Prefab homes have always been a part of the Dwell DNA. Here you will find prefab homes published in dwell magazine as well as great prefab home ideas. Prefabricated means either panelized, modular, or kit homes. Prefab architecture works for both remote sites and dense urban spaces. Modular homes are popular but can be the most expensive to customize. It is best to change as little as possible when buying prefab. Possible advantages of pre fab include lower cost, higher degree of precision, and less construction waste.

A Prefab Passive House Takes Root in the Catskills
Assembled in just two weeks, the idyllic retreat near Woodstock, New York, realizes a couple’s dream of rural living.
San Juan, PR
After three rainless weeks a welcome tropical shower blew into San Juan, Puerto Rico, one afternoon last May, awakening Casa...
GO Home Takes the Passive House Approach to Prefab
It can take as little as two weeks to build one.
An Unconventional Prefab on Fishers Island
A family’s remote island retreat becomes a more permanent home base, thanks to the efficiency of building modular.
This Zero-Energy Passive Mobile Prefab Was Partially 3D Printed
A Ukranian company has recently launched the world's first autonomous mobile prefabricated homes.
A Dramatic Home on San Juan Island Appears to Cascade Toward the Sea
Each of the home’s four staggered volumes is covered in a blanket of native grasses.
7 Hawaiian Prefabs and Kit Homes
If you enjoy breathtaking landscapes and sunny beaches, then Hawaii is the perfect destination for you.
This Island Retreat in the Netherlands Flexes the Power of Prefab
Designed by Orange Architects, the compact, energy-efficient home features open and airy interiors that can instantly be adjusted...
Budget Breakdown: An Architect Tinkers With Passive House Design on Long Island for $705K
Wayne Turett of The Turett Collaborative designs his own energy-efficient holiday home in Greenport, New York, as an exercise in...
Not Ready For a Prefab House? How About a Prefab Kitchen.
Kitchen systems are a lot like prefab housing: they're designed to be modular but they're endlessly customizable—not that that's...
Plant Prefab Launches Its First Passive House LivingHomes with Net-Zero Capabilities
Plant Prefab raises the bar for green building with three Richard Pedranti Architect–designed dwellings that meet rigorous...
8 Inspirational Island Prefabs
The idea of island living is as aspirational as it gets.
This Prefab Cabin Offers an Affordable Answer to Island Construction
A cost-effective modular retreat embraces the landscape on a Lake Superior island in Wisconsin.
Serenity Awaits at These Prefab Cabin Rentals on Vashon Island
The light and bright 570-square-foot units are just a 20-minute ferry ride from Seattle, Washington, perfect for a weekend...
This Vermont Passive House Is Built From the Forest That Surrounds It
Architect Robert Swinburne deploys a collaborative building approach and hyperlocal materials to craft a home that celebrates the...
A New Jersey Neighborhood Gets a Gorgeous Passive House
With a client wish list including ample natural light, high ceilings, outdoor connection, and peak energy efficiency, Mowery...
An Old Garden Inspires a Passive House in the English Countryside
London firm McLean Quinlan built out from a dilapidated brick wall that once enclosed a garden, creating an energy-efficient home...
A Panoramic Passive House Rises in the Mountains Above Madrid
Barcelona-based Slow Studio builds a bioclimatic home for a couple who work with the United Nations.
Lego Island
Step back, Jacobsen, Utzon, Kjaerholm, Wegner, and all you other great Danes.
These 7 Hawaiian Modernist Escapes Will Have You Dreaming of the Islands
If you've ever entertained fantasies of a modernist escape on a tropical island, you'll fully understand why each of these...
An Adventurous Couple Create Their Dream Retreat on San Salvador Island
After withstanding a hurricane, an oceanside round house in the Bahamas becomes a swoon-worthy getaway.
A Passive House on the Outskirts of Moscow Blends Into Its Forested Surroundings
This green-roofed home by Snegiri Architects bows in deference to the enveloping woodlands.
A Breezy Prefab on Hawaii’s Big Island Lists For $379K
Once a prototype showcased at Dwell on Design, this Cali Solo modular structure by HMK Prefab Homes is now all about island...
Prefab, Proven
In January 2003, we issued a challenge to 16 architects: Design a modern prefab home for $200,000.
Prefab for Humanity
In inner-city Baltimore, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake paves a path to affordable prefab.
This Passive House in Park City Just Hit the Market For $1.1M
This Park City Passive House offers both stunning design and stellar energy efficiency.
Sustainable Living: Chicago’s First Certified Passive House
Take a tour through Chicago’s first passive house, built by Brandon Weiss of Weiss Building and Development LLC with the help of...
A Prefab Home Soaks Up Dreamy Island Views in the Pacific Northwest
Perched on a rocky bluff, a three-module home in the San Juan islands emphasizes energy-efficient design and indoor/outdoor...
Long Island Found
When the Fisher family’s 1960s Long Island beach bungalow started to crumble, they sought an architect who’d preserve the home’s...
A Prefab House Near Paris Is Designed to Be Bright and Open
This prefabricated home in France was built to embrace the neighborhood.
The Tide Turns for a Trio of Prefab Pod Houses in the San Juan Islands
The founder of the Living Building Challenge and his family join hands to restore a quirky off-grid outpost.
This Prefab Office Was Installed in a Vancouver Island Backyard in Less Than Four Hours
With the addition of a work-from-home space—a turnkey prefab from Aux Box—a couple’s retreat is now a full-time residence.
Off-the-Grid Island House in New Zealand Connects with the Outdoors
A remote beachside cottage evokes the spirit of camping trips.
A Passive House and “Sauna Tower” Join a 19th-Century Barn in the Hudson Valley
In New York, architecture and interiors firm BarlisWedlick creates an eclectic compound designed to suit a client with an...
The Real-Life “Full House” Home Is For Sale in San Francisco
Gone is the red door—but you'll still recognize this home's famous facade from the opening credits of the ’90s hit series.

10.7k more articles