The 12 Most Revolutionary Prefabricated Homes

The Furniture HouseThis incredible home is built on a simple, easily accessible foundation: furniture. Shigeru Ban, the building’s architect, has a reputation for devising simple, cost effective ways to allow people from all walks of life to have amazing homes.The furniture house does this with ultimate prefabricated material: simple, wood furniture.

The Furniture House - Image 1.2

The Eames' HouseThe household of the famous husband-and-wife design couple Charles & Ray Eames (of the well-known Eames chair) was designed and built by them selves. In the typical modern fashion, they made use of what was most readily available, pulling together a variety of prefabricated components, such as entire spiral staircases, to create a fascinating and visually eclectic whole.

The Eames House – Image 2.2

The Domino houseAlthough not particularly stunning in a visual sense, the domino house was significant because it sparked the entire prefabricated house movement. The simplicity of design meant that the building could be replicated easily; two levels connected by simple staircases. The steel frame meant that no load bearing walls obstructed the living spaces, allowing the interiors to be laid out however the owners desired.

The Domino House – Image 3.2

Daylesford LonghouseThis building is made from simple materials with a minimal, severe exterior that hides a complex and beautiful interior.A shining example of playing with the idea prefabricated building materials.

Daylesford Longhouse – Image 4.2

The Muji HutMuji, the Japanese lifestyle brand, has designed a series of personal huts that they intend to sell to the mass market. The huts are simple, small, and beautiful. They're made of accessible, environmentally friendly materials and they aim at being an affordable way to build a prefabricated getaway anywhere.Muji has released a series of these huts made in collaboration with a collection of different architects.

Muji Hut – Image 5.2

The KODAThis house is made from factory-ready components and required no footings to be erected. This allows the owners to pack up the home and move to a new site in a single day.The beauty of this home is the efficiency of space; there's an upper floor for sleeping, a living room, kitchen, bathroom and shower. It also generates electricity and makes use of natural light. The open face is designed to open the owners to the experience of their new surroundings.

The KODA – Image 6.2

The Glass HouseThis home was built by an architect who made it his permanent home. The glass and steel are all basic factory components, and the layout is incredibly simple.The surrounding trees and the off-the-road positioning of the building make for the privacy expected of a home. It may be a challenge to live in something so transparent and wall-less, but it's a marvellous building that makes excellent use of simplicity and existing materials.

The Glass House – Image 7.2Visual of a prefabricated version of the glass house for the mass market.

Prouve CabinThis cabin was designed by the most influential proponent of prefabricated buildings. His experience as a labourer dedicated him to building the most effective and efficient solutions to real problems. Prefabricating was his solution to a booming, post-war population, and increasingly mobile people.Everything in this design aims to be cheap, effective and accessible, making good architect available to the masses.

Prouve Cabin – Image 8.2

Nine StepsAn excellent example of architects working with prefabrication to match a building to its surroundings. This wonderfully balanced and modest house is made from iconic Australian materials and is surrounded by beautiful scenery.

9 Steps – Image 9.2

The Micro HouseThe architect of this tiny home is known for his towering skyscrapers in London and across the world. But here, he has turned to something smaller & simpler. The entire building is prefabricated, rather than only have prefabricated components. It's a consumable commodity in the same way as a bar of soap. If you can live happily in such a small space, this is the epitome of prefabrication.

The Micro House – Image 10.2

Cantilever HomeThis incredible construction takes the simplicity of prefab (all the components can be bought at a hardware store) and pushes it to the limit. This is prefabrication with an edge, carefully balance on cinderblock foundations, the building is all about proving that daring buildings can still be prefabricated buildings.

Cantilever Home – 11.2

Sommernojen HouseThis Swedish design is unique because it's the only full-sized house that is entirely prefabricated. It involves no on-site construction - instead, it's deliver by truck and then lowered onto foundations at the site.

To find out how much it costs to design and build your own prefabricated home, visit centralbuild.com.au and leave a quote.