Rialto, CA-based Plant Prefab, the nation’s first prefabricated design and manufacturing company dedicated to sustainable construction, materials, processes and operations, recently announced a partnership with UK-based modular, sustainable architects Koto Design. Together, they unveiled two new prefabricated homes – Koto LivingHome 1 and Koto LivingHome 2 – on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Koto prides itself on using natural materials and creating spaces that heighten human senses and provide opportunities to fully immerse in nature. Strongly influenced by the Scandinavian design tradition, Koto’s work is characterized by simple sculptural forms that maximize light and space, and their homes are conceived with nature in mind, to protect the environment and to encourage biophilic living: a connection between people and the natural world.
Following Plant Prefab’s rigorous sustainability standards, Koto LivingHome 1 and 2 will be built with ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems, smart energy monitoring, LED lighting, recycled insulation and drywall and low-flow water fixtures. All LivingHomes are built to be Net Zero, including the use of all electric appliances and equipment. Additionally, with the goal to maximize energy efficiency for each home, Koto and Plant will work directly with the homeowner to determine optimal site placement to account for environmental factors such as sunlight.
With sustainability always in mind, Koto also integrated select design elements to build upon Plant's Net Zero standards. Both models are designed with windows that maximize cross ventilation, reducing the need for air conditioning. Wherever possible, more common synthetic materials such as cement siding have been replaced with timber-based products to reduce the amount of embodied carbon expelled during construction.
Construction of Koto LivingHome 1 and 2 is made significantly more efficient with use of the Plant Building System (PBS), Plant Prefab’s patented, hybrid system for building prefabricated homes. PBS uses a combination of modular units and Plant Panels, a new panelized construction system developed by Plant Prefab, which include plumbing, electrical and finish materials. By integrating both modular units and panels, PBS provides architects with design flexibility and reduces the complexity and cost of transportation and installation.
Like all LivingHomes, Koto LivingHome 1 and 2 will come standard with Amazon Alexa-compatible smart home devices integrated throughout the home, including energy monitoring.