Modular Cellophane House

Environmentally-savvy and forward-thinking architecture firm KieranTimberlake Associate has high hopes of bringing customized prefabricated homes to the masses starting with their new Cellophane House. The prototype that formed part of a MoMA exhibit was a 1800 square foot house and was assembled in 16 days.

Thin photovoltaic panels integrated into the house’s wall can produce enough electricity to run the house entirely off the grid. The walls also include an inner layer of solar heat and UV blocking film to let in plenty of sunlight while also keeping the heat at bay. Ventilation is achieved through a cavity in the wall which keeps the interior cool in the summer and warm during the winter.

Considering that the average lifecycle of a building is a mere 10 years, coupled with an increase in transitory habitation, KieranTimberlake integrated easy assembly and disassembly into the planning and building of the Cellophane House. The modular construction enables the house to be broken down into parts, or to be reused in another residence all together. It also means that the house can grow and shrink as families go from child-bearing to empty-nesters. Renderings indicate that the Cellophane House can serve as a single-family home, or a multi-family complex. The house is wrapped in NextGen SmartWrap.

Original article: Evelyn Lee. Inhabitat. 19 September 2008. Read more…