Japan's early production of prefabricated houses somewhat mirrored the
prefab housing industry’s developments in other nations. Daiwa's prototype production
of the «pipe house» in 1955 or its light steel framed «midget house» in 1959 was
based on frame systems similar to 19th century British Iron house kits or American
wood panel kits. Stimulated by an urgent need, Japan’s post-war housing
programs encouraged both industrialization of housing and mechanization of
production methods and established Japan as a major innovator in the
industrialized building sector. Along with government support, the traditions
of wood frame joinery, post and beam construction, and modular grid
compositions both tatami and timber-based, combined to create a fertile context
for prefabrication. This context was further augmented by mechanisation and a culture
of renewal, creating one of the most advanced prefab building cultures on the planet.
Japan is recognized for its innovative production methods: from lean
construction to mass customization strategies, to factory automation and to the
industrialisation of building methods. The flagship producers such as Daiwa, Misawa,
Panahome and Sekisui Chemical have contributed to the industry’s evolution from
post war mass production to today’s high quality fabrication combining
efficiency and customization.
Sekisui chemical produced its first modular light steel frame box-unit
in 1971: The Sekisui Heim M1. The box-unit’s commercial success contributed to
lowering its construction costs and an increased production capacity and addressed
the continuing modern dream of a factory-produced house (over 18 000 were sold).
The basic module unit was a rectangular prism composed of light-gauge steel framed
edges, which were infilled with walls, floors, ceilings and service cabinets. Multiple
cabinet organisations were offered demonstrating the early stages of
mass-customization strategies. Each box-unit could be juxtaposed or stacked
with complete box-units or with partial units (2/3 of a complete unit). The coupling
of structural edge members simplified the stitching of adjacent units.
The 2.4m x 4.8 m box-units were based on a 2:1 ratio reminiscent of a
tatami floor mat. Each house included a special tatami room relating to
traditional Japanese housing. The system’s suppleness, in plan and in section,
challenged the mass production paradigm that defined most prefab construction
systems. Sekisui’s combination of industrialisation, variability and tradition prompted
a new era for prefab architecture.
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| Box unit axonometric from Sekisui Chemical's advertisement |
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