The EcoContempo prefabricated house is a collaboration between Northern Steel and architect Gregory La Vardera. FabPrefab presents an interview with the architect and an overview of the manufacturing and on-site assembly process.
"The 6030 House began as a modification to the previously designed 6040 House. A customer approached us with a property pre-approved for a 60ft x 30ft footprint...
...The [manufacturing and assembly] process follows more closely the practices of commercial construction rather than residential construction. Design drawings lead into engineering documentation which leads to shop fabrication drawings - each step more detailed. This documentation is used by the various fabricators to create the inventory of parts that go into each house. The elements are manufactured and shipped to site where they arrive along with other manufactured components such as doors and windows.
Assembly is rapid in comparison to home building and carpentry as the various "parts" are larger in scale and more is completed at each stage. The main frame is erected, sub-framing installed, wall and roof panels applied, window and doors installed. Our final product is a weather tight shell on the customers foundation ready for interior fit out to suit their desires and budget."
FULL STORY: Gregory La Vardera EcoContempo Interview
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.