Land+Living: pre fab: Portable House and Swellhouse

Architecture — May 7, 2004 Posted by James

Affordable, sustainable, comfortable prefabricated homes

Jennifer Siegal's Office of Mobile Design (OMD) has designed two prefabricated lines of modular dwellings, and has begun production of the "Portable House."

Various configurations and customizations are possible for both the Portable House and Swellhouse.

OMD has been featured in Dwell, Newsweek, Wallpaper, Metropolitan Home among other publications and media.

Firm: Office of Mobile Design

"Prefabricated structures result in more time-efficient and cost-effective construction methods, as well as architecture that rests lightly on the land and has less advese effects on the environment. OMD is at the forefromt of a new generation of designers that are rethingking the prefabricaton contstuction process and how that process affects the natural and built environment."

"OMD designs embrace clean, simple lines that are designed to contemporary methods, materials and values. Our designs allow for maximum flexibility, adaptability and expandability. We struve to balance affordable construction with earth-friendly construction methods."

The Portable House

"The Portable House comes complete from our factory, located in Southern California, to your site ready for installation and habitation. It is fully permitted in the factory as a residential factory-built structure, and includes all finishes, cabinetry, and kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances. You don’t have to do any of your own contracting, as we arrange for the shipment, preparation of site / foundation and installation of the Portable House on your property. The Portable House is a flexible and durable steel dwelling. Units can be independent or stacked two high, offset, and / or arranged in a courtyard configuration. The Portable House is clad in corrugated metal mini-v siding and floor to ceiling Polygal- a translucent insulated plastic."

The Portable House

The Swellhouse

"The Swellhouse is constructed of pre-engineered steel I-beams and quality finish materials that are sensitive to you and in turn to the environment. Materials are chosen to reflect your budget and life-style. The Swellhouse is comprised of a structural modular bay. This bay is flexible enough to fit the needs of very different programs, budgets, sites, and lifestyles. Its flexibility on the land allows the Swellhouse to be sensitive to its site conditions. Its signature ‘S’ frames allow complete expanses of glass, which result in a seem-less connection between interior and exterior living."

TH"dwellhouse

38 comments

Comments (38)

G. Rene' Laigo — December 7, 2004

Anthony — December 7, 2004
Try contacting Swellhouse for details.

Thanks for your comment, but we don't make the Swellhouse. Try contacting OMD (the link is in the article above). Good luck!

Vincent Beazel — March 3, 2005
OMD Link

We have been trying to access the OMD web site with no success. The city of Lancaster Ca is looking for a modular design for an engineering lab at the Lancaster University CTR. our e-mail is: vhbeazel@yahoo.com our web site for Advanced Energy Research is: www.FRProject.org/

James — March 3, 2005
Link works OK for us

The link works just fine for us... browser issues perhaps? Anyway, here is OMD's contact info lifted from their site: 1725 abbot kinney boulevard venice, california 90291 t 310_439_1129 f 310_439_2495 moreinfo@designmobile.com

tom reid — May 19, 2005

i like your designs. where do i obtain floor plans and erected costs in north carolina?

jodi ourso — May 26, 2005
seatrain house

I love the seatrain house. Where can I obtain erected costs and floor plans in Louisiana?

Thursday Herdman — June 14, 2005
Thank God !

We are very interested in the whole idea.We can't afford to buy a in socal. we want more info..thank you.

Shrijit Bhowmik — October 31, 2005
Great design

I am intrested in developing a unique structure in colloboration for the Indian market in different sizes, olesae send more details if u have any ideas that can be worked on. Shrijit Bhowmik Cal Frost inc 501, Krishna Residency, Daspalla Hills, Visakhapatnam - 530003 Andhra Pradesh India 0091-9393125223

Mike — January 27, 2006
OMD website problems

I can navigate to the OMD website but I am unable to access the individual sections. I've tried from three different terminals via different ISPs. There's definitely a problem with the site.

Gursharn — March 17, 2006
The Swellhouse

Hi, I need more info for the swellhouse. I need to know, can I build about 1200 square feet and if it is possible to move it to another location, and if so how much will it cost

Vaeth — July 26, 2006
Can't access OMD

Could somebody please tell me how to get on the OMD site. Clicking on prefab goes nowhere! Thanks.

James — July 27, 2006
Click on...

...the words "Click for architecture" on the left side.

Jacqueline Blue — August 30, 2006
Mrs.

Would you please e-mail me pictures of examples of the smallest "Swellhouse" you manufacture along with floorplans and prices for a family on a very modest budget. I was thinking of building a small getaway on a piece of land I own on Puget Sound. Also can you please advise me on the slab or whatever the home must be put on, sorry about my ignorance, please educate me. I would love to be a part of your promotional plan by having a home put together and using it to demonstrate or show other interested people. What about huricane proofing, is that part of the built in design? Mrs. J. Blue 1537 River's Edge Drive Orlando, FL 32825

parita — October 13, 2006
materials

hi their, i want to know what materials is used in constructing the portable house.can u plz give me some information. thanks student parita

Harry Afrianto — January 25, 2007
Need info to exploring Indonesia markets

Hi....is there any info to be share about this pre-fab building. I want to exploring this kind of building to apply on Indonesia market. The potential market is huge. You can contact me through harry.afrianto@innecobuilt.com thanks Harry

KC — February 11, 2007
architectural research about portable architecture

we have a thesis on going and i only have 1 month left, my research is all about portable architecture. will you send me some more photos and information about it??? thanks for your help my e-add is kringo_carlo@yahoo.com.au thanks!!! youre help will be greatly appreciated!!!

j-megirl — March 10, 2007
grancrete

seems to be a fantastic new product, is it being used in the pefab industry? if so, where? thanks!

MR.NILESH — December 16, 2007
WOOD HOUSE

I AM NILESH FROM PUNE, STATE-MAHARASHTRA(INDIA), LOOKING FOR A MODULAR LIGHT WEIGHT HOUSE/HOME WHICH CAN BE USED IN COSTAL AREA / NEAR THE BEACH & WHICH CAN BE ALSO USED AS PERMANENT HOUSE FOR HOLIDAYS .SO IF YOU HAVE SUCH PRODUCT SEND ME THE CATLOG OR SPEC. BY MAIL ID- info@conexups.com or BY PHONE MOBILE- 0-9822068763

Alex — June 17, 2008
Childcare center

Do you also make homes for a possible child care center???

Pax Construction Corp — March 4, 2009

can you e-mail more info, I might be able to get a huge order depending on price and shiping. Please provide conditions to order, price, location etc.

Waleed Ali — March 15, 2009
(6700) portable house required during the period of 6 months,

(6700) portable house required during the period of 6 months, Please report on the possibility of manufacturing within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with our industrial The following specifications: • Qty (3000) 2 Room - Kitchen - Bathroom - 12 × 4 • Qty (2000) 2 Room - Kitchen - Bathroom - 10 × 4 • Qty (1000) 2 room only - 8 × 4 • Qty (700) Lounge - Kitchen - Bathroom - 8 × 4 Made of iron materials, wood

Waleed Ali Sharif — March 15, 2009
anw0000@hotmail.com

anw0000@hotmail.com (6700) portable house required during the period of 6 months, Please report on the possibility of manufacturing within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with our industrial The following specifications: • Qty (3000) 2 Room - Kitchen - Bathroom - 12 × 4 • Qty (2000) 2 Room - Kitchen - Bathroom - 10 × 4 • Qty (1000) 2 room only - 8 × 4 • Qty (700) Lounge - Kitchen - Bathroom - 8 × 4

chris — June 24, 2009
portable house

I m interested to buy your house ! but we are located in Europe ?