This prefabricated home is located in the arid desert region surrounding Yucca Valley, California. The program called for a sustainable, modestly scaled, residence to serve as a prototype for a future line of “flat-packed” homes. The 1,000 SF house with 340 SF of outdoor deck is positioned above the site surface on moment-resisting columns and beams of cold-formed, light gauge steel. The building envelope is composed by a grid of pre-manufactured Steel Thermal Efficient Panels, “STEP’s,” and standardized building components. The bathroom module, containing all home mechanical, plumbing, and electrical services, is built off-site and delivered finished with the flat packed kit-of-parts. Solar technologies provide electricity, hot water and space heating. The inherent nature of prefabricated design ensures low embodied energy and minimizes site waste. The prototype was completed in May 2009, with an 8 week construction schedule at $270/SF.
