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4500 sf 6 Bedroom Prefab Modular House, NY
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Project: Fishers Island House
Area: 4500 sf
Modules: 8 Boxes
Typology Series: Double Wide/Triple Wide Hybrid
Bedrooms: 6
Baths: 5
Year: 2012
Location: Fishers Island, NY
Features: Media Room, Roof Deck, Bunkroom, Screened Porch, Guest Suite, 2 Car Garage, Workshop, Outdoor Shower, Outdoor Fireplace, Outdoor Kitchen
Environmentally Friendly Features: 96% Energy Efficient Boiler, Solar Photovoltaic System, Green Roof, Solar Hot Water, SystemGrass Pavers,
Interior: Bamboo Floors, Maple Cabinets, Caesarstone Countertops, Aluminum Clad Wood Windows with Low E, Slate Bathroom Floors, Insulated Glass
Exterior: Azek Infill Panels, T&G Cedar Siding, Ipe Decking, Cement Board Panels
Located off the coast of Connecticut and Rhode Island, yet occupying a body of water in the state of New York, Fishers Island is accessible only by ferry. While during the summer months the island’s population swells to over 3000, year-round residents total only about 300. Delivery of daily supplies and materials is therefore limited. Contractors live on the mainland, creating short workdays due to the commute, thereby causing construction of a new home to take longer and effectively cost more. Leveraging off-site construction, shipping volumetric prefabricated modules—complete with plumbing, electrical, and finishes—makes for a much more cost-effective method of building on the island. The boxes were designed specifically not only for the client and site, but also to fit on the standard ferry.
The client, a family of four with 2 recent college-graduates, has extended family that also lives on the island. This house is designed to accommodate and entertain them all for generations to come. Often called “the ark” by locals, the house is comprised of eight Lego-like boxes sitting on a panelized concrete foundation that was also prefabricated. Integrated into the sloping landscape, the long and linear vessel is organized by public and private uses. The main level contains communal living spaces that span three parallel boxes, while the second floor contains the immediate family’s private spaces. The ‘east wing’ contains guest rooms and a stair down to a large bunkroom below for future grandkids. As the main gathering and entertaining area, the roof becomes another level of living space, essentially an outdoor room, partially covered and equipped with a kitchen, seating, and an outdoor fireplace.
All of the structure’s horizontal surfaces are utilized for roof decks, green areas, or solar panels. Hot water generated by the sun keeps the house warm via the radiant floor heating system during colder months.
Floor plans
Construction
Video
Project Credits:
Joseph Tanney, Robert Luntz
Project Architects: Paul Coughlin, Brendan Miller
Manufacturer: Simplex Industries
Project Coordinator: Jason Drouse
Engineer: Lynne Walshaw P.E., Greg Sloditskie
Contractor: BD Remodeling & Restoration
Interior Decoration/Furniture: David Bentheim
Photographer: © RES4
2000 sf 4 Bedroom Prefab Modular House, NY
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Project: Dune Road Beach House
Area: 2000 sf
Typology Series: Double Wide
Modules: 4 Boxes
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 2.5
Year: 2012
Location: East Quogue, NY, USA
The eastern end of Long Island has a rich history of architect designed beach houses. Located off renowned Dune Road, where most houses are many times its size, the site, known as a flag lot, is one of the last remaining of its kind, in that it is right on the ocean, riding the crest of the dune. Due to the constraints of the allowable building area, the house is located past the current allowable building line and replaces a dilapidated beach bungalow which was falling apart due to the crashing waves. The house is on a long, thin barrier island, connected back to mainland by bridges, allowing it to have views south to the immediacy of the ocean and north to the bay and marshland beyond.
The client is a young family living in large apartment in downtown Manhattan. They arrive by car down a long drive and up an entry ramp over the natural dune landscape to a house that is rather small compared to their apartment. It is the opposite of most who have small apartments in the city and larger second homes to get away.
Utilizing every available amount of square footage, and sited in the only location allowed by zoning, this compact 2200 sf, two story double wide typology home contains 4 bedrooms and a small office. Sitting atop a dune that was required to be rebuilt prior to construction, the main level communal space with its wall of floor to ceiling glass has the effect of sitting on the beach while within the house, but with access to all the comforts of home. Atop the second level, which contains three bedrooms and a bunk room, interior stairs lead to roof deck with a fireplace, hot tub, space for morning yoga, and commanding views up and down the beach and over surrounding houses.
