The History of Modular Homes

Modular Housing is not unfamiliar in the construction industry. Modular housing prototypes can be traced back to the mid-19th century in America to the "tool houses". After more than a century of development, this industry has gradually matured and is widely regarded as the future form of housing construction. This article will explore the historical modular housing.

Modular Housing and Traditional Housing

To understand the development of modular housing, you must first understand the difference between modular housing and traditional housing. From this, you can understand why high quality modular homes is considered the future of the housing construction industry.

Generally speaking, in traditional house construction builders first purchase a piece of land, and then contractors and workers come to the site to start work. The entire operation is limited by weather and surrounding environmental conditions. However, because modular housing builders and workers build houses in the factory, and then transport the houses to the site. This whole process is efficient, convenient, standardized and price-advantageous.

Origins of Modular Housing

The origins of modular housing can be traced back to the 17th century. Reportedly, one of the earliest modular houses was invented by an American colonial fisherman who had just moved from England and wanted to use reliable English construction methods to build a house.

The final solution was to ship a disassembled house across the Atlantic. However, this can only be regarded as a prototype of modular housing, rather than a truly strict modularhouse.

The Rise and Fall History of Modular Housing

1913 marked a turning point in housing options, as modular housing solutions became a viable option for many families. During this period, modular housing played a key role in its success.

When Henry Ford introduced the housing assembly line, he thought of the idea of building houses in the factory, and building houses in the factory reduced production costs, making it easier for middle-class families to own homes.

During most of the 1920s, assembled houses and trailer houses became increasingly popular.

The economic downturn following the 1929 stock market crash severely impacted home ownership. As economic difficulties spread, the demand for various housing options dropped sharply, including traditional housing, prefabricated structures and mobile homes.

In the post-war period of the 1950s, modular housing regained its popularity. Veterans returning from the war needed housing for themselves and their families. In addition, with the establishment of new highway systems, transporting modular housing to motels became easier and cheaper.

Consequently, trailer mobile homes also became popular again. Homeowners no longer valued the convenience of moving from one town to another, but regarded them as permanent, affordable housing. Soon after, popular house builders Gunnison Housing and Lustron also began producing modular housing.

For this reason, many house building companies saw the benefits of building homes in the factory. Initially, prefabricated walls were built in the factory, then transported. As the Baby Boomer generation began to need housing,  demand for larger homes increased, which was when modular housing became increasingly popular.

In 2003, a famous design magazine organized a modular home competition, which gave a significant boost to the modular housing industry. This event showcased the potential of factory-built houses to match traditional structures in terms of aesthetics and quality, challenging public perceptions and proving that modular housing can be indistinguishable from site-built houses upon completion.

In recent years, the tiny house movement has given new vitality to modular construction. People have repeatedly discovered that modular housing is both environmentally and budget-friendly. Modular construction has a smaller ecological footprint and can be built for durability and uniqueness. Today, you can purchase amodular house at a much lower cost than on-site construction and nearly every aspect can be customized.