Semi-Mass Modernism, The FlatPak Way

The mission of mid-century modernism was the creation of a new architecture using modern industrial materials and methods. This so that the masses could have something nicer than the faux capes and ill-conceived split levels that people like Abraham Levitt were foisting on the public after WWII. At least that's what we think. These contrary little wonders, devoid of ornamentation, were created by often struggling and financially challenged men who later became icons of 20th century architecture. They had names like Neutra, Noyes, Gropius, Breuer, van der Rohe and Johnson.

As time passed that initial mission has blurred so that now it is possible to get a 15,000 square foot house with a flat roof and big windows that is billed as modern. This is a bad thing.

Another issue is that, and I am not saying that people should not be allowed to create and explore the endless variations that architecture provides, often you see the house becomes the ornament. Large foldy things with spikey tops and walls that travel at weird angles provide decoration without function. This is not really bad, there is a house or two in New Canaan that fall into this category and we love them, but I think it misses the point set by the founders mentioned above.

Enter FlatPak. Those of you who stop by here on a regular basis already know that we think that the concept behind the FlatPak House is a good if not great one, where panels are manufactured and then shipped and assembled with almost zero on site waste and at a great time savings. One just has to read our interview with Charles Lazor, founder or Lazor Office, BluDot and FlatPak House to see why this all makes sense (excerpt below).

EM! It seems to us that your FlatPak approach to prefab is an infinitely more flexible approach than a typical prefab where you pick modules or rooms that are already a certain size and shape and you plug them together.

CL Correct and the architect in me holds a number of things very dear. Each site had its own specific conditions, its own specific greatness, its own challenges and that each client has their own specific needs, tastes and specific ways of living and working in and with their house.

EM! So was FlatPak founded as a way to bring modern to the masses at a lower price point?

CL Maybe more specifically it’s about opening up the possibility of a modern architect designed home to more people. It’s still a premium product. It’s not cheap but pound for pound these houses are significantly less expensive than a traditional custom house.

In my office we do traditional custom designed and built homes in the modernist idiom, exploring ideas in modern living and working, materials and technology but FlatPak houses take as little as half the time from the first meeting to move in. They cost somewhere between 20% and 30% less.

So when we got an email this morning from Jeff Hollander at FlatPak stating that they had some great new pictures of a new FlatPak house under construction, we thought we'd share.

[caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="First the panels are built in the FlatPak facility"][/caption]

Above...The beginning of the manufacturing process at the FlatPak facility. This follows the interview/design process.

[caption id="attachment_254" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The siding is applied"][/caption]

During the manufacturing process the panels are surfaced in a variety of materials. This cedar made from repurposed manufacturing waste from another factory reminds us of the sideing on Eliot Noyes' Bremer House in New Canaan.

Ready to go

These are ready for the truck.

[caption id="attachment_258" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The panels are packed and shipped"][/caption]

This is one of three trucks used to bring the house's shell to the site. Two brought the panels sealed packages and one brought the truss system for florrs and roofing.

[caption id="attachment_257" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="A Package with the cover off"][/caption]

This is how the panels are shipped, packed flat together. You can see that the contents of the rear package have aleady been placed.

[caption id="attachment_260" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Then the crane takes the budle off the truck"][/caption]

The foundation can be seen in the background. It will not take long for the FlatPak A-Team to get the shell up and set.

[caption id="attachment_261" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The first floor goes up"][/caption]

This is a two structure building with the crane loading in a panel on the living structure ahile the work structure awaits the floor system and second floor wall panels.

[caption id="attachment_262" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The wall panels goes up"][/caption]

The second floor of the working space quickly is enclosed. FlatPak founder Charles Lazor (with the camera) checks progress.

[caption id="attachment_263" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Almost there"][/caption]

The panel is set in to place. You can see the truss system under Mr. Lazor.

[caption id="attachment_265" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Seen from the street"][/caption]

The FlatPak's shell is almost complete. The house takes on an almost Eames Case Study House look.

[caption id="attachment_266" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="All in a days work"][/caption]

It's all in a days work for the FlatPak House A-Team. These are members of a dedicated assembly team that are dropped on the site to continue quality control beyond the factory walls.

Thanks to the folks at FlatPak for these pictures and we can't wait for pictures of the finished product.