Ecotect Architects has been directly involved in the development
of high quality innovative transportable homes. This has largely
been in response to the demand for prefabricated homes in the
northwest, but we have also been involoved in the development of
buildings intended for the Perth region and the southwest.
Our focus on transportable home designs has been on creating
high quality homes that stand out from the mostly low quality
products that are commonly available.
Our transportable designs demonstrate a high level of energy
efficiency through innovative use of materials and refined passive
solar design. They also demonstrate how quality design can be
achieved at affordable prices.
Our process for the design of transportable homes is the same as
for all other designs, i.e. concept design, design development and
working drawings.
Since 2007 the practice has been involved in the design of
transportable. There is particular application for tropical
regions where the use of thermal mass has small advantages and the
use of ventilation, shade and insulation strategies to minimize air
conditioning is the best strategy for energy efficiency.
Transportable homes can also be economically applied I areas
where the land use is relatively temporary. There are
business models that lease the land for a period with a
transportable home located for a period. The owner can
transport the home to another location after the lease period has
expired allowing another land use to apply. This method is
being used in retirement village where affordability is the
key.
The transportable homes are oriented to face north in the
southern hemisphere and are insulated well, and there often is a
thermal mass enhancement strategy applied to help natural comfort
to be achieve for longer period in the extremes of summer and
winter.
The practice will assess the brief and fit in a layout that
suits the 'transportability' of the final home. Often the
home consists of two or three modules that can easily go by road to
the site.