Pre-fab construction technology: An innovative approach towards affordable mass housing

Urbanization is India had been accelerating since independence due to the adoption of mixed economy that triggered the growth and development of private sectors. As per the UN prediction, 64.1 % of developing countries and 85.9% of developed countries are expected to be urbanized by 2050. Within the limited resources of finance, labor and time, urban housing has become an unenviable situation which had resulted in slum development providing an inhabitable condition for the humans to survive and hence seeks a prior concern from the Government as well as private sectors. To satisfy the housing needs in urban cities, a technique of building construction, referred to as pre-fab architecture is gaining potential in today’s context which encompasses off-site fabrication of building components to a higher degree of finish with their assembly on site. In this context of demand for affordable housing for all, pre-fab improves the ease of construction, with quality of architecture and material efficiency as well as workers safety and limiting environmental impacts of construction as compared to the onsite conventional construction practices. The paper envisages the advantages of pre-fab construction technique to achieve efficiency in terms of economy and flexibility in design when compared to conventional methods. The design of any built up structure, irrespective of the type or method of construction system followed, should satisfy the basic needs of human within the guiding parameters of sustainability. The approach of how modular housing could also be a solution for a dream home satisfying the requirements of user groups irrespective of income and age is the intended outcome of the paper.