09.03.2018
Austrian Prefabricated Housing Association (ÖFV)
Austrian Prefabricated Housing Association (ÖFV)
Austrian Prefabricated Housing Association (ÖFV)
Austrian Prefabricated Housing Association (ÖFV)
In February 2018, the members of the Austrian prefabricated housing association were asked *) which current trends show in the execution of prefabricated houses. The experts from technology and sales agree not only on the developments themselves, but also on the need to make a distinction between what is requested or desired and what is ultimately realized. Often the available finances, sometimes building regulations prevent the desired house. If these restrictions did not exist, many of the identified trends would be much more pronounced - such as the first one:
At ground level...
The bungalow continues to be in high demand. This house shape scores with accessibility and generously designed floor plans. However, bungalows are not exactly the cheapest variants of a single-family home and also require a correspondingly large plot of land.
...and first floor
For a long time, the family home with a full storey and a converted top floor of the classics, the trend is now clearly two full-fledged floors. Roof pitches are eliminated and space is gained. This is also necessary, since every homeowner should have significantly more square feet available than ten years ago. Experts estimate the average living space required to be 160 square meters. With a four-member family, each house-dweller accounts for around forty square meters. On the developed attic floor is used especially if the building class does not allow two full floors.
Down and over
Only about half of the newly built family houses are located on a cellar. The lower cost base plate is gaining in popularity from year to year. More and more informed and very carefully thinking and planning building managers and builders are building highly efficient spaces on these substructures. Individual solutions are very popular - whereby a basic principle can be clearly seen: Cooking, eating and living form an open, generous unity. What is new is that lately large-scale sliding elements are being used which, if necessary, create opportunities for retreat. On the other hand, the rooms in the upper or top floors offer the possibility of ensuring personal space for every resident.
Cell walls made of wood
Neither a basement nor a floor slab needs a still very young and slowly but surely gaining in popularity as well as much demanded house form: The space cell. Stripes or screw foundations are enough for this extremely mobile and flexible, but at the same time full-fledged living-room, in terms of comfort and features. This variant of the prefabricated building is interesting for both young families, whose house should be able to grow with the demands, as well as for people who are looking for compact living arrangements for their retirement.
Everything well thought out
For many years, the flat roof or the pent roof was the most popular form of roof. Cubic houses with a particularly favorable relationship between the volume of space and the external surfaces were the result. Now the hipped roof is making a comeback - both bungalows and houses with two full floors are equipped with these roofs, which have little inclination. A major advantage of this roof shape is that the roof projection protects the facade better from the weather, as that, usually flush with the facade, flat roof.
Look behind the facade
Wooden facades are increasingly replacing the classic plaster facades. These in turn are much more often monochrome executed - preferably in white. For the insulation on the exterior walls, wood-fiber insulating panels instead of polystyrene are increasingly being used under wooden or plaster facades.
A lot of hot air
Underfloor heating still accounts for the lion's share of heating systems. The energy comes from over ninety percent of an air heat pump, followed by other heat pump systems and pellet heating systems. Gas or oil is de facto no longer relevant. The demand for central ventilation systems for the recovery of heat has also fallen sharply.
Clever and smart
Although home automation technology is in great demand, smart home systems are not yet being implemented to a corresponding extent. If anything, the focus is rather on simple control modules. Security aspects are preferably monitored via the mobile telephone and the energy management is operated.
At ground level...
The bungalow continues to be in high demand. This house shape scores with accessibility and generously designed floor plans. However, bungalows are not exactly the cheapest variants of a single-family home and also require a correspondingly large plot of land.
...and first floor
For a long time, the family home with a full storey and a converted top floor of the classics, the trend is now clearly two full-fledged floors. Roof pitches are eliminated and space is gained. This is also necessary, since every homeowner should have significantly more square feet available than ten years ago. Experts estimate the average living space required to be 160 square meters. With a four-member family, each house-dweller accounts for around forty square meters. On the developed attic floor is used especially if the building class does not allow two full floors.
Down and over
Only about half of the newly built family houses are located on a cellar. The lower cost base plate is gaining in popularity from year to year. More and more informed and very carefully thinking and planning building managers and builders are building highly efficient spaces on these substructures. Individual solutions are very popular - whereby a basic principle can be clearly seen: Cooking, eating and living form an open, generous unity. What is new is that lately large-scale sliding elements are being used which, if necessary, create opportunities for retreat. On the other hand, the rooms in the upper or top floors offer the possibility of ensuring personal space for every resident.
Cell walls made of wood
Neither a basement nor a floor slab needs a still very young and slowly but surely gaining in popularity as well as much demanded house form: The space cell. Stripes or screw foundations are enough for this extremely mobile and flexible, but at the same time full-fledged living-room, in terms of comfort and features. This variant of the prefabricated building is interesting for both young families, whose house should be able to grow with the demands, as well as for people who are looking for compact living arrangements for their retirement.
Everything well thought out
For many years, the flat roof or the pent roof was the most popular form of roof. Cubic houses with a particularly favorable relationship between the volume of space and the external surfaces were the result. Now the hipped roof is making a comeback - both bungalows and houses with two full floors are equipped with these roofs, which have little inclination. A major advantage of this roof shape is that the roof projection protects the facade better from the weather, as that, usually flush with the facade, flat roof.
Look behind the facade
Wooden facades are increasingly replacing the classic plaster facades. These in turn are much more often monochrome executed - preferably in white. For the insulation on the exterior walls, wood-fiber insulating panels instead of polystyrene are increasingly being used under wooden or plaster facades.
A lot of hot air
Underfloor heating still accounts for the lion's share of heating systems. The energy comes from over ninety percent of an air heat pump, followed by other heat pump systems and pellet heating systems. Gas or oil is de facto no longer relevant. The demand for central ventilation systems for the recovery of heat has also fallen sharply.
Clever and smart
Although home automation technology is in great demand, smart home systems are not yet being implemented to a corresponding extent. If anything, the focus is rather on simple control modules. Security aspects are preferably monitored via the mobile telephone and the energy management is operated.
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