Prefab House (1940s) Duxford Museum This is a genuine post WW2 prefabricated house, designed to provide replacement housing for people whose homes were destroyed during the war. But as the hundreds of remaining Lustron units suggest, the steel frames and unique panelized walls proved both durable and long-lasting The company was also able to deliver entire prefab dwellings in the pre-interstate highway era, a huge handicap, especially in light of the ways contemporary prefab builders depend on modern transportation networks to make deliveries. There are still modular homes being used that were built in the 1950s. [Click to enlarge any image] 1. Aladdin Kit Homes: Aladdin Kit Home company (originally the North American Construction Co., Ltd.) operated between 1906 and 1981 in the U.S. During the late '40s and through the 1950s, the Gunnison Housing Corporation churned out many prefabricated houses, billed as "Gunnison Magic Homes". More than 500 items from the house in Warwickshire which have been used continuously since the 1940s will be sold at auction this weekend. I loved visiting her and her back garden was huge (to me at age 5!) Prefab We have a soft spot for prefab homes. Prefab Buildings Prefabricated Houses Prefab Cabins Prefab Homes Temporary Housing Walter Gropius New York Museums Famous Architects Dundee Prefab: From Utilitarian Home To Design Icon Architects' answer to efficient design is the prefab home, which has been both a design sensation and a cookie-cutter bore over the years. Temporary ones last longer. After 1950, classic home construction changed to incorporate many of the building features used in prefab assembly, which included modular construction. The Ranch Style modular home, also known as the rancher or the rambler, originated here in the United States and is… Model homes were built throughout the Midwest and curious visitors and potential buyers tromped through the prefab homes by the thousands. These homes were built as panelized homes and were screwed together on-site, usually on a slab. Many buildings were designed with a five-ten year life span, but have far exceeded this, with a number surviving today. The enterprise abruptly closed in the 1950, victim of a one-two punch of rising steel prices, due to the Korean War and a loss of government funding (Strandlund received most of his capital from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation). By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. It was …. Lustron Homes, the ‘50s prefabs that were ahead of their time. 1950s Joseph Esherick Prefab in Berkeley This 1950s Joseph Esherick home in Berkeley, California, has a T-shaped layout and Japanese-inspired shingling that’s typical of the buildings in this part of Berkeley. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Jane. A Lustron home is for sale in Ballston Spa, with an asking price of $139,900. Photographer Charles Mintz, who just recently released a book, Lustron Stories, that tells the stories of modern owners of these midcentury oddities, argues that this unorthodox design may have realized the prefab dream decades ago. Only 2,680 Lustron houses were manufactured between 1947 and 1951, ending the dream of Swedish inventor and industrialist Carl G. Strandlund. Just ask Bamboo Living Homes, a company that prefabricates gorgeous bamboo homes … The veterans coming home from war needed housing for themselves and their families. Heated by means of a radiant heating system in the ceiling, they featured sleek exteriors steel walls with baked-on porcelain enamel finishes that were nearly impossible to drill through, requiring homeowners to hang shelving and artwork via magnets (long-lasting and durable, they could also be cleaned with a quick wash and wax). See a great vintage mobile home restoration of a 1955 Smoker Aristocrat! Bamboo Living House puts together two homes in two days. The prefabricated bungalow, or prefab as it became popularly known, was designed as a means of providing large numbers of houses quickly after the Second World War, to replace some of those lost through bombing.. Each dwelling contained two bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, a living room, entrance hallway, fitted kitchen and bathroom. Producer of prefabricated homes… now available in 500 cities span, but have far exceeded this, with an price... As panelized homes and were screwed together on-site, usually on a.! Be sold at auction this weekend match made in heaven period decor 7! I remember the one my other grannie lived in, in the history of American architecture. To their “ steel Jetsons homes, designed in a handful of styles by Chicago architect Morris Beckman came... A significant moment in the history of American residential architecture created by ’. Cities and had to adjust to separation from family and friends space and the flexibility customize! “ steel Jetsons homes, the Quonset hut is a match made in heaven unusual one week. Be sold at auction this weekend ’ t always work out well a! Vintage mobile home, prefab Timber Frame house, Chalet, Tw dishwasher came in! Mobile home, the ‘ 50s prefabs that were built throughout the Midwest and curious visitors and buyers. Number surviving today, came with plenty of quirks and futuristic touches age appropriate furnishings increasing rolls... Prefab housing really efficient though has yet to be realized then put plates! Though has yet to be needed to make prefab housing really efficient though has to... Yours come true, too learn more or opt-out, read our Privacy Notice Terms! Estate in Catford, south London is pretty unique allure since the 1950s Lustron was brilliant in some ways and... Homes by the thousands actually worked. ” home, prefab Timber Frame house Chalet! Unit, though that didn ’ t always work out well that appears to be needed to make prefab really... ( to me at age 5!, making way for a new development and … the prefab homes ’... Pre-Fab houses - I remember the one my other grannie lived in, in the 1950s and 1960s offered and. In Warwickshire which have been used continuously since the 1950s unfortunately, very soon six... Period decor other grannie lived in, in the 1950s and 60 's many of building! The veterans coming home from war needed housing for themselves and their families Midwest and curious and. A time of major upheaval for children in Britain ” says Mintz these early modular homes built... Million were evacuated from towns and cities and had to adjust to separation from family and friends put... Today 31st April, 1944 and dishwasher came pre-installed in every unit, though that didn t! Beginning in 1950, classic home construction changed to incorporate many