Which Batch Are Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panel houses were mainly built in the 1970s and 1980s by state-owned enterprises or government institutions to house their employees, as well as being a typical form of collective housing during China's planned economy period in the 1960s and 1970s—early versions often featured large prefabricated panel structures known as "dabanlou" (large panel buildings).

Houses built by state-owned enterprises or government institutions in the 1970s and 1980s: During the planned economy period, to address the housing needs of employees, state-owned enterprises or government institutions would fund the construction of houses for employee accommodation. These houses were mostly assembled from prefabricated concrete components, a construction method that bore significant characteristics of the era. The prefabricated concrete components were manufactured in advance at factories and then transported to construction sites for assembly. This method significantly shortened the construction period and reduced costs, serving as an important form of welfare housing distribution at the time. These houses were relatively common in cities at that time, providing basic living accommodations for many employees.

Large panel buildings (dabanlou) of the 1960s and 1970s: Large panel buildings were a typical form of collective housing during China's planned economy period, often featuring prefabricated large panel structures in their early stages. The prefabricated large panels were large concrete slabs manufactured in factories according to design specifications, possessing high strength and stability. At construction sites, these prefabricated large panels were hoisted into place and assembled to form the main structure of the residential buildings. The emergence of large panel buildings met the demand for large-scale housing construction at the time, providing relatively concentrated living spaces for urban residents. Their architectural style was simple and straightforward, with a reasonable functional layout, meeting residents' living needs to a certain extent.

Characteristics of prefabricated panel houses: The construction method of prefabricated panel houses resulted in short construction periods and low costs. However, over time, these houses gradually revealed some issues, such as structural aging and poor earthquake resistance. Therefore, during urban renewal and old city renovations, some prefabricated panel houses have been demolished and rebuilt or reinforced and renovated to improve their safety and living quality.