Innovative prefabricated home designs are being developed by the Dutch construction firm Heijmans. The company announced a new prototype prefabricated house that will occupy underused city areas and will rent to young professionals.
The Heijmans ONE is currently being tested with a view to launch during 2015.
Gizmag tells MHProNews that Heijmans intends to situate ONE developments primarily in derelict city plots owned by the firm, the local council, or other developers. It will be available for rent at around €700 (US$852) per month, which Heijmans says is comparable to a small apartment in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
The target market for these homes are well-educated 25 to 35 year olds, who are probably single, but it could also accommodate couples.
The two-story home is designed by Dutch architects MoodBuilders and is built primarily from wood framing, measuring 9.2 x 3.5 m (30 x 11.5 ft) and rises to a height of 5.9 m (19.3 ft).
The partly open-plan ground floor includes a kitchen, bathroom, and lounge area. A bedroom and small desk area is located in the mezzanine upstairs, and the home also features a small outdoor patio area.
After being assembled in a factory, the Heijmans ONE is transported by truck, and on-site installation takes just one day.
Though the home’s roof-based solar array currently serves only to offset some of the costs of its grid-connected electricity needs, a Heijmans spokesman says that the company is intent on making the home completely self-sufficient as far as energy is concerned. In this respect, some U.S. firms – Modular Lifestyles comes to mind – look to be ahead in the near- or net-zero off-grid race.
Currently, there are two trial ONE homes being tested, one of which has a full-time occupant. Once testing is completed in March 2015, the Heijmans team will further develop the concept for market, with the aim of launching the first 30 rental units later in the year.
Clearly, factory-home building is on the minds of designers and builders globally. The bold design of Heijmans ONE is going to be one to watch as they move from R&D towards a final roll out.##
(Photo Credit: Heijmans/Gizmag)
