In the years following the first world war right up until the 1960s, German housing policy deployed prefabrication of reinforced concrete elements to develop low-cost experimental communities (Seidlungs) to test prototypes of modern design and production. A notable example of the centralized strategy, Ernst May's precast slab housing brigade, conceived the «plattenbau»: a large panel standardized, highly replicable system for dwelling provision.
The deep-seated manufacturing culture transformed design education as well. The Bauhaus, Germany’s comprehensive design school headed by Walter Gropius, inspired many young practitioners and artisans to look to industry to reform existing production patterns to shape a fresh aesthetic palette for architecture. The relationship between industrialization and architecture is arguably the most symbiotic when compared to other industrialized nations. Major players like Christoph and Unmack or Hanse Haus, have been producing precise timber structures for more than a century.
Prefab market share is around 23% of new housing starts, a staggering 1 out of every four. The panelized timber kit is driving a turnkey model with a one stop shop convenience, which is also anchored to holistic sustainability markers. With high social acceptability, prefab in Germany symbolizes precise fabrication, high quality design, advanced production methods, valued materials, and efficient construction. Brand equity positions prefab zeitgeist on par with industries like German automobile fabricators, Volkswagen or BMW. Even with the mature market, the industry is fragmented. Five top producers account for 30% of production with the remaining 70% being shared among companies holding 3% of the market.
HAAS Fertigbau’s kits exemplify the most generalized strategy providing services to design and manufacture timber panel kits according to consumer specifications. The company promotes efficacy, tightly finished shells and energy savings. Another well-known producer, Weberhaus promotes similar construction methods and parameters to achieve a high-performance wall envelope within a conventional stick frame structure. The stud cavity is insulated and a continuous layer of insulation over the skeleton eliminates any thermal bridging. Along with some of the most advanced factory mechanisation and robotization, assembling these kits is material, time and cost efficient. The panels can be flatpacked for optimized just-in-time transport and sequenced for streamlined onsite assembly.
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| Christoph & Unmack portable buildings (left); Advanced prefab manufacturing (right) |
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