EYRC knows its way around iconic modern houses—whether it’s renovating them or designing them from scratch. The firm is also expert in dense, multifamily housing. Applying that breadth of knowledge to the realm of cutting-edge building technology was an obvious next step. In the case of Mighty House, the technology is a synthesis of 3D printing and modular developed by a company called Mighty Buildings.
The module schemes range from 864 to 1,440 square feet, answering needs as diverse as an accessory unit to the quintessential 3/2 family house. “One of the fun things has been learning about the tech. The panels are a resin-impregnated, powderized stone—not unlike Corian,” says EYRC’s Mathew Chaney, AIA. “They’re hardened with UV lights, which catalyze and cure it. We celebrate what the process does to the material in the design.”
Once the site is prepped and a foundation laid, Mathew says the modules should take 4 to 6 weeks to build, versus 6 to 12 months for conventional construction. Bathrooms and kitchen are contained in a prefab pod.
With the optional solar panels installed, Mighty House should reach net-zero and satisfy the project goal of a sustainable, more affordable solution for high-design housing. But, as EYRC understands, the structure itself is only half of the equation. “As excited as we are to be developing the product, what makes it an actual home is the site and the placement,” says Mathew, who will consult on the deployments.
Images
Plans and Drawings
Mighty House
Los Angeles
Architect: EYRC Works, Culver City, California
Builder: Mighty Buildings, San Francisco
Project size: 864 to 1,440 square feet
Renderings: Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects