The next generation of prefabricated housing

Text: Bálint Botzheim

Prefabricated housing has been around for a long time and is not usually thought of in positive terms. But there are good examples, and prefabrication has also been a solution to housing problems after disasters. In the 20th century, housing was finally mass-produced in factories. The end result, a grey mass of prefabricated housing estates, was functionally sound but failed to achieve the desired aesthetic quality. The disappearance of the large housing companies does not mean that prefabricated buildings do not have a raison d’être today. In the 21st century, however, prefabrication can mean something completely different. One notable initiative is the Hungarian NextNest. The founder, Jr. László Benczúr, founder of NextNest, aims to create fast and predictable, yet customisable housing.