5 Prefab or Modular home designers in NZ

Prefabricated or Modular homes have many benefits, especially when it comes to simple, sustainable and affordable homes. For those interested in the option of a prefab or modular home on Rangitahi, we've managed to dig up our top 5 makers/designers of prefab or modular homes available in NZ. And in case you were wondering, yes you can get some well designed, architecturally built prefab homes in NZ that are reliable and of high quality.

Prefabricated homes, often referred to as prefab homes, are specialist dwelling types of prefabricated building, which are manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled. Modular homes are prefabricated buildings or houses that consist of repeated sections called modules. "Modular" is a construction method that involves constructing sections away from the building site, then delivering them to the intended site.

Pro's of Prefab or Modular homes:

Lower cost, generally affordable
Quick build, fast turnaround
Hassle free - design, consent and build is all done for you.
Better sustainability - Efficient use of materials, minimal site disruption
Simple & practical design

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Con's of Prefab or Modular homes:

Size - may be too small for growing families
Lack of storage & multiple rooms
More logistics - check zoning, organising utility hookups and other logistics are the responsibility of the homeowner
Less customisation - limited choice of materials.

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Fox Cabins

For those looking for a transportable home at Rangitahi, local design and build company Fox Cabins offers a different approach to the standard off-the-shelf model.

Based in Raglan, the small local team has spent the past four years developing its off-site building process, with a focus on creating high-quality, fully customised homes. Rather than choosing from a set range of finished floor plans, clients work with the Fox Cabins team to develop a home around their section, lifestyle, design preferences and budget.

Their transportable homes start from 70m² and can be designed to suit a wide range of requirements. Two of their base designs, The Bach and The Everest, provide starting points for the design process. The Bach features a simple mono-pitch roof, while The Everest has a more traditional gable roof. From there, layouts, materials, finishes and details can be tailored to each project.

Fox Cabins also offers fixed-price contracts, giving homeowners greater certainty around the cost of their build from the outset.

For Rangitahi homeowners, there is the added benefit of working with a local builder. The homes are built in Raglan before being transported to site, keeping delivery distances short and making it easy for clients to visit the team and see their home taking shape.

The team has also featured twice on TVNZ's Moving Houses, showcasing their approach to designing and building transportable homes.

Find out more about Fox Cabins and their transportable home designs at foxcabins.nz/transportable-homes-nz.

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Makers fabrication

An extension of Makers Architecture, Makers Fabrication has been set up to service the architecture, design and building industry, specialising in digital fabrication and assembly. Their services are centred around the production and development of various prefabricated construction methods & projects. They have a large and flexible workshop that allows them to deliver unique prefabrication projects of many scales and applications. This includes more traditional methods of prefabrication such as installing cladding and insulation to pre-framed walls, floors and roofs, complete & ready to be lifted into place on the building, speeding up traditional methods of construction remarkably. Their workshop space is run and serviced by a diverse team consisting of skilled designers, builders, a project engineer and expert CAD CAM operators.

Makers fabrication are a highly skilled set of professionals who have built some beautiful prefab homes, ones we think would fit the look and feel of the Rangitahi peninsula and the Raglan coast! Take a look at some of their projects below or on their website here.

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Elevate Architectural Transportables

Elevate Architectural Transportable Homes are award-winning, architecturally designed relocatable homes built to a very high standard with quality, high end finishes, features and fittings. And they're based locally in Cambridge. All Elevate architectural transportable homes are customisable, but they have 14 different models to suit varying lifestyle requirements. They also come with a fixed cost build and have a sleek, contemporary exterior thats durable in extreme weather conditions. Great for Rangitahi! Check out some of their homes they've built below, or on their website here.

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TDM Modular homes

TDM Modular homes was built out of a desire and determination to address the national issue of a lack of quality new homes in New Zealand. TDM Modular aims to break down the walls of the building industry, creating an innovative more efficient and quality driven product that is available to all New Zealander's no matter their lifestyle, location or need.

Based on your property location, individual design needs and ideas, TDM Modular homes can custom build your dream modular home. From family homes, beach houses or granny flats to 1,2,3 or 4 + bedroom homes. Alternatively, you can choose and adapt from their standard modular homes range. Take a look at some of their work below or on their website here.

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Fraemohs Homes

Last but certainly not least, Fraemohs offer iconic Scandinavian kitset homes delivered anywhere in New Zealand. In Scandinavia and many parts of mainland Europe building a kit home is a very common practice. Building a kitset home offers a number of advantages, like a shorter build time, reduced labour costs and a building process where you really are in the centre of everything, which can be incredibly satisfying.

Fraemohs Homes has been manufacturing and supplying Scandinavian style kitset homes for over 50 years. All using hand crafted locally-grown sustainable New Zealand timber, they can create custom kit homes to suit your specifications, or you can choose from their conventional flat pack homes. They are a family owned, values based company, which has stood strong throughout 50 years of New Zealand’s building history. A recipe for success! Read more about their kitset homes here, and check out some of their work below.

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Other local prefab companies we recommend are Leisurecom Homes and Flying Spaces. And if you haven't yet checked out what beautiful land we've got on offer at Rangitahi, head to our explore page here, and see the kind of lifestyle you could create in Raglan with your prefab home!

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