ABSTRACT
Architects have looked longingly toward manufacturing for generations. There is a perceived efficiency, impact, precision, modernity, and ambition that separate construction from manufacturing. One aspect central to the distance between the two approaches is the difference between client and customer. Residential architects support the client in creating a unique solution for a family, site, and circumstances. On-site construction epitomizes the slow-to-innovate nature of the residential housing market in the US. Building a house on site means that the construction process must confront changing conditions where the site or home is open and exposed for most of the process. The workers are often subjected to extreme heat or cold, depending on the region, and the workers must travel to a new location for their job depending on the location of the project. BLU Homes finds a “sweet spot” between panelized and modular methods by using aspects of both approaches, the best of both worlds.
