History of Prefabricated Houses
The history of prefabricated houses dates back to the early 20th century, with its technological system gradually evolving over time through stages of origin, promotion, stagnation and transformation, and modern development.
Origin and Early Applications
The prototype of prefabricated houses can be traced back to the early 20th century, initially appearing in the form of prefabricated panel houses, primarily used in local building scenarios such as floor slabs and roof insulation layers. In the 1950s, prefabricated concrete technology emerged and was initially applied in factory and residential construction, laying the foundation for the subsequent formation of the technological system.
Formation and Promotion of the Technological System
In the 1970s, driven by China's policy of promoting the "three modernizations" (industrialization, standardization, and prefabrication) in construction, technological systems for prefabricated houses such as large-panel structures and box structures were formed. Prefabricated panel houses, characterized by their fast construction speed and low cost, became an important means of addressing housing shortages and were widely applied in residential construction up to seven stories, significantly driving the process of urbanization.
Stagnation and Transformation
In the mid-1980s, prefabricated panel houses faced stagnation due to cost and quality defects. With advancements in building technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings gradually replaced traditional prefabricated panel houses. Prefabricated buildings, which utilize modular factory-prefabricated components, have a construction period 30% shorter than traditional methods and offer more stable quality, becoming the direction of industry transformation.
Modern Development
After the 21st century, prefabricated house technology has upgraded towards industrialization, digitization, and automation, forming three main forms: steel structures, concrete structures, and wooden structures. Chinese companies have comparative advantages in the steel and concrete sectors, driving the global export growth of "prefabricated houses." For example, in the first four months of 2026, the export volumes of mobile houses from the ports of Guangzhou and Shenzhen increased by 38.1% and 19.6% year-on-year, respectively, indicating strong international market demand.
Policies and Current Status
Existing prefabricated panel houses generally suffer from issues such as weak earthquake resistance and poor sound and thermal insulation, with a design lifespan of approximately 30-50 years. Since 2022, China has implemented renovation policies, focusing on repairing and renovating prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing those that meet the criteria for dangerous buildings, balancing housing safety and resource utilization.
