Scheme
Floor Plans
Installation Process
About Palette Architecture
| Project | Shift | House |
| Architects | Palette Architecture |
| Manufacturer | Simplex Homes |
| Contractor | Cedar Knolls Homes |
| MEP Engineer | RAAD |
| Area | 1,600 SF |
| Bedrooms | 2 |
| Modules | 3 modules, 5 panels |
| Installation Time | 1 day (+days of finishing) |
| Location | East Hampton, Long Island, New York |
| Year | 2023 |
| Photography | Jody Kivort |
Description by architects
Shift | House is a 1,600 SF, new house for a family of four. It is constructed of prefabricated, modular components that were factory fabricated and connected on site. The design takes advantage of prefabrication’s economies in budget and schedule, without compromising on the overall design intent. These tools are deployed in a house enriched by its natural surroundings, and supportive of the family’s activities.
In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, there was a desire amongst many New Yorkers to supplement their homes in the city with ones more connected to nature. A prior client asked us to design a second home away from their Brooklyn townhouse. They quickly settled on a tree lined subdivision in East Hampton, in relative visual seclusion from its neighbors. The house was to be modest in scale and budget, with an urgency to occupy it quickly.
Concurrent with the start of this project, we were navigating contractor shortages and long wait times on a number of our projects. We suggested prefabrication to achieve lower construction costs, an expedited schedule, and improved budget and schedule certainty. We embarked on a design process that worked within prefabrication’s limits, while pressing the fabricator to expand their offerings to meet our design goals.