London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

Two Families Embrace Off-Grid Living in This Sustainable Prefab Home

Two Families Embrace Off-Grid Living in This Sustainable Prefab Home

Two families live large and comfortably in this beautiful, self-sufficient prefab in rural Australia.

Peacefully placed in an open field, Franklinford is more than just a pretty rural retreat. Completed by Australian–based prefab specialists Modscape, this energy-efficient 2,370-square-foot residence was constructed in just 12 weeks off-site, and effortlessly embodies the numerous benefits of prefabricated architecture.



As with all homes prefabricated in Modscape’s factory, Franklinford was built with structural insulated panels for a highly insulated shell.

Radially sawn timber and batten covers nearly the entire length of the east façade to provide privacy from the road. In contrast, the west side opens to the outdoors with floor-to-ceiling glazing.

COLORBOND® steel with Vitrabond accents clads the rest of the exterior in a nod to the local agricultural vernacular.



Although the home was installed seamlessly on-site with a crane in as little as one day, it was the siting that proved to be more of a challenge.

As Modscape managing director Jan Gyrn describes, the need to optimize passive design and maximize the property’s beautiful west-facing views took a lot of strategic planning.



Despite the obstacles, the team appears to have succeeded in achieving their goals. Solar panels provide all the energy needed to power the off-grid rural home, and extended eaves-along with thermally broken, low-e double-glazed windows--mitigate unwanted summer solar heat gain.



Full-height windows wrap around the home’s west-facing living wing to frame views of the rolling hills and a meandering creek. Sliding glass doors open to a north-facing, sun-drenched deck to further blur the line between indoor and outdoor living.



Designed as a gathering space, the home accommodates two families thanks to the four bedrooms located in the private bedroom wing.



A minimalist interior keeps the focus on the stellar rural landscape, and is aided by a light material palette that ensures a bright and modern feel.

Whitewashed walls, white laminate joinery, and a marble-inspired Caesarstone benchtop provide a beautiful contrast against dark oak timber floors.



The solar panel service system and storage are located in a nearby shed that also houses the 80,000-liter water tank.



"This project operates fully off-the-grid," Gyrn explains. "It demonstrates that off-grid living no longer means rustic solo cabins in the wilderness-you can have a fully functioning, large family home that does not compromise on lifestyle."



Franklinford was completed for approximately $204 per square foot, plus site and logistic costs.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
×