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5000 sf 6 Bedroom Prefab Modular House, NY
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Project: North Fork Bluff House
Area: 5000 sf
Typology Series: Z-Type
Modules: 4 Boxes
Bedrooms: 6
Baths: 5
Year: 2017
Location: Mattituck, NY, USA
Positioned between two homes in a residential neighborhood on a formerly overgrown lot, the North Fork Bluff House highlights panoramic views toward Long Island Sound. Previously only appreciated by means of a treacherous climb to the bluff through thick pricker bushes, the clients wanted a multigenerational home where they could enjoy the dramatic outlook to the water.
In order to achieve a tranquil refuge for the family, the view needed to be balanced with privacy from the neighbors. As the lot is not particularly large, the vegetation on much of the site would be cleared to make room for the house, so privacy needed to be addressed architecturally. Additional challenges included budget, site disturbance limitations near the bluff, and a need to accommodate three generations – the owners are three siblings, who planned to share the house as a summer retreat with their spouses, parents, and young children.
Both the plan and section were conceived with view and privacy in mind. The North side opens to the Sound with full height sliding glass doors. The South side, facing the street, has a few strategically placed windows at the entry. To keep the façade from feeling static, cedar slats intermittently wrap the cement board panels, dissolving the surfaces as they transform from siding to screens and railings. At the entry, the earth slopes to allow light into the large basement windows, which, because of the grade change, cannot be seen from the street. In plan, the house is shaped like a “Z”; the two side wings are positioned to block the neighboring houses from the front porch and rear pool deck. A cedar slat wall along the pool deck provides additional screening.
The entry sequence balances a sense of arrival with privacy. Two grassy berms flank the drive. From the autocourt, a bridge leads to the front door, hidden around the corner. Once inside, the house opens to the stunning ocean view.
To manage costs and minimize site disturbance, the house was designed for and built using modular construction. Four modules were fabricated off-site in four weeks, then shipped to the site and set onto a concrete foundation in one day. The modular construction process also helped minimize the construction schedule – critical for a summer home where missing a season is heartbreaking.
The four bedrooms and baths, located in the two side wing modules, are equitably designed for the three siblings and their parents, which also helped keep costs down by taking advantage of economies of scale in factory production. The other two modules are combined to form a large communal living space with smaller breakaway spaces at either end. The daylit basement serves as a kid zone with a large playroom and bunkrooms. The entire roof surface is utilized for additional living space, where views to the water are even more spectacular. A large roof deck is shaded with a trellis, and the two side wings are topped with artificial turf ‘green’ roofs to create a putting green and bocce court.
Floor plans
Video
1500 sf 3 Bedroom Prefab Modular House, NY
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Project: North Fork Bay House
Area: 1500 sf
Typology Series: Lifted Double-Wide/Courtyard Hybrid
Modules: 2 Boxes
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2.5
Year: 2015
Location: Laurel, NY, USA
With direct access to Great Peconic Bay, this prefab beach house is designed to be a weekend retreat for a young family of four from Brooklyn and a seasonal residence for their Florida-based grandparents. As a multigenerational home with a rather small footprint, the house needed to be flexible and efficient to accommodate both short and long stays simultaneously.
One gains entry via an open-riser exterior stair to a courtyard deck, where adjacent trees fill the view and sunlight flows into the house. Full-height sliding glass doors facing the bay connect the open-plan communal space to a large bayside deck and the beach beyond.
Perched among the trees, the open plan communal space spills out onto exterior decks. The dining opens onto a courtyard with an oculus-like opening to the sky above, which also provides ample daylight into the living spaces. The kitchen and living room open onto a larger deck overlooking the bay where the family enjoys summertime outdoor dining. The main level includes three bedrooms with built-in beds and wardrobes for efficient use of compact spaces. The family’s two young girls share custom built-in bunk beds with integrated toy cubbies to maximize storage.
