative" forms for many years, surprisingly few prefab
homes exist that truly embrace modernist ideals.
Will
modernist prefab succeed?
Modernist
prefab is still more of a meme
than a marketplace. Most projects are “in development” and
relatively few prefabs are available for immediate purchase.
While
architects are clearly interested in exploring the use of prefabrication
methods in design and construction, this is only one piece of the puzzle.
Marketing a turn-key prefab dwelling is as much about understanding
a business model as being able to design a structure. “Commercialization”
is traditionally the domain of speculative builders and property developers
rather than design professionals. So who will successfully bring prefab
projects to market? What forms will winning business models take?
Our
goal at fabprefab is to provide a forum for exploring developments in
the modernist prefab marketplace. Community stakeholders include, amongst
others, prospective owners, architects/designers, builders/contractors,
materials vendors, property developers, city planners, lenders, insurers
and various commentators.
We
hope you find this evolving resource to be of interest. Be sure to sign
up for our fabprefab newsletter - so we can keep you up to date
on prefab happenings.
