Prefabrication experiments - 80 - Weberhaus

Exemplary work has been derived from the relationship between craft, industry and architecture. Modernity in architecture was substantiated by the search for newness through industrial experimentation and a rejection of classic orders. No other country nurtured this relationship as well as Germany. Its industrial development merged its traditional craft culture with design talent to grow a manufacturing ethos that still engineers some of the most precisely factory-made buildings. This industrial tradition goes back to early 20th century companies such as Braune and Roth or Wöhr Bros., both produced houses in steel skeletal systems. Christof and Unmack is another example of early production but with the use of a timber-framed structure. These examples of precise and quality controlled manufacturing contributed to greater social acceptance and allowed the prefab industry to grow into a major component of German building culture.  

Weberhaus is a contemporary producer of manufactured houses established on a strong German tradition. Founded by Hans Weber in 1960, the company is somewhat emblematic of the union between craft and industry in the German prefab housing market. The company boasts a total production of 33 000 houses in the last 55 years. In addition to creative designs such as their collaboration with Bauart Architects for the Weberhaus Option, Weberhaus emphasizes the need for a high quality building envelope in order to achieve sustainable architecture.

The company utilizes an automated process to assemble stick-framed panels. Their process enhances accuracy and reduces waste.  The envelope is composed of a multi-layered building system, which overlaps two types of insulation: one in the wall’s cavity and the other on the wall's exterior surface which curtails thermal bridging toward a potential PassivHaus certification.  The wall panels are factory produced and subsequently stitched on site. Varying U-values from 0,12 to 0,17 offer excellent thermal insulation (r40-50). A timber, well-insulated and protected envelope offers an enduring quality. The flexible building system is clad in a synthetic resin on a reinforcing mesh. The characteristic white stucco finish covers a deep wall that minimizes energy consumption. Their efficient process accompanied by their custom designs, showcase Weberhaus' adoption of the customizable file to factory to site business model that is currently integrating the prefabricated building industry.

Weberhaus Option house