Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Honeycomb-Inspired HOMB Prefabs Tackle Tricky Building Sites

Honeycomb-Inspired HOMB Prefabs Tackle Tricky Building Sites

The HOMB prefab system by Skylab Architecture and Method Homes takes inspiration from honeycombs.

To bring the power of prefab to urban living, award-winning builder Method Homes teamed up with Skylab Architecture to develop HOMB, a flexible, modular grid system that takes inspiration from honeycomb structures.



"This system is based on a 100-square-foot triangular module that can easily adapt to diverse urban or environmental conditions, from a 20-foot-wide infill site to a steep, sloping site," explain the architects. "The prefabricated, structural modular frame is inspired by the triangle you typically see in a structural truss frame. The triangle is one of the strongest geometric forms, essentially subdividing a rectangle into a stronger space-planning grid."



The triangular modules can be tessellated into infinite custom configurations. The flexibility and efficiency of the modular system also makes it easy for homes to be built in phases for future expansion.



In 2013, the first home built using HOMB was the Taft Residence, a two-story building installed on top of a site-built basement in just one day. Its 28 modules were manufactured at Method Homes’ factory in Bellingham, Washington, and delivered to Portland, Oregon, via six trucks, each holding a load of 600 square feet.



The triangular, structurally independent modules gave the architects the flexibility to maximize the building potential of the steeply sloped urban infill site, which only measures 20 feet wide.

A blackened cedar rainscreen clads the home and provides a sharp contrast to the interior’s white walls and light-toned timber. Large windows flood the four-bedroom home with natural light while the open-plan layout creates an airy, spacious feel.



In addition to the eco-friendly benefits of reduced construction waste and site impact, the prefabricated home has also been engineered for energy efficiency and features over two inches of rigid insulation on the exterior as well as blown-in insulation within the walls. A six-kilowatt rooftop solar array helps power the radiant in-floor heating and a heat recovery system. An accessory dwelling unit was later added to the site as part of the project’s second phase.



The HOMB structural frame is built with conventional wood and engineered lumber with the addition of SIPs and LVL beams. Modules are typically 70- to 90-percent completed during the prefabrication process, and clients have a wide variety of exterior and interior finishes to choose from.



Although HOMB was primarily created for residential purposes, the prefab system can also be adapted for commercial uses as demonstrated by Skylodge, a custom ski lodge made up of six HOMB modules on top of Powder Mountain near Eden, Utah.



According to Method Homes, the build costs for a custom HOMB project starts at $350 per square foot.

"HOMB’s unusual economy of space and array of interior finish options are designed to work in harmony to create a living environment that’s every bit as cozy as it is pragmatic," adds the firm. "Additionally, uniquely unified connections between indoor/outdoor living mean a bit more nature at your feet-and an overall healthier place to spend your time."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×