In a recent Wall Street Journal article about designer prefab homes they say “in an era when constructing a house on time and within budget keeps getting tougher, instant homes can go up twice as fast and save as much as 50% compared with a traditionally built home. It isn't one size fits all anymore, either, thanks to modern computer-design methods that let architects vary the prefab houses the way Lego blocks can be moved around. More than that, though, architects think the new avant-garde looks can win over upscale buyers craving a touch of high design for their abodes.”

Today’s prefab houses are born from a mainstream industry of manufacturers and architects that utilize newer technologies in construction development, embrace green living, have stronger structural strength than stick builds, are lower in development and production cost, and allow flexible modular component design leading to more latitude in architectural design.

We’ll discuss many of the high end builders and designers with special features that highlight their unique qualities that contribute to exemplary overall excellence.

However, we are going to do something different.

We will focus on the point of view of the home owner.

Specifically, the owner that wants to create a custom architectural prefab green home. We are developing this site to inform the home owner of what to expect in every phase of the design, development, production, installation, finishing, site work and market appeal.

Follow the trials and tribulations of the Scott family who are building an architectural green prefab in West Los Angeles, one of the most desirable and expensive housing markets in the United States. California and Los Angeles are considered the most regulated areas in the nation for strict building code.

The Scott’s purchased an original post war 1,100 sq ft home atop Mar Vista Hill, the highest elevation in West Los Angeles, less than 2 miles from the Pacific, with ocean and mountain views overlooking Venice, Sunset Park, Santa Monica, Westwood, and Hollywood. Considered some of the best walking streets in Los Angeles, the location is in a quiet cul-de-sac surrounded by newer construction homes: the location is perfect for a model home utilizing new building technologies and modern architecture.

After living there for a year, while designing the prefab and researching manufacturers, they demolished the existing home and are personally overseeing the building of one of the first of it’s kind in the Los Angeles area: an architectural prefab home that utilizes new building technologies, which contributes to a green style of living and was designed by the owner.

We what to make it clear from the start, this is the vision of a family who is committed to perfection in architecture.

They’re just like you.

Through their blog we’ll follow every step of how to build an architectural prefab home including the pitfalls of permitting in the most regulated state in the US, prices of construction on site and in the factory, and in-depth details that need to be addressed before construction begins, during and after.

It’s important to note that the Scott family are not construction savvy. They can change light bulbs and oil squeaky doors, but outside of that, they don’t have the experience of building. They are first time home owners who previously sold a townhouse in Sunset Park. The take away will be that if they can pull this off, you too can design a custom architectural prefab home.

Thank you for visiting Architectural Prefab and enjoy!