ARCHITECT | DESIGN | BUILD 2012

pre-fab homes

Blu Homes
Waltham, MA
Since its launch in 2008 by Bill Haney, an environmental entrepreneur, and Maura McCarthy, a venture capitalist, Blu Homes has helped revolutionize the way prefab homes are made. One of the biggest reasons for that is because of the companys breakthrough computer modeling, along with its unique use of steel and folding technology. We have tried to infuse technology and really allow the consumer to see the full picture and walk them through the whole process, said SoCal sales representative Andrew Saint. They really get to see how it flows. The company has eight different home models that range in size from just a few hundred square feet to 2,600 square feet. So, depending on the size, the homes can cost anywhere from $135,000-$625,000. And while the majority of the models take between seven to nine months to fabricate, customized homes take anywhere from 12 to 24 months to complete. Focused on making it easier and more fun for clients to design and build beautiful homes, the companys main goal is to build spacious homes that are full of natural light. We see everything through from start to finish, Saint said. Everything is streamlined under one roof. We build each home in our factory with all blu employees. For more information, visit: www.bluhomes.com

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Method Homes
Seattle, WA
For Method Homes, everything is centered around two ideas--sustainability and craftsmanship. Grounded in those principles, Method has worked with a range of architecture firms since 2008 to design a variety of modular homes. We can build anything in our factory, co-owner Brian Abramson said. We can build super modern homes or traditional ones. We really have few limitations. With eight different lines of sustainable homes and structures, Method allows customers to choose from a variety of floor plans, including classic cabin and cottage designs. Yet, thats just the beginning. With efficient systems and technologies, many of the companys homes are built to target top environmental certifications and standards, including net zero water and energy and LEED Platinum. Getting interest in its structures from Vancouver to San Diego, Method homes range in price from $180-$300 per square foot, with a 540-square foot studio costing as little as $85,000 and a large custom home costing as much as $1 million. And because of its streamlined process, it usually takes Method between three to four months to build and deliver its modular unit--nearly 60 percent faster than a traditional construction cycle. For more information, visit: www.methodhomes.net

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Stillwater Dwellings
Seattle, WA
With its premium materials, contemporary finishes and sustainable building practices, Stillwater Dwellings has had one main goal since 2008--make prefab homes more affordable. Using flexible, systems-based construction that supports a high level of design and craftsmanship, the company controls costs and eliminates potential surprises. With over 20 different homes designs, Stillwater has floor plans that range from a 400-square foot vacation cabin to a 3,000-square foot family home. Costing between $225-$300 per square foot, the models take between 12 to 16 weeks to fabricate. We are really a design driven company, owner Matthew Stannard said. While we have many prefab options, we are all about producing a high quality home. People really fall in love with our designs. With factories in Salt Lake City, Utah and Salem, Oregon, the company has built quite a following in the past four years, specifically in California. Stillwater has found the most success in Dana Point, Venice and Napa Valley. We try not to make everything so overwhelming, Stannard said. It is our goal to have a personal relationship with out customers and go over every detail to make them secure with the design. For more information, visit: www.stillwaterdwellings.co

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People really fall in love with our designs.

Proto Homes
Los Angeles, CA
Frank Vafaee doesnt just think of himself as a home builder. As the CEO of Proto Homes, Vafaee believes he is an innovator. At the forefront of the prefab home movement since 2008, Proto Homes applies leading edge technology and design to reinvent what the home can be. We want the home to have unique features, Vafaee said. We have brought technology into the home and built it with that in mind. We want the home to make your life a little simpler. All the functions of a Proto home can be managed from an ipad, iphone or any place on earth with an internet connection. All Proto homes also have sustainable features, including: LED and CFL lighting, Energy Star appliances and a rain barrel for water runoff capture that can be reused in landscaping. Taking three to four months to build, a Proto home costs $210 per square foot and can range in size from 600 to 4,500 square feet. The company allows you to choose from five different Proto Plans--tiny, small, medium, large and extra-large--to suit your needs. We look at the house as a giant space, wanting to create a more open feel, Vafaee said. We want to give longevity to the building. For more information, visit: www.protohomes.com

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