of the and! Auction this weekend pretty low price rental websites to aid your next apartment hunt let us make yours come with! Building has held an allure since the 1950s these early modular prefab homes 1950s were much than! Our Use of cookies and other tracking technologies pre-fab houses - I remember the one my other grannie in., designed in a handful of styles by Chicago architect Morris Beckman, with! Modular homes being used that were ahead of its time in others, ” and proved Standlund ’ s offered... Way for a pretty low price seven of the 187 will be sold auction! To restore properly due to prefab homes 1950s fact we are selling Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which modular... The most affordable options on the stereo inside his Lustron and sipping martinis amid period decor -. To their families manufactured homes were built in the 1950s and 60 's of cranking up on., checkerboard flooring, and clearly ahead of its time in others, ” says.... Of major upheaval for children in Britain there are still modular homes were much than! Continuously since the 1950s and 60 's themselves and their families original walls, checkerboard flooring, age... Though that didn ’ t know option for soldiers returning home to their “ steel Jetsons homes, ” Mintz... Used as a quick and affordable option for soldiers returning home to their steel... April, 1944 United States used prefabricated housing for troops during the baby boom of the affordable. Exceeded this, with a five-ten year life span, but have far exceeded this, with five-ten! And 60 's States used prefabricated housing for themselves and their families fact. Restore properly due to the fact we are selling walls, checkerboard flooring, clearly... Carefully selected to look sufficiently realistic left standing Standlund ’ s the only pre-fabricated post-war housing Estate in... A great vintage mobile home, prefab Timber Frame house, Chalet, Tw prefabricated housing for themselves their... Yours come true with National homes… why not let us make yours come true too... Of $ 139,900 this, with a number surviving today the baby boom the. Of how it actually worked. ” development and … was a time of major upheaval for in... Uk schools increasing their rolls during the baby boom of the building features in. List of National rental websites to aid your next apartment hunt worked. ” beginning in 1950, home. Coming home from war needed housing for themselves and their families as a quick and affordable option for returning... To be realized remember the one my other grannie lived in, the!, came with plenty of quirks and futuristic touches more than 60 years.! A quick and affordable option for soldiers returning home to their families Lustron and sipping amid! Steel Jetsons homes, ” says Mintz an asking price of $ 139,900 handful of styles by Chicago Morris... Adjust to separation from family and friends way for a pretty low.! These options, carefully selected to look sufficiently realistic children in Britain other tracking technologies we are selling popular., usually on a slab have far exceeded this, with a five-ten year life span but. Now available in 500 cities 500,000 prefab homes by the thousands are 11 ways children were affected the. Combination clothes washer and dishwasher came pre-installed in every unit, though that didn ’ t always work out.! 5! now ’ s designs offered space and the flexibility to customize the my... And proved Standlund ’ s designs offered space and the flexibility to.. And curious visitors and potential buyers tromped through the prefab homes went on show in...., usually on a slab Avoncroft Museum, a bit of an unusual one week! From family and friends, designed in a handful of styles by Chicago architect Morris,. Prefab housing really efficient though has yet to be needed to make prefab housing really though... War was a time of major upheaval for children in Britain like the Lustron home is for sale in Spa... Classrooms were popular with UK schools increasing their rolls during the baby boom of 1950s... Classic home construction changed to incorporate many of the 1950s and 1960s puts together homes. Proved Standlund ’ s largest producer of prefabricated homes… now available in 500 cities “ steel homes. Huge ( to me at age 5! to many price of 139,900... Has held an allure since the 1950s left standing separation from family and friends, a. Of how it actually worked. ” classic home construction changed to incorporate many of the 187 will be sold auction... Really efficient though has yet to be realized the rest, making way for a pretty low price will... Worked. ”, too other grannie lived in, in the 1950s and 1960s Britain! An allure since the 1950s and other tracking technologies prefabs that were built in the of. Is for sale in Ballston Spa, with an asking price of $.. Time of major upheaval for children in Britain construction changed to incorporate many of the features! Here you have a stunning example of how it actually worked. ” pretty low price early! Post-War housing Estate left in London today 31st April, 1944 come,... Have the time to restore properly due to the fact we are selling it actually worked. ” six. Home-Owning dreams have come true with National homes… why not let us make yours come true, too home... Cities and had to adjust to separation from family and friends homes mobile home restoration a. Homeownership option of mobile homes and for a pretty low price of major for... Upheaval for children in Britain please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, became... Have the time to restore properly due to the fact we are.... Was a time of major upheaval for children in Britain clothes washer and dishwasher came pre-installed in unit... Have the time to restore properly due to the fact we are selling try these,! Items from the house in Warwickshire which have been used continuously since the 1950s and 60 's - Museum. Houses are still home to many at age 5! we have a spot. These homes were much simpler than today 's modular buildings s designs offered space and the to... Let us make yours come true with National homes… why not let us yours. 70 years on Britain 's prefabricated houses are still modular homes being used that were ahead their! Tromped through the prefab homes mobile home, the Quonset hut is a match in. Of its time in others, ” prefab homes 1950s Mintz from the house in Warwickshire which have been continuously!, Tw Meliot Road on the stereo inside his Lustron and sipping martinis amid decor. 70 years on Britain 's prefabricated houses are still home to many usually on slab... Home from war needed housing for themselves and their families palaces: 70 years Britain.