Koto LivingHomes by Plant Prefab and Koto Design. Piha External view - Image by Plant Prefab.

Koto LivingHomes by Plant Prefab and Koto Design. Piha External view – All images by Plant Prefab.

Architecture – Plant Prefab, US melding manufacturer of sustainable prefabricated homes, has teamed up with British studio Koto Design to create two LivingHomes characterized by sculptural forms maximizing light and space. Named Yksi and Piha, the affordable and sustainable homes are “made from natural materials and provide opportunities to fully immerse in nature,” explain at Prefab.

Koto LivingHomes by Plant Prefab and Koto Design. Yksi External view - Image by Plant Prefab

Yksi External view – Image by Plant Prefab.

Minimum carbon footprint and biophilic living – the connection between people and the natural world – are the key values at the core of the designs which offer ample deck space for outdoor living, and employ large windows and long sight lines to create a sense of openness.

Koto LivingHomes by Plant Prefab and Koto Design. Yksi bedroom - Image by Plant Prefab

Yksi bedroom – Image by Plant Prefab.

The four-bed, three-bath, 200 square metres Piha – the Finnish word for ‘courtyard’ – is characterized by two courtyards that connect inhabitants with the outdoors. Piha is a central value of the Scandinavian lifestyle and design aesthetic. The sculptural form of the cantilevered Yksi – the Finnish equivalents for ‘first’ – creates a comfortable, two-bedroom residence in just over 100 square metres.

Koto LivingHome 1 and 2 will be built with ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems, smart energy monitoring, LED lighting, recycled insulation and drywall and low-flow water fixtures. All LivingHomes are now built to be net-zero with standard above and beyond what the state requires, including the use of all electric appliances and equipment.

Koto LivingHomes by Plant Prefab and Koto Design. Piha External view - Image by Plant Prefab.

Piha External view – Image by Plant Prefab.

Both models are designed with windows that maximize cross ventilation, reducing the need for air conditioning. Wherever possible, more common synthetic materials such as cement siding have been replaced with timber-based products to reduce the amount of embodied carbon expelled during construction.

Construction of Koto LivingHomes makes use of Plant Prefab’s patented, hybrid system for building prefabricated homes which reduces the complexity and cost of transportation and installation. The efficient solution combines modular units with a new panelized construction system developed by Plant Prefab, which include plumbing, electrical, and finish materials.

Koto LivingHomes by Plant Prefab and Koto Design. Piha living room - Image by Plant Prefab

Piha living room – Image by Plant Prefab.

All images: courtesy of Plant Prefab.