History Of Prefab Construction

You’ve probably heard prefab construction described as ‘architecture’s oldest new idea’ — and that’s pretty spot on. Far from being an underdeveloped new-age concept, prefabrication has been used to create construction efficiencies for centuries. It’s surrounded us for years and been integral to some of the most recognisable structures on the planet.

Each of these milestones has brought us a step closer to today, where we’re at the edge of a prefab construction boom that could address some of Australia’s most pressing socio-economic issues. 

Prefab Construction Timeline

AD 43 — Romans Forts Are Built Across England

The Romans use prefabricated construction methods to build forts efficiently after conquering Britain. Yes, that’s right — prefab construction dates all the way back to the first century.

1624 — Panelised Homes Are Shipped To The British Colonies

A prefabricated home consisting of wood panels is shipped from Britain to Cape Ann, Massachusetts, to house the state fishing fleet. 

1850s — Flat-Pack Police Cottages Appear in the Gold Fields

As people flock to Victoria during the gold rush, a constant police presence is required in the gold fields. Modular iron cottages are imported from Britain to provide a workstation for police constables. 

1851 — The Crystal Palace Houses The Great Exhibition

The Crystal Palace is assembled in a matter of months from prefabricated glass and iron components to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. After the exhibition closes, the structure is disassembled in Hyde Park and reassembled in Sydenham Hill, where it is used for various events until being destroyed by fire in 1936.

1889 — The Eiffel Tower Becomes The World’s Most Famous ‘Temporary’ Structure

The Eiffel Tower is constructed from prefabricated iron components for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. Although it was originally intended to be disassembled after 20 years, a radio antenna installed in the tower makes it too valuable for communications to tear down.

1908 — Sears, Roebuck & Co. Start Sending DIY Kit Homes In The Mail

Sears, Roebuck & Co. begin selling their mail-order ‘Modern Homes’. The company offer over 370 architectural designs and sell over 70,000 of these kit homes up until they are discontinued in 1942. 

1946 — Prefabricated Homes Address A Post-War Housing Shortage

Australia faces a housing crisis due to the baby boom and a post-war skills shortage. Prefab homes create construction efficiencies to address this.

1973 — Construction On The Sydney Opera House Is Completed

Queen Elizabeth II opens the Sydney Opera House, constructed from precast concrete panels supported by precast concrete ribs. 

1999 — Greenwich Mansion Proves That Prefab Can Be Premium

An 8,900 square foot Georgian-style mansion is constructed in Greenwich, Connecticut from customised, factory-built modules. The project is completed three months faster than expected and shows that upscale homes can be prefabricated.

2018 — Precast Plungies Make Pool Ownership More Achievable

We develop a revolutionary process solution that allows homeowners and builders to install a premium, concrete swimming pool in days, not months. 

2022 — McDonald’s Constructs The First Net Zero Modular Restaurant

A modular McDonald’s located in Shropshire, England becomes the first restaurant to be verified as having net zero emissions. The restaurant achieves its carbon-neutral status through the use of wind turbines and solar panels to generate energy. 

These are just a handful of the important prefab construction milestones throughout history. They have one thing in common — increased efficiency and cutting-edge design. With these benefits, it’s no wonder that prefab construction continues to emerge time and time again.

The Future Of Prefab Construction

We know where prefab construction has been, but where is it going? The Modular Building Institute estimates that prefabricated construction could represent 10% of Australia’s construction industry in the next 5 years. Rising construction labour costs, skills shortages and mounting environmental pressures are set to be key drivers of this growth. As an efficient solution to these challenges, it certainly looks like prefab is here to stay. As part of the prefab movement, we can’t wait to see what the coming years (and centuries) will bring for prefabricated construction.