Home Delivered Prefabs for Every Location – Arkular in Inside Out Magazine
Wild
Life.
A new wave of architects is making the dream of building beautiful and sustainable homes in remote places a reality.
Words by Rebecca Hooton for Inside Out Magazine
You find an exquisite piece of land surrounded by sumptuous hillsides. Maybe nestled into wild hinterland, or a stone’s throw away from the glittering ocean. It’s perfect, you buy it, and now all you need is a home to go on it. Simple, right? Not so much. That’s where the hurdles begin for many hopefuls wanting to build in remote areas. Finding skilled tradespeople to build a dwelling off the beaten track can be almost mission: impossible.
It’s a problem being solved by the rise of next-gen building companies using the latest in construction tech to make modular homes. They build them in sections offsite, then deliver and piece the homes together on location, often in just weeks. It sounds LEGO-like, but the quality being achieved by many of them stands with the best of any architectural build.
One such brand making its mark is New Zealand’s Makespace, whose team recently delivered a job to the remote town of Ranfurly in Central Otago.
“Finding a builder to construct the home was near impossible for the owners, and the only one willing to do it lived 90 minutes away,” says founder Isaac Lindesay. “We constructed the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in our Christchurch branch before delivering it onsite.”
After seeing modular homes rising in popularity in other parts of the world, Isaac harnessed his building background to start his own company in 2021. Also called ‘prefabricated homes’ – because that’s exactly how they come to be – this method of building completely sidesteps the challenge of getting access to people and products when you’re in the middle of nowhere. “Having their dream abodes delivered onsite, ready to live in, is a huge advantage for those who own incredible pieces of land in rural spots,” Isaac enthuses.
It’s a relatively simple process, with the first step usually being the client perusing the company’s pre-designed floor plans. “From there, they can make it their own with upgrades and customisation,” Isaac explains. His team coordinates everything from colour palettes and council permissions to connecting the septic sytem.
This one-stop-shop approach, and the fact that a lot of construction happens offsite (thus avoiding costly weather delays), helps to make modular building a refreshingly fast and often more affordable process.
Like the cooler, younger cousin of regular display homes, modular homes have a fresh edge. They tend to favour an unfussy look with clean lines and neutral shades that are empathetic to natural surroundings.
“Our builds definitely have a minimalist, contemporary design,” Isaac confirms. “I personally like this look. It generally suits most environments, and it’s also the most efficient shape to transport. I’m a big believer in designing to fit the landscape, and considering what it will look like in 10 or 20 years.”
Prefab homes are often compact, but nevertheless pack a lot in. “It’s a cost-effective way to build,” Isaac says. “Many of our customers were previously looking at 200-square-metre builds for their properties, but once they come through our builds, it becomes clear what they really need in a space.” The fact that modular-home companies work on multiple projects from one base offers sustainability benefits, too. “The big one is waste,” says Isaac. “We use a noticeable amount of product that would typically have been thrown in a skip bin. The little bits all add up.”
It’s definitely a building concept that’s taking off locally, with modular companies popping up across both Australia and New Zealand.
“The response to our offering has been incredible,” says Isaac. “We’ve managed to open two branches and maintain a steady workflow for both.” His partner, Beck Wadworth, also recently moved on from her stylish stationery company, An Organised Life, to focus on her role as creative director of Makespace, so there’s no doubt that their brand will continue to go from strength to strength.
As for modular homes in general, the trend is just getting started. “It will definitely be a growth space,” asserts Isaac. “The products available will continually get better. Turnaround times will become faster, and more factory-style build environments will streamline the process across the industry.” So, basically, watch this Space.
Image: Banksia House
Close to Home – companies doing similar things in Australia
Arkular
Whether you fancy a tree, sea or city location, Arkular has a sustainable prefabricated dwelling to suit the backdrop. The self-proclaimed ‘lifestyle agency’ offers customised architectural solutions at better-than-boutique prices and delivers its modular homes across Victoria, NSW, SA, Queensland and Tasmania.
Why Arkular? Simplicity. Certainty. Sustainability.
At Arkular, our strength rests in our ability in designing sustainable and innovative modular spaces customised to your land and its unique environment. Coupled with regular communication, our clients benefit from a clear vision and pathway forward to living in their new home.
We offer an end-to-end service with your very own team, who will take the stress away from the process of building a home. We’re accomplished at all types of projects no matter the challenge and fast-track the end result.
Get in touch with us today for more information, or to get started on your dream modular prefab home.
Image: Fish Creek House