Interior materials evoke a beach vibe, and make for easy cleaning: large-format tile flooring throughout, subway tile, Caesarstone countertops, Corian backsplashes, maple cabinets, and custom Baltic birch millwork. Exterior materials—chosen for their durability—hold up to the harsh coastal climate. Kynar-coated corrugated aluminum siding withstands the corrosive salt air while providing beautiful tone and texture. Warm natural cedar used for siding, railings, the outdoor shower enclosure, and the brise-soleil—along with Ipe decking—complement the cool metal siding.
While the home is not located within any official FEMA-designated flood zone, the client was concerned about potential flooding given the proximity to the water. In response, the house is raised upon a steel frame, which also allows for views through to the bay upon arrival via the long tree-lined gravel driveway. This strategy also improves views from the main level, and creates shaded outdoor space below the house for parking, playing, and lounging. The secondary ground level spaces include a seasonal-use half-bathroom, a beach equipment storage closet, an outdoor shower with easy beach access, and a workshop for the grandfather’s woodworking projects, including his latest, a small sailboat.
Although secluded by woods from the road, farther South the property opens up to the bay and the unassuming, neighboring one-story cottages on either side. In a respectful gesture, the house is sited just north of the neighbors, to keep the raised home from feeling obtrusive on the very narrow lot. By slipping past the neighbors, the house is shielded by existing trees along both property lines to maintain privacy.
Floor plans
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5700 sf 5 Bedroom Prefab Modular House, NY
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Project: Amagansett Addition
Area: 5700 sf
Typology Series: 7-Wide/Courtyard Hybrid
Modules: 14 Boxes
Bedrooms: 5
Baths: 5
Year: 2016
Location: Amagansett, NY
The client, a bachelor, found that his existing house, located on a bluff overlooking Amagansett Beach, did not provide enough space for entertaining his many friends and family for the summer. The existing pool deck provides stunning panoramic views of the ocean, so capitalizing on the view and creating an easy flow from inside to outside was critical in the design of this 5,000 square-foot modular guest house addition.
The client’s brief called for the existing house to remain, so a large auto court was created to accommodate guest entry. Additionally, a new sitebuilt garage is cantilevered off the bluff. A large hydraulically-operated glass garage door and floor-to-ceiling glazing opposite the garage door maintain views to the water from the court. Cedar trellises direct guests from the gravel auto court to the guest house entry while screen walls offer privacy at the entry to the existing house.
The entry to the guest house bridges existing and new, allowing the client to close-off the main house from guests when privacy is desired. Large pocketing glass entry doors preserve the view from the auto court across the length of the property. To the left of the entry, the addition includes a site-built squash court, and glass-lined corridors lead to an expansive living space, which can accommodate large groups for poolside parties. Folding glass doors along the entire south side open this façade up to the decks outside, while maintaining clear ocean views throughout the space.
From the pool deck, two exterior stairs bring guests up to a roof deck that covers the entire addition and includes a turf-covered bocce court, oversized fire pit, and a large custom stainless steel hot tub. From atop the roof deck, guests enjoy even more sprawling ocean views.
On the lower level, a home gym and five guest bedroom suites look onto the garden, and large sliding glass doors to each room provide easy private access. Each bedroom suite has built-in Baltic birch beds and an ensuite bathroom.
A bridge across the garden landscape was also added, leading to a secluded perch in the wooded hilltop. This intimate deck incorporates another fire pit and hammock for stargazing.
Floor plans
Video
7500 sf 7 Bedroom Prefab Modular House, NY
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Project: Bridgehampton House
Location: Bridgehampton, NY
Area: 7500 sf
Bedrooms: 7
Baths: 7
Year: 2018
Location: Bridgehampton, NY
A short walk from downtown, this modular house serves as a summer get-away from Manhattan for a young family of five and their guests. The clients’ brief called for a light-filled house that maintained a fluid indoor-outdoor connection with a variety of exterior spaces for lounging, playing, and entertaining
Broken into two volumes on the main level and clad in weathered gray cedar, the house responds to the neighboring small-scale beach cottages. There is no formal front door, but upon arrival there is a fluid procession signifying entry - from the gravel autocourt, through the gates to a tree-lined entry court, and up to a covered entry deck. The covered deck is created by a spanning second story, defining the threshold between the public and private realms – the street to the backyard.
