Sourcing Guide for Modern Prefab Companies in Europe

Even in a country known for its eco-friendly regulations, the JustK house stands out; its triple-glazed windows and geothermal heat exchanger make it as green as it is modern.

Moinian and Meili Residence by Felix Oesch, Switzerland This spare, concrete family home outside of Zurich took nine months to build using a prefabricated panel system developed by the German manufacturer Syspro that’s more commonly used for building cellars rather than entire houses.

Multi-discipli­nary Swedish firm Claesson Koivisto Rune created the plans for this home for design-minded kit-house manu­fact­urer Arkitektus. Considering the unique balance of the facade, as well as its climate-specific construction—the asymmetrical "lifted" roof allows for both water drainage and maximum light during the dark winter months—Claesson Koivisto Rune’s approach to the project is some­what surprising. "We design buildings from the inside out," explains principal Eero Koivisto. "The exterior is more or less a product of the interior plans."

On the wide deck, the family enjoys some peace and quiet.

When Oslo-based architect Marianne Borge was approached in 2004 by a client who wanted an actual cabin rather than a second home, she was instantly inspired by the challenge of working on a smaller scale. The home, called Woody35, has a distinct shape that makes it stand out from its surroundings despite the modest size of the building.

The homes are painted wood, and include a shaded deck space, plus full insulation and electricity, for a price of about $29,000.

Treehouse by Baumraum, Belgium Andreas Wenning's firm Baumraum counts over 40 houses, sited in both rural and urban locales, in its portfolio. To reduce impact at this forested site, Baumraum prefabricated a treehouse and craned it atop 19 steel columns, arranging it so that the surrounding trees’ roots wouldn’t be harmed.

“It’s a beautiful part of the world,” says architect Alan Dickson about Scotland's Isle of Skye. “The downside of that beauty is that land is expensive and very difficult for young people to afford, so they’re leaving the island.” In 2010, Dickson, of the Skye-based firm Rural Design, and local builder James MacQueen came up with a solution: a small timber-frame prefab design called the R.House, which can be constructed quickly and tucked onto less expensive lots that don’t appeal to well-heeled holiday homeowners. Photo by Marcus McAdam.

Helsinki architect Ville Hara and designer Linda Bergroth collaborated on this prefab shed-meets-sleeping-cabin, which can be assembled with little else than a screwdriver. Bergroth, inspired by nomadic yurt dwellers, wanted an indoor/outdoor experience for her property in Finland.

“P.A.T.H. is a positive energy house, which produces 50% more energy than it consumes,” says Starck, referring to numerous features that can be added to any model, such as wind turbines and solar cells. ”The positive energy can be sent back to the local electric grid.”