Prefab Goes Mainstream

"But a new generation of sleek, prefabricated modernist housing suggests a cost-efficient -- and elegant -- alternative. And Dwell, the San Francisco trendy shelter magazine, is leading the way.

"Cost is a big factor in why prefab is timely," says Allison Arieff, Dwell's editor-in-chief and author of the book Prefab. "In my own experience hunting for a house in the San Francisco Bay area, I've been shown shacks for $650 per square foot." In contrast, Dwell Homes average $175 to $250 per square foot for a two-level, 2,500-square-foot building."