Pulling apart the house’s volumes generates more opportunities for permeability between inside and outside for light, air and access. With sliding doors abundant around the house, it becomes just as natural to utilize outdoor connections between living spaces as indoor ones. Continuous decks wrap around the house, making it easy to run around in bare feet. A large trellis at the pool house creates a shady spot for lunch poolside, while cedar screen walls provide easy storage for pool toys. The screened porch – a connector between the built-in barbeque and the kitchen – can accommodate large groups with a table for ten and cozy seating around a wood-burning fireplace. The big backyard – shaded by an existing Paulownia tree – is preserved for the kids by pushing the pool to the south side of the site, which maximizes the afternoon sun when the clients return from the beach to jump in the pool. Roof decks off the second story family room feature another fireplace seating area, a swath of artificial turf for the kids to play on, a vegetable garden, and a separate hangout spot on the southwest deck for the kids as they get older.
Inside, the clients wanted a minimal, white interior that would be light and bright, but would also hold up to their three young kids. For the house to function well and maintain a ‘clean’ look day-to-day, effortless storage was critical, so white acrylic built-ins throughout provide convenient places to hide toys, shoes, and beach gear. Laundry is tucked away behind pocketing doors just inside the front door, so sandy clothes and wet towels can go right in the wash after a morning at the beach. The open kitchen, dining and living room are wrapped in windows, allowing sunlight to fill the space throughout the day. Cedar ceilings are a warm counterbalance to the bright, white cabinets and Corian countertops.
The master suite is on the main level, separated from the living space by the storage zone off the entry. Large sliding glass doors open onto a private grassy outdoor space. The master bath is encased in full height windows, overlooking an existing Japanese maple tree. Another sliding glass door next to the tub opens to a private outdoor shower.
The second main level volume houses a two-car garage, a guest bedroom and an office. The office is intended to serve as a man-cave hideaway, providing a quiet space for work and leisure that is still close enough to watch the kids playing in the yard. A stair from the office leads down to a home gym in the finished basement, which has two light wells to allow for natural light and air. Two more light wells in the larger basement open up to two more guest bedrooms and a large playroom.
SUSTAINABILITY HIGHLIGHTS:
1. A geothermal closed-loop system, with eight 300’ loops, heats and cools the house. (The small pool house is non-conditioned space.) The geothermal system also provides ‘pre-warmed’ water for the domestic hot water in a reserve tank.
2. A high-efficiency tankless hot water heater is paired with a high-efficiency “ultra” gas boiler.
3. Rooftop solar panel array with (42) 315 watt panels reduce the electrical load.
4. Large windows and glass doors all around the house optimize quality daylighting, and large lightwells to in the basement bring ambient daylight into the living spaces.
5. Cedar slat brise soleils control the amount of solar gain through the windows, while still allowing for daylighting.
6. All lighting is LED, reducing the amount of electricity used. And all lights are on a Lutron RadioRA lighting control system, which allows for lights to be on timers.
7. A flash-and-batt insulation in the exterior walls provides a tight building envelope. Two inches of spray foam insulation is layered with four inches of fiberglass batt insulation. This is a factory friendly detail that provides a high R-value and minimizes air leakage.
8. The nature of modular construction in a factory setting leads to significant reductions in construction waste.
Floor plans
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About Resolution: 4 Architecture
Resolution: 4 Architecture is an internationally published and highly acclaimed ten-person firm, completing projects in the residential, commercial, and public realms. Founded in 1990 by Joseph Tanney and Robert Luntz, RES4 is dedicated to addressing 21st century conditions through intelligent architecture and design. The firm consciously works to enhance sustainable practices that address the current and long-term challenges facing our dynamic communities. Through iterative investigation, RES4 works to shape the palpable, illuminate the obscure, and understand the interface of architecture, its users, and its context.
| Address | Resolution: 4 Architecture 150 W 28th St, Suite 1902, New York, NY 10001 USA | |
| Phone | +1 212-675-9266 | |
| Fax | +1 212-206-0944 | |
| info@re4a.com | ||
| publications@re4a.com | ||
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| Website | https://www.re4a.com/ |
Prefab Modular Houses by RES4, New York, USA