SR20 Innovative housing in North America (2007)

Over half of the two million or so houses built in the United States each year are built partially or entirely in a factory. Could this approach to house building be the reason that house construction prices in the US are between a half and one third of what they are in New Zealand? If there is some link between an industrialised approach to residential construction and lower housing prices, what can the New Zealand housing industry gain from a similar approach here?

These two questions led to a proposal to study innovative housing in North America as part of the BRANZ Study Award in 1987. The subsequent trip to North America took place between mid-March and May 1988. This paper is a report of this trip as well as a discussion of the relevance of North America housing innovations to both the building industry and the housing market in New Zealand.

A variety of housing organisations were visited, principally in California, Oregon, Wisconsin and the north-eastern states. Visits were made to 14 private sector corporations, two research institutions and several government and industry organisations.