Are Arkular qualified Architects?

Absolutely! Arkular is a premium architectural practice specialising in customised modular homes at competitive prices. Our team consists of highly experienced and qualified architects. Your preliminary modular home design is strictly created by qualified architects only.

Who manufactures Arkular’s buildings?

Arkular works alongside modular manufacturing partners in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, ACT and South Australia from the design concept stage through to building handover. We play to our strengths – beautiful, sustainable architecture and the manufacturers play to theirs – cost-effective, skillful builds, prefabricated and delivered to your site. Our manufacturing partners and their highly skilled construction team are responsible for the advanced technological build of your modular home, and we manage holistically on your behalf to ensure the design intent and a speedy delivery. The entire collaborative team comprises experienced architects, interior designers, drafts-people, estimators, project managers, carpenters, and finishing trades. This is how Arkular achieves a result that is always a cut above the rest.

Can I make a change to the Ark set designs?

We love the Ark Set Design range and have devoted a lot of thought to crafting very special and functional floorplans. This allows us to offer impressive architectural pricing on each product, as much of the sketch has been prepared in advance. To avoid paying for an entirely custom project, we highly recommend defining how many bedrooms you’ll require and reviewing those particular floorplans to pick out the one that best suits your family, your age, and your lifestyle. (*Please note that modifications can be made to the Ark floorplans and can be customised to suit your block, capturing views and matching your lifestyle).

Do you create custom designs?

We are mindful that sometimes you have a particular vision in mind, and as the leading architects in prefab, we are thrilled to help you achieve this through a personalised approach. The process can be as collaborative as you wish. We will need to gather a few initial details from you to understand the design brief (your requirements) and your budget. Once a quote is approved, we can start producing your first design package per the discussed design direction and budget goals.

Arkular prides itself on providing modular architectural solutions. We may reference our set designs, but ultimately, we work alongside yourself and our manufacturing partners to deliver a cost-effective, customised architectural solutions with a design to suit your block and lifestyle.

How do Arkular homes compare?

We have worked hard to ensure we continuously lead the way in the prefab marketplace year after year. Our homes are strictly designed by architects and no lesser qualified staff. This already places our team at a superior level of expertise than any other high-profile prefab supplier. We are formally awarded for being the standout quality in prefab. We are the only team regularly approached, nominated and awarded for sustainability awards on a global scale. When it comes to comparing with traditional architects, we don’t take 2.5-3 years to complete a project, and our costs are approximately $250-450K lower each and every time for the average 3 bedroom house. As the awards would indicate, we offer the best quality, expertise, sustainability, timing, and certainly cost.

What are the standard ceiling heights?

Our standard ceiling heights are 2.7m, and can build up to 3m. Very often, the ceiling heights are adjusted depending on the site conditions. We are happy to confirm that we offer a boosted ceiling should the client so wish request it.

Is there a range of finishes to choose from?

Yes, absolutely. We are proud to offer an impressive finish as the base starting point. You are most welcome to make any adjustments you like (to taps, tiles, bench tops etc.) to ensure the style and outcome are exactly as you envisaged. Our in-house interior designer has a stunning high-end background and will offer expert advice.

What is the standard module size?

Our modules vary in size, and Arkular generally produces the largest modules. We achieve the best results with a module size of up to 5.0 m in width and 16.0 m in length. However, we can work up to lengths of 18 m and 5.5m in width. All modules can be attached for longer lengths if required. This ensures the most cost-effective result for our clients, as these sizes work best during installation. We can also try various other configurations as we understand each site will present its own unique potential.

Where are the modules made?

The architectural workload and presentations occur in our Melbourne office (or online for convenience). We come to you for all the exciting site visits. Our design hub is located in Hobart, Tasmania, and the impressively efficient construction occurs across Australia nearest your project at our manufacturing supplier’s facilities in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. Proudly Australian-made.

Can I add more modules to my home in the future?

You certainly can. The flexibility of the modular design process ensures we can add to your home at a later date.

What type of projects does Arkular work on?

At Arkular, we specialise in delivering a wide variety of creative and sustainable modular building projects across Australia. From new builds to knockdown rebuilds, we work across residential, multi-residential, and light commercial sectors, tailoring each design to suit your environment, lifestyle, and budget. We design and construct homes for a range of locations and contexts: coastal, urban, suburban, rural, and outback. Our residential offerings include:

• Contemporary homes and architect-designed custom builds
• Farmhouses and barn-style homes
• Beach houses and holiday retreats
• Shed-style homes and off-grid dwellings
• Multi-generational homes with flexible zoning
• Compact modular homes, such as granny flats, tiny houses, and studios for downsizing or backyard additions
• Investment properties designed for cost-efficiency and durability

In the commercial space, we design smart, sustainable solutions including:

• Luxury cabins for caravan parks, resorts, and eco-retreats
• Farmstay accommodation and rural worker housing
• Custom modular cabins for short-stay or tourism operators
• Campsite amenities, ablution blocks, and communal facilities
• Community buildings, recreation centres, and multi-use spaces

Please note: Arkular does not undertake renovation or extension work.

If you are seeking a forward-thinking, low-impact modular solution, whether it’s a minimalist cabin in the bush or a multi-residential coastal project, our team is here to bring your vision to life.

What kind of commercial projects does Arkular deliver?

Arkular designs and delivers a wide range of modular commercial buildings across Australia. Our projects span diverse industries, including tourism, health, education, retail, and community infrastructure.
We’ve created modular solutions for:

• Accommodation cabins for caravan parks, eco-resorts, and farm stays
• Multipurpose halls, community centres, and recreation facilities
• Wellness retreats, yoga studios, and bed & breakfast accommodation
• Retail spaces, medical clinics, and airline field offices
• Childcare centres, preschools, and small-format schools
• Sporting pavilions and accessible facilities
• Disability accommodation and supported living environments with universal design

Our flexible modular designs and off-site prefabrication methods are ideally suited to the commercial sector, where faster build times, cost certainty, and minimal site disruption are critical. Whether you are creating a new hospitality destination or expanding community infrastructure, we can tailor a modular solution to your brief, site, and budget.

Do you work with Developers?

Yes, we are excited to collaborate with other firms and developers because we know that breathtaking results always follow when great minds come together. We are regularly approached to build for other architects themselves as they know it would take them so much longer to achieve a similar result on their own. If you wish to collaborate, please get in touch, and we can help speed up your dream project.

Can you work with plans from other Architects?

Yes, we can. We’re happy to review architectural plans developed outside Arkular. In many cases, clients come to us after receiving quotes that exceed their original budget. By adapting these designs to suit our modular construction methods, we can often deliver a similar architectural outcome with improved cost-efficiency, reduced build time, and fewer site complexities.

To embark on your project, we can often work with your existing consultant studies (such as BAL reports, native vegetation assessments, BASIX documentation, and land surveys) alongside your architectural plans. This helps streamline the process while ensuring the final design is beautifully suited to your site and brief.

Some modifications may be required to align with our system, but we provide constructive, transparent feedback and collaborate closely to explore what’s possible. Our goal is to retain the design intent while ensuring it works seamlessly within a modular system with a lesser price tag.

Do you have a display home we can visit?

Rather than maintaining a static display home, we prefer to offer private walk-throughs of our most recent projects. This gives you the opportunity to experience the latest Arkular designs in real settings, showcasing our current approach to space, form, materiality, and innovation. Each visit is tailored to reflect your interests and design goals.

We can also organise a walk-through at our manufacturer. Many of our clients find it an invaluable experience, they often leave feeling confident, inspired, and really impressed by the quality of the operation and the people behind it, and excited to begin their own project.

Do you offer standard inclusions?

Yes. Every Arkular home comes turnkey with a thoughtfully curated standard inclusion package* featuring fixtures, fittings, appliances, and a range of sustainable features. Our architectural team guides you through a refined palette of finishes, ensuring you achieve your desired style without feeling overwhelmed.

We embrace passive solar design, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, airtight construction, and healthy, low-VOC materials. Our homes also feature double glazing, quality insulation, joinery, and beautiful flooring. Where possible, we use Australian-made products and support local trades and suppliers.

* Contact us for a copy of our impressive Standard Inclusions brochure.

What is the construction and installation time for my project?

The average construction time for an Arkular home is around 12 to 20 weeks. The installation takes 1 – 2 days and 2 and 4 weeks for finishing touches, including services, external decks and pergolas; times may vary depending on the project’s complexity and site access.

Does Arkular service remote locations?

We love working in various environments, including urban, rural, coastal, alpine and remote off-grid locations. Our homes are built to perform effectively in each of these settings. We would be delighted to work with you if our trucks can access the site adequately.

What kind of climatic conditions are suitable for an Arkular home?

Our modules are made of materials and insulation that perform exceptionally in various climatic conditions. Our projects range from residential houses in Sunny Queensland to beachside Byron Bay, tricky blocks on the Northern Beaches of New South Wales, alpine retreats in Victoria to picturesque Tasmanian locations and everything in between. We achieve a high level of insulation via a range of R Batts and double-glazed glass throughout, resulting in a comfortable home even in extreme environments. For more information on our features, please contact us for our Standard Inclusions.

What kind of site preparation is required?

Site preparation will vary from project to project. We generally work with an engineered pile system that provides a non-invasive footing system. We will arrange this ourselves on your behalf. If you need demolitions, excavations, or any other work done before the trucks arrive with your new home in tow, our manufacturing partner can assist by project managing these works.

How does an Arkular home fare during transportation to site?

Every Arkular home undergoes a high level of quality control during the construction process to ensure it is completed with the utmost care.  We work with an esteemed logistics team that manages all facets of the transportation of our buildings. This is completed with detailed accuracy, precision and care. All our clients marvel at it as one of the most exciting days of their lives.

Can you install onto a sloping site?

Of course. We have erected several homes on sloping blocks using bored pier foundations. These sites usually make for visually dramatic results. Our bored pier footing system can accommodate most sloping sites. There is no need for concrete ground slabs, so site works can be minimized, saving time and money.

Does Arkular work on projects that have a BAL rating?

Yes. Our homes are built to comply with a low-mid BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating. We can modify the design where required for mid-high BAL ratings and/or select alternative cladding and materials. We can service any level of BAL up to Flame Zone – please get in contact with us to discuss your material options for a FZ rated block.

Can Arkular build in cyclonic areas?

Yes, Arkular can design to meet Cyclone Building Codes. At the early stages of any project, all environmental factors are accounted for to ensure the requisite building codes are met. The impact on the design and costs will depend on the level of cyclone protection required.

Do I need a soil report?

Yes, we require a soil report and will organise this for you when required. The cost of doing so is incorporated into your overall project. The soil report will determine the subsurface soils and how we’ll respond to these during design and construction.

Can we install a Septic Tank?

Yes, we can. Most sites can accommodate a septic tank system.

Can we install Solar Power?

Yes, we can! Solar panels can be fitted to your new home and are a great way of greening your footprint and reducing fossil fuel consumption. Not to mention the long-term power bill savings!

Can you build off the grid completely?

100% we can. Self-sustaining features can be incorporated throughout our buildings, including large rainwater tanks, solar cells, Tesla battery storage and generators (if required), allowing the design to naturally breathe and provide minimal impact to its environment.

What materials do we use?

Understanding the materials used within the building is fundamental to its overall response. Using materials that are produced with as close to carbon neutral methods as possible to those that have low to no VOC output is important, as are the manufacturing techniques that go into their production.

Will my Arkular home achieve a minimum star energy rating?

With its energy-conscious design and materials, an Arkular home comes with a minimum 6-star rating as standard. We often build to a higher rating, and happy to work with you to achieve it. Our designs can reach 7-10 star ratings* and are completely off-grid *Energy Ratings are subject to individual site orientations and client preferences.

From 1 May 2024, homes will be required to achieve 7 stars and a whole-of-home rating not less than 60 under the NatHERS option. A higher star and whole-of-home rating means the building is more energy efficient.

Do you include heating and cooling?

Absolutely. We include a ceiling fan in each bedroom and living area to ensure comfort in all seasons. Air conditioning systems, open fireplaces, pot belly stoves, gas fires and hydronic heating are all available as extras for heating and cooling options. We will work with you to establish your project’s most suitable energy solution.

Do you do landscaping? Is it included in the cost?

Landscaping plays a major role in the overall appearance, harmony and operation of your site and new home. The balance between internal and external lifestyle is extremely important and plays a major role in how we live and operate. At Arkular, we collaborate with several landscape designers and architects that can provide beautiful landscape designs and concepts that suit your specific site, concentrating on the deciduous trees and creepers for summer shading, native hardy water efficient flora and fauna, designer vegetable gardens, composting methods and positions, reticulation watering systems and permeable pathways. Some of our favourite landscape designers and architects we have worked with, include: Phillip Withers Landscape Architecture, Mint Pool and Landscape Design, Fiona Brockhoff Landscape Designer, Platylobium Landscape Design, Greener Visions Landscapes and TLC Pools.

Can Arkular project manage all aspects of the project?

It’s what we do. The Arkular process has been streamlined to ensure our team is doing majority of the work for you. Once engaged on a project, we keep you up to date on our progress with regular emails, phone calls and three guided walk-throughs at different stages. While we handle all the technical aspects and the necessary paperwork, we value your feedback on the design and the personal touches. This allows for every build to be as exciting as it is efficient.

Does Arkular deliver to my area?

