The Beginning Era of Prefabricated Houses

The origins of prefabricated houses can be traced back to the early 20th century, while the introduction and application of prefabricated concrete technology in China began in the 1950s.

The Origin of Prefabricated Houses Globally

The core form of prefabricated houses—prefabricated panel houses—first emerged in the early 20th century. During this period, the wave of architectural industrialization driven by the Industrial Revolution led European and American countries to explore construction methods where building components were prefabricated in factories and then transported to the site for assembly. For example, the “Dom-Ino House” model proposed by French architect Le Corbusier in 1914, although not directly using prefabricated concrete, laid the theoretical foundation for standardized and modular architecture. In the 1920s, Germany began experimenting with the production of prefabricated concrete components, primarily for bridges and industrial buildings; by the 1930s, the United States saw rapid development of prefabricated panel house technology due to a surge in housing demand following the Great Depression, making it an important means of addressing housing shortages. At this stage, prefabrication technology focused on simple components (such as wall panels and floor slabs), with materials mainly consisting of concrete and wood, marking the transition of prefabricated houses from concept to practice.

The Development and Application of Prefabricated Concrete Technology in China

The introduction of prefabricated concrete technology in China began in the 1950s. After the founding of New China, to rapidly advance industrialization, the country imported prefabricated component production technology from the Soviet Union and compiled the first “Production Atlas of Prefabricated Components” in 1956, standardizing component design. Early applications were concentrated in the industrial sector, such as large components like factory roof trusses and crane beams, as well as standardized parts like residential floor slabs and stairs. For example, the “Qiansanmen” high-rise residential complex in Beijing (1970s) extensively used prefabricated concrete wall panels, becoming an important practice of early prefabricated construction in China.

Technical Characteristics and Limitations:

• Materials and Processes: Early prefabricated components were primarily made of ordinary concrete, which had low strength and lacked optimized designs for thermal insulation, sound insulation, and other performance aspects.
• Connection Methods: Mostly used wet connections (such as on-site poured joints), limiting construction efficiency and resulting in weaker seismic performance.
• Scope of Application: Due to limited technological maturity, early prefabrication technology was mainly used in low-rise or multi-story buildings, with fewer applications in high-rise buildings.

Conclusion

The global origins of prefabricated houses can be traced back to early 20th-century industrialization efforts, while China’s prefabricated concrete technology developed gradually through technology import and independent innovation starting in the 1950s. From early industrial factories to residential buildings, prefabrication technology has evolved from single components to integrated assembly and from low efficiency to high efficiency, laying the foundation for modern architectural industrialization.