Finding Builders of Quality Modular Homes in Michigan

More people within the state of Michigan are turning toward the practicality of the use of modular homes compared to the use of conventional houses. They use a faster construction schedule that saves the owner waiting times. They also use good-quality construction and energy efficiency with the construction carried out in a controlled environment.

Beautiful Custom Prefab Homes, Manitoba, Canada

How does buying a prefab home work?

Prefab home kitchens

Prefab home bathrooms

Prefab home facades

Showroom location

Prairie Lights Country Homes offers beautiful custom prefab homes in Manitoba, Canada, and uses simple, straightforward and reliable process to help homeowners with proper design and customization for a new beautiful prefab home. No matter how spacious and big, or cozy and small new custom prefab home will be, homeowners can receive all possible help through every step to ensure the experience is stress-free, comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

The Pros And Cons Of Using Shipping Containers For Home Construction

In the quest for innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective housing solutions, shipping container homes have emerged as a fascinating alternative to traditional construction methods. This transformation is not just a trend but a growing interest in recycling, modularity, and architectural innovation.

That said, this article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to shipping container homes, exploring their benefits and drawbacks through detailed analysis.

Prefab House in Italy Turns in Search of Sun

Mechanism allows to vary the landscape and direct solar panels

Video

About Protek

The architect Roberto Rossi designed a prefab house in northern Italy that rotates 360 degrees in both directions. The idea is that the rotation movement allows to offer different views for the residents and also direct the solar panels installed in the property in order to better capture the light.

The octagonal building built near the town of Rimini balances on a central pillar that rotates mechanically. "A house that was capable of turning was a customer request from the beginning of the project," Rossi tells. "In addition to appreciating the changing landscape according to the positioning, he is passionate about machines and mechanisms."





The project, whose main challenge was to maintain lightness, is inspired by Villa Girasole, another spinning house built in Italy in the 1930s. The work of architects Angelo Invernizzi and Ettore Fagiuoli moves on circular trails around a point central. "We have rediscovered the futuristic and avant-garde appeal of Villa Girasole," says Rossi.

Description from architects

The Rotating House is an experimental zero-energy balance concept-house. The zero-energy budget is accomplished using clean energy production and by reducing the loss of energy via natural techniques and materials. Furthermore, the envelope can spin around a single, main central pillar in order to follow the solar path during the day. The residential unit adopts geothermic sources combined with solar panels for temperature control and conditioning, as well as for the production of sanitary water, along with photovoltaic panels, making the unit energetically independent from non-renewable resources.  A storage tank is also used to drain rainfall water for non-potable usages. The structure, consisting of bolted steel beams mainly connected to wood framework, supports the envelope composed of multiple wood fiber layers with variable density along with an air gap. The unit is also designed to be easily dismantled, thanks to the adopted construction techniques and the large use of recyclables materials, for which brochure data are available in order to allow for the study of more advanced design as well as to evaluate their effectiveness when employed for simpler and cheaper residential modules for production on a broader scale.

House Around a Tree by A.Masow Architects

About A.Masow Architects

Architecture	A.Masow Architects
Project	Tree in the house
Year	2013

Aibek Almassov from Kazakhstan, the founder of the design studio A.Masow Architects, has created this beautiful house around a tree design. The main highlight of this four-level house is a glass wall just around a fir-tree. This impressive twelve-meter transparent building project is created to bring together the elements of contemporary design and natural beauty, enabling people to take some time to have a rest from the tense bustle of the city life.




The project has been already set up but the house hasn’t been built because of the absence of investors. After a while, almost all mass media – from local magazines and newspapers to internet publications – became interested in this futuristic house design. Even well-known channels have found A.Masow Architects to learn more about this great project. Finally, designers have realized that this project should be built without any doubt. Aibek Almassov stated many times that this house was not so difficult to build; the most difficult was to find really interested investors. At this time, he has two interested men and one of them directs the manufacturing of glass panels. So, A.Masow Architects is going to cooperate with him as soon as possible.

The architect says that the main idea of the project is to build a house, where everyone feels oneself comfortable, being able to escape from the noisy city and stay alone with his thoughts, since the house combines strict style of the metropolis and all environmental delights – beautiful high trees, fresh smell of fir-trees and silence.

An internal spiral staircase of the four-storey cylindrical construction symbolizes the stages of spiritual purification which can accompany a person who is alone with nature and oneself.

The basis of this transparent house, where the tree grows, is a metal framework resting on three pillars. The trunk and branches are passed through circular apertures of different diameter in the ceiling between floors.

The largest cut-out is done at the level of the fourth floor, where the upper branches of tree is. Thanks to the transparent walls, a unique all-round view opens there and evokes sensation of immediate presence in the forest.

There is also a container for the rainwater. The water there is being constantly cleaned and can be used for various needs. Ventilation provides air-filling for all levels of the cylindrical home.

Particular attention was paid to the fact that the house is not harmful to the environment. Glasses of the last two floors are covered with a layer of semi-transparent solar panels that provide electricity to the house.

Aibek Almassov wants everyone to visit such a house around a tree to prove that thirty-five square meters are not destroyed by his group, because there begins a new life with quiet mornings, tranquility and health.

Solar passive house design, France

Aesthetically, the solar passive house design (France) is very similar to a traditional house. Design of the facades is open to the southern sun, and is closed to the energy loss to the north. The structure of the house is assembled from prefabricated wooden panels.

Design: Karawitz Architecture
Photography: Karawitz and Herve Abbadie

Modular frame prefab cottage, Michigan, USA (+floor plans)

The modular frame prefab cottage consists of 2 modules separated and raised for privacy, space and light. An open rooftop deck establishes a direct connection with the outdoors and creates a sense of openness.

Architecture and photos: Garrison Architects

Eco-friendly house with solar panels, Madrid, Spain

Architects: IAAC

Energy producing eco-friendly houses are growing in numbers, with concerns for the environment and rising energy prices, we can see why. Fab Lab House blends sustainable features with extraordinary aesthetics and comforts. This off-the-grid home produces more energy than consumes – a house using readily accessible building materials that was designed to be applied almost anywhere in the world. The timber house plan is made using laser-cut plywood, is prefabricated and assembled on location, that minimizing site impact. Solar panels adhere to the structure’s curved roof to maximize the sun’s potential.

Small suburban residential home, Switzerland

This small suburban residential home located in the countryside of Switzerland. Designed by FOVEA Architects, country cottage makes an unusual impression with a pronounced angular shape of the facade. The upper part of the house is tilted at an angle of 40 degrees and the windows facing south, this geometry allows the direct rays of the low winter sun to penetrate freely into the room and at the same time protects the house from excessive heat from the hot summer sun. The house was delivered to site in assembled and on site sheathed with pine boards, allowing the cottage to fit harmoniously into the local architecture.

Photographed by Thomas Jantscher