London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Honeycomb-Inspired HOMB Prefabs Tackle Tricky Building Sites

Honeycomb-Inspired HOMB Prefabs Tackle Tricky Building Sites

The HOMB prefab system by Skylab Architecture and Method Homes takes inspiration from honeycombs.

To bring the power of prefab to urban living, award-winning builder Method Homes teamed up with Skylab Architecture to develop HOMB, a flexible, modular grid system that takes inspiration from honeycomb structures.



"This system is based on a 100-square-foot triangular module that can easily adapt to diverse urban or environmental conditions, from a 20-foot-wide infill site to a steep, sloping site," explain the architects. "The prefabricated, structural modular frame is inspired by the triangle you typically see in a structural truss frame. The triangle is one of the strongest geometric forms, essentially subdividing a rectangle into a stronger space-planning grid."



The triangular modules can be tessellated into infinite custom configurations. The flexibility and efficiency of the modular system also makes it easy for homes to be built in phases for future expansion.



In 2013, the first home built using HOMB was the Taft Residence, a two-story building installed on top of a site-built basement in just one day. Its 28 modules were manufactured at Method Homes’ factory in Bellingham, Washington, and delivered to Portland, Oregon, via six trucks, each holding a load of 600 square feet.



The triangular, structurally independent modules gave the architects the flexibility to maximize the building potential of the steeply sloped urban infill site, which only measures 20 feet wide.

A blackened cedar rainscreen clads the home and provides a sharp contrast to the interior’s white walls and light-toned timber. Large windows flood the four-bedroom home with natural light while the open-plan layout creates an airy, spacious feel.



In addition to the eco-friendly benefits of reduced construction waste and site impact, the prefabricated home has also been engineered for energy efficiency and features over two inches of rigid insulation on the exterior as well as blown-in insulation within the walls. A six-kilowatt rooftop solar array helps power the radiant in-floor heating and a heat recovery system. An accessory dwelling unit was later added to the site as part of the project’s second phase.



The HOMB structural frame is built with conventional wood and engineered lumber with the addition of SIPs and LVL beams. Modules are typically 70- to 90-percent completed during the prefabrication process, and clients have a wide variety of exterior and interior finishes to choose from.



Although HOMB was primarily created for residential purposes, the prefab system can also be adapted for commercial uses as demonstrated by Skylodge, a custom ski lodge made up of six HOMB modules on top of Powder Mountain near Eden, Utah.



According to Method Homes, the build costs for a custom HOMB project starts at $350 per square foot.

"HOMB’s unusual economy of space and array of interior finish options are designed to work in harmony to create a living environment that’s every bit as cozy as it is pragmatic," adds the firm. "Additionally, uniquely unified connections between indoor/outdoor living mean a bit more nature at your feet-and an overall healthier place to spend your time."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×