Prefab Housing and the Future of Building

Prefab Housing and the Future of Building

Product to Process

By Mathew Aitchison With Toktam Bashirzadeh Tabrizi, Anne Beim, Rachel Couper, Robert Doe, Dan Engström, Helena Lidelöw, Duncan Maxwell, John Macarthur, Jonathan Nelson, Masa Noguchi, Marc Norman, Martin Rudberg, Ivan Rupnik, Ryan Smith, Lars Stehn and Jose Torero Cullen

£49.99

Publication Date: 11th January 2018

  • The first book to provide an international history of prefab and modular housing as well as critically examining present innovations and future scenarios 
  • Case studies include examples of national episodes of prefab building from Japan, Sweden, UK, Germany, Austria and the USA 


As we stand on the cusp of a fundamental restructuring of the housing and building industries, this book provides timely insights into the promise of prefabricated housing. The idea of a more industrialised approach to house building is not a new one: since the 19th century, designers, inventors, engineers, builders, developers, and entrepreneurs have all been fascinated by the idea of the factory-built, modular home. But international housing affordability crises, emerging technologies, and concerns for more sustainable building practices have given a new urgency to the need to transform buil... Read More
Format: Hardcover
163 in stock
  • The first book to provide an international history of prefab and modular housing as well as critically examining present innovations and future scenarios 
  • Case studies include examples of national episodes of prefab building from Japan, Sweden, UK, Germany, Austria and the USA 


As we stand on the cusp of a fundamental restructuring of the housing and building industries, this book provides timely insights into the promise of prefabricated housing. The idea of a more industrialised approach to house building is not a new one: since the 19th century, designers, inventors, engineers, builders, developers, and entrepreneurs have all been fascinated by the idea of the factory-built, modular home. But international housing affordability crises, emerging technologies, and concerns for more sustainable building practices have given a new urgency to the need to transform buil... Read More
Description
As we stand on the cusp of a fundamental restructuring of the housing and building industries, this book provides timely insights into the promise of prefabricated housing. The idea of a more industrialised approach to house building is not a new one: since the 19th century, designers, inventors, engineers, builders, developers, and entrepreneurs have all been fascinated by the idea of the factory-built, modular home. But international housing affordability crises, emerging technologies, and concerns for more sustainable building practices have given a new urgency to the need to transform building construction in the 21st century.

Richly illustrated and drawing on historical examples and contemporary design studies, the book takes the reader through the foundations of prefab, leading up to a discussion of contemporary problems and opportunities. It includes a broad international survey of leading companies and their products, and draws on research from an international team of experts in the field. This book suggests a future scenario for industrialised house building that will both challenge the existing industry and stimulate the public imagination.
Details
  • Pages: 176
  • Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd
  • Publication Date: 11th January 2018
  • Trim Size: 190 x 250 mm
  • Illustration Note: 40 colour and 70 b&w illustrations
  • ISBN: 9781848222182
Reviews
'concise, organized, well-written… Highly recommended.'
- CHOICE
Author Bio

Dr Mathew Aitchison is Professor in Architecture at the University of Sydney, where he directs the Innovation in Applied Design Lab.


Full author list:

Mathew Aitchison, Toktam Bashirzadeh Tabrizi, Anne Beim, Rachel Couper, Robert Doe, Dan Engström, Ivana Kuzmanovska, Helena Lidelöw, Duncan Maxwell, John Macarthur, Jonathan Nelson, Masa Noguchi, Marc Norman, Martin Rudberg, Ivan Rupnik, Ryan Smith, Lars Stehn, and Jose Torero Cullen.

Table of Contents
1: Introduction; 2: Foundations in Literature; 3: Utilitarian Prefab, Conceptual Prefab, or a Third Way; 4: Barriers to the Uptake and Success of Prefab Housing; 5: A Problem-Solving Approach for Industrialised House Building; 6: Prefab Housing and the Future of Building; Conclusion. Thematic text boxes: Assembly and Construction Methods for Industrialised House Building; Digital and Automated Fabrication; USA; The Platform Approach; Business Models and Industrialised Construction; Case Study USA: Simplex Homes; Computational Design; Integrated Building Performance; Japan; Construction Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Design for Disassembly; Case Study Japan: Sekisui House; Sweden; Affordability and Industrialised House Building; Case Study Sweden: Boklok; Environmental Systems; Life Cycle Analysis.
As we stand on the cusp of a fundamental restructuring of the housing and building industries, this book provides timely insights into the promise of prefabricated housing. The idea of a more industrialised approach to house building is not a new one: since the 19th century, designers, inventors, engineers, builders, developers, and entrepreneurs have all been fascinated by the idea of the factory-built, modular home. But international housing affordability crises, emerging technologies, and concerns for more sustainable building practices have given a new urgency to the need to transform building construction in the 21st century.

Richly illustrated and drawing on historical examples and contemporary design studies, the book takes the reader through the foundations of prefab, leading up to a discussion of contemporary problems and opportunities. It includes a broad international survey of leading companies and their products, and draws on research from an international team of experts in the field. This book suggests a future scenario for industrialised house building that will both challenge the existing industry and stimulate the public imagination.
  • Pages: 176
  • Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd
  • Publication Date: 11th January 2018
  • Trim Size: 190 x 250 mm
  • Illustrations Note: 40 colour and 70 b&w illustrations
  • ISBN: 9781848222182
'concise, organized, well-written… Highly recommended.'
– CHOICE

Dr Mathew Aitchison is Professor in Architecture at the University of Sydney, where he directs the Innovation in Applied Design Lab.


Full author list:

Mathew Aitchison, Toktam Bashirzadeh Tabrizi, Anne Beim, Rachel Couper, Robert Doe, Dan Engström, Ivana Kuzmanovska, Helena Lidelöw, Duncan Maxwell, John Macarthur, Jonathan Nelson, Masa Noguchi, Marc Norman, Martin Rudberg, Ivan Rupnik, Ryan Smith, Lars Stehn, and Jose Torero Cullen.

1: Introduction; 2: Foundations in Literature; 3: Utilitarian Prefab, Conceptual Prefab, or a Third Way; 4: Barriers to the Uptake and Success of Prefab Housing; 5: A Problem-Solving Approach for Industrialised House Building; 6: Prefab Housing and the Future of Building; Conclusion. Thematic text boxes: Assembly and Construction Methods for Industrialised House Building; Digital and Automated Fabrication; USA; The Platform Approach; Business Models and Industrialised Construction; Case Study USA: Simplex Homes; Computational Design; Integrated Building Performance; Japan; Construction Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Design for Disassembly; Case Study Japan: Sekisui House; Sweden; Affordability and Industrialised House Building; Case Study Sweden: Boklok; Environmental Systems; Life Cycle Analysis.