It refers to any part of a building that is made away from the final building site, which is why it can also be referred to as offsite construction.

Prefab is a complimentary system to traditional construction. Prefab comes in all shapes and sizes, from small components such as pre-nailed wall frames, to panels, larger modules (3-D volumes) or even complete buildings. Hybrid prefab is a mixture of several prefab systems, or prefab with traditional construction. Prefab can be made of timber, concrete, metals or plastics or any combination of materials. 

"The exploration of prefabricated housing continues to be one of architecture’s most purposeful and enterprising pursuits. Attempts to reconcile singular artistic creation with mass production reflect on the role of the prefabricated dwelling as a critical agent in invention in architecture, formal and material research, and sustainability."
- Bergdoll and Christensen ‘Home Delivery’ exhibition text, author’s emphasis.

This quote from the 'Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Home' exhibition at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 2008 shows that prefabrication’s history leaves a legacy of innovation, experimentation and enduring successes. Prefabrication in New Zealand has shared these good times, and also faced some challenges that we can continue to learn from.

Prefabricated housing has had an important role in the New Zealand design and construction sectors in terms of innovation, research, marketing and testing of ideas. Stories associated with prefabricated housing in New Zealand are diverse, relevant and interesting to New Zealanders of all ages, particularly as we start to experience a new wave of digitally-generated, tested and machine-cut prefab homes.

This post is just the start of unravelling the legend of prefabrication in New Zealand: stories from our past, case studies from our present, and provocative cutting-edge examples in our future.

More info on kiwi prefabs can be found at www.prefabnz.com.