Domestic Prefabricated Houses

Domestic prefabricated houses are a form of architecture characterized by industrialized production of components and on-site assembly, offering advantages such as shortened construction periods and reduced pollution. Their technical systems have evolved over time, with broad application scenarios and promising market prospects.

I. Definition and Types
Prefabricated buildings are constructed by assembling components such as beams, slabs, walls, and columns prefabricated in factories on-site to complete the overall structure. The main types include:

1. Panel-based prefabrication: Focused on prefabricated wall panels and floor slabs, this approach can expand usable area but has limited design flexibility;
2. Box-based prefabrication: By combining prefabricated functional units (such as kitchen and bathroom modules), construction speed can be increased by 50%-70%, but it requires high transportation and lifting equipment;
3. Frame-based prefabrication: Utilizes prefabricated frame structures, such as the prestressed prefabricated concrete integrated frame system applied in the Nanjing Jindi Yufang project.
   In addition, modular construction represents a more integrated model, where buildings are broken down into independent modules, manufactured in factories, and assembled on-site, reducing construction periods by over 60%. For example, CMC combined modular buildings enhance seismic resistance through steel-concrete integrated pouring, shortening the construction period by 30% compared to traditional methods.

II. Technical Development History
China's prefabricated concrete technology began in the 1950s, initially used for factory and residential construction. In the 1970s, driven by the policy of "industrialization, standardization, and mechanization" in construction, technical systems such as large-panel structures and box structures emerged. By the mid-1980s, the industry stagnated due to cost and quality issues. In the 21st century, driven by production efficiency and environmental protection needs, companies like Vanke Group developed prefabricated shear wall residential structural systems and applied prefabricated frame technology.

III. Material Forms and Market Advantages
Domestic prefabricated houses mainly come in three forms: steel, concrete, and wood, with corporate strengths concentrated in steel and concrete sectors:

• Steel structures: Lightweight and highly seismic-resistant, suitable for overseas transportation and high-rise buildings;
• Concrete structures: More closely aligned with traditional living experiences, with high acceptance in the domestic market.
  In terms of policy support, regions like Fujian Province have established industrial bases, achieving over 70% reduction in construction waste. In terms of market performance, Chinese-made prefabricated houses are selling well overseas. In the first four months of 2026, the Guangzhou Customs district exported movable houses worth 1.4 billion yuan (a 38.1% year-on-year increase), while exports through the Shenzhen port reached 1.68 billion yuan (a 19.6% year-on-year increase).