Kiwi Prefab: Prefabricated Housing in New Zealand: an Historical and Contemporary Overview with Recommendations for the Future
thesis
posted on 2022-03-01, 01:20 authored by Pamela BellIf architecture could adapt itself to... succeed in the prefabricated
house business, then it might recover some of the influence that it has
lost in the last thirty years and begin to make a real difference to the
quality of the built environment (Davies 10). The role of the architect
has been eroded from that of master architect to a coordinator of
consultants (Kieran and Timberlake 29). The prefabricated house offers
lessons in popularity, accessibility, and industrial production.
Therefore, the challenge of the prefabricated house to the architecture
profession is to reconcile artistic expression with commercial realities
and reengage with the construction industry and public (Davies 10).
This thesis sets out to discover a future kiwi prefab, by investigating
an unrealised potential for architect-designed prefabricated housing in
New Zealand. It takes a holistic view of prefabricated housing products,
systems and businesses in order to determine practical recommendations
to move the industry forward towards greater uptake of prefabrication.
This aim responds to a critique of the history of architect-designed
prefabricated housing as, "a long continuum of noble failures" (Davies
9). Contrastingly, non-architect-designed prefabricated housing has
experienced commercial success. This is evident in New Zealand's
established transportable housing industry, the worldwide use of
pre-nailed components in traditional construction, and the United
States-based modular and manufactured housing industries. This research
starts with an introduction to prefabrication, its typologies and
terminology, and its established relationships with architecture and
sustainability. The previously little-known stories of prefabricated
housing in New Zealand to 2009 are documented through interviews and
case studies. This process of exploring and recording historical and
contemporary exemplars reveals specific attitudes and approaches to
issues which are then summarised and discussed. The resulting lessons
reveal a need to focus on challenges and opportunities in two key areas
of research and development, and marketing and communication. The
significant outcome of this research is recommendations for
prefabricated housing strategies in New Zealand in 2010 and beyond. An
argument is made that implemented strategic actions will lead to
increased understanding of prefabrication's merits and greater uptake.
Three key outcomes are a potential for a hybrid module-plus-panel
typology, the need for industry cooperation and consolidation, and the
formation of a marketing association to facilitate communication. The
recommended strategies are then assessed in the context of New Zealand's
forecast housing industry, with resulting predictions and suggestions
for further research and action steps in the near future. An important
finding from this investigation is the role of prefabricated housing in
innovation, research and marketing for the wider architecture profession
and construction industry.