The Future of Modern, Prefab Homes
If you've taken a look at recent studies, you'll know that homeowners are focused on wellness as a key purchase motivator. This trend goes far beyond LED lighting, smart devices, and other energy-efficient opportunities. In a time when it is very difficult for many to buy a home, satisfaction with the investment is of the utmost importance.
According to recent findings from the America at Home Study, a nationally representative survey of 10,000 respondents, as it relates to sentiments about home, wellness (emotional, financial, mental, and physical) has increased in importance since 2020... yet participants reported substantial drops in satisfaction.
Thankfully, architects, designers, and builders are also seeing the trend playing out in real-time. That's part of what inspired the development of the Picket Fence concept home.
The Picket Fence Project is Expected to Change the New Construction Industry
The Picket Fence, located in Pittsburgh, PA is a 2,007-square-foot townhome with an additional 660-square-foot full studio accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that was designed and built to move the urban housing industry forward. With an eye to building a home with a low carbon footprint on a narrow city lot, its inceptors leveraged data from the America at Home Study to understand the importance of wellness in home buying, and the motivation to incorporate wellness into new construction.
"The purpose of the concept house is livability, constructability, and sustainability," shared Ryan White, director of design, DAHLIN Architecture | Planning | Interiors. "We see the resulting physical home as a scalable and repeatable model for the industry to use in new home infill development nationwide as well as a unique density solution."
He adds, "Cities throughout the U.S., including in Pittsburgh, Pa. are seeing housing shortages from single-family detached to rental apartments. Urban infill development provides new housing stock in place of vacant, overgrown lots and abandoned houses. Building via volumetric modular construction vs. stick-built, site-build homes — as in the case of The Picket Fence — can help builders achieve lower price points and complete projects faster, more efficiently, and with less noise and inconvenience for the neighbors."
Dahlin / The Picket Fence
This Isn't Your Grandma's Mobile Home
Take a step back from what you thought you knew about modular home design. The appeal of manufactured homes varies widely, but the prefabricated home concepts gaining in popularity are anything but square. As White mentioned, the newer, more modern method of off-site construction called volumetric modular places an emphasis on lowering the environmental impact of new construction. Furthermore, these modular techniques go the distance in considering what makes good design and what wellness components are top-of-mind for buyers.
"The design of a home and how it “lives” for a homeowner is equally important as how it is constructed," shares White. "As the architect working in lockstep with the factory engineers, we’ve been able to design a home with spaces people want to live in, maximizing every bit of square footage where it counts."
clean lines
modern design floor plans
airy spaces
outdoor lounge space
floor-to-ceiling windows
sustainable materials both indoors and out
permanent foundations
energy-efficient features
modern lighting design
green roofs or emphasis on other green spaces
He proudly adds, "Standing in front of or inside the prefab home onsite, you’d have no way of knowing that it was built inside a factory more than an hour away."
Related: Ever Consider How Interior Design Influences Your Mental Health? NLM Data Backs Us Up
Will it be more affordable to buy and build?
In a time when housing affordability, energy, and maintenance costs are continually growing challenges, The Picket Fence and other forward-thinking design firms maintain a focus on market-rate attainability.
"The goal is to keep total housing costs below 35% of annual income," shares White. "This requires a comprehensive approach to design, manufacture, and build by balancing upfront costs, operational expenses (utilities), repairs & maintenance, insurance, and financing." Additionally, he celebrates the success of the design of The Picket Fence townhome + ADU. "It allows for a variety of livability options that align with the Millennial lifestyle. It caters to the needs and aspirations of “Trail Blazers,” a millennial demographic seeking modern and sustainable living spaces that suit their active urban lifestyle. The flexibility of a two-unit floor plan allows someone to purchase the entire house and live downstairs while renting the upstairs. Or vice-versa."
This model of housing also extends the opportunity for multi-generational living. "For example, “baby chasers” – the term used for grandparents who move to be closer to their grown children and grandkids – is a growing trend that this housing solution could serve," points out White. "The space could also be used to care for an aging parent or relative, making it a lower-cost alternative to assisted living or other in-home care."
Related: Residential Lighting Forecasts Emphasize Wellness and Connection to Nature—See the Trends
Homeowners Seek Wellness in Home Design
"Demand for modular houses is not only driven by the attainability as discussed, but also the principle that space, material, and construction decisions must support holistic wellness across all domains for a better, healthier life," says White. "This guiding principle aligns with the study’s latest findings that wellness is more than just a design driver; for the first time, it's also a key purchase motivator."
All pre-designed home features are supported by wave 3 of the America at Home Study national consumer data. This indicates what today’s buyers want and what’s most important to them in their home and community:
Easy Access and Arrival. The site allows access from both the front and rear of the lot, allowing for a private arrival at both residences.
A Heart of the Home. The concept design features a spacious family room with a contemporary design and natural light, creating a connection to the private outdoor space.
The Hub of the Home. The kitchens are sized to be better equipped for cooking, with the kitchen island sized and situated in a location that provides social connections to the adjacent family room.
Precious Personal Space. A lounge space is included in the primary bedroom, a design solution to separate how personal space can function independently of social spaces in a home.
Square Footage Where It Counts. "The design team dug into how this buyer group uses the spaces and sized them properly," shares White. "The flex space in the main home becomes a space that is sized right for a place to exercise, work, relax, or as a nursery."
Home Offices Can Scale and Flex. The prefab house has a generous-sized flex space on the main living level to provide a quiet place to work or pursue hobbies or other activities.