Yes, Arkular delivers throughout Australia, including
New South Wales (Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter Region, Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Bangalow, Coffs Harbour, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Snowy Mountains, Jindabyne, Orange, NSW North Coast, and all other areas of NSW),
Australian Capital Territory (Canberra and all areas of the ACT),
Queensland (Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Currumbin Valley, Tamborine, Stanthorpe, South East Queensland, and all other areas of QLD),
Victoria (Melbourne, Macedon Ranges, Gippsland, Grampians, Mornington Peninsula, Daylesford, Yarra Valley, Castlemaine, Bendigo, Anglesea, and all other areas of VIC),
Tasmania (Hobart, Launceston, and all areas of TAS), and
South Australia (Adelaide and all other areas of SA).

We love working across most of Australia and have successfully installed Arkular projects all over the country. During each stage of the process, our team will be in touch regularly with updates. We always travel interstate for important meetings. At other times, our clients have been very happy with meetings via conference calls. A major advantage of collaborating with Arkular is that our manufacturing partners are based locally in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, allowing you to engage directly with businesses in your state..

Are you familiar with interstate council regulations?

Yes, we are. Arkular has extensive experience navigating planning and building regulations across multiple states, including Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT.
We’ve worked with a wide range of councils, particularly in rural and coastal regions where modular living is a perfect fit. These include:

• Byron Shire Council (NSW)
• Northern Beaches Council (NSW)
• Wingecarribee Shire Council (NSW Southern Highlands)
• Bellingen Shire Council (NSW Mid North Coast)
• Surf Coast Shire (VIC)
• Moyne Shire and Colac Otway (VIC Southwest Coast)
• Mornington Peninsula Shire (VIC)
• Hepburn and Macedon Ranges Shires (VIC Central Highlands)
• Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils (QLD)
• Fraser Coast Regional Council (QLD)
• Alexandrina Councils (SA)
• Huon Valley and Meander Valley Councils (TAS)
• and more…

With each project, we tailor the design and approval strategy to meet local planning overlays, bushfire zones (BAL), heritage considerations, and environmental constraints. We collaborate closely with local consultants and certifiers to ensure a smooth and compliant process, no matter the postcode.

Will I need to organise services connections?

Once your Arkular home is delivered and installed on-site, it’s ready for connection to essential services such as electricity, water, and sewerage. While some clients prefer to arrange these connections independently, we’re more than happy to manage the process on your behalf.

Because service connection requirements can vary significantly from site to site, they are not included in our standard package. We’ll work with you to ensure all connections are handled efficiently and comply with local regulations.

Arkular Modular Homes – Price Guide.

We pride ourselves on delivering stunning, high-quality, energy-efficient modular homes.

Prefabricated Modular home solutions at non-boutique building prices. Arkular provides cost-effective design responses that meet your brief and budget.

We leverage off volume-building purchasing power delivering affordability from concept to contract with streamlined processes, shorter build times, and reduced labour costs.

Given the nature of our architecturally designed, sustainable modular homes and their level of customised architectural finishes, our indicative pricing structure starts as follows:

A standard 1-bedroom home starts from $140,000*
A standard 2-bedroom home starts from $245,000*
A standard 3-bedroom home starts from $385,000*
A standard 4-bedroom home starts from $490,000*
A standard 5-bedroom home starts from $595,000*

*Please CONTACT US for our impressive standard inclusions and more information on our prices for our Arkular Custom Modular Homes and our Arkular Pre-Designed Modular Homes.

The possibilities are endless. After all, we are architects and collaborate with leading modular manufacturers and work with your budget to design and build you the ultimate sustainable modular home.

How much does transportation cost?

Since this is an integral part of our model, we calculate transport at lower than market rates.

How much is a crane going to cost?

We try and avoid using cranes where possible. But if one is required, the cost will depend on the ease of access to the site and the complexity of the installation. The cost may vary from about $5K for a simple manoeuvre to about $12K for larger more complicated operations.

Can Arkular help with finance?

While we don’t offer financial advice directly, we can point you in the right direction. Financing a modular home is now easier, with lenders like CommBank offering loan options specifically for prefabricated builds.

We can connect you with finance providers who understand modular construction and can support you through the process. Some of our manufacturing partners also offer finance-ready solutions, helping you get your project underway with greater confidence and clarity.

How does Arkular structure its costing?

We have a simple and transparent cost structure that we share with clients throughout the process. Arkular ensures clients are well-versed and understanding of the pricing structure.

What warranties and guarantees does Arkular provide?

All Arkular homes are built under a standard HIA (Housing Industry Association) building contract—commonly used across the modular and residential building industry. This ensures clarity, fairness, and peace of mind for all parties.
Every home includes a 6-year Home Owners Warranty, covering structural elements, plus additional warranties on appliances, fittings, and materials as provided by manufacturers.

Our process is designed to be simple and transparent, so you’ll know exactly what’s included and protected throughout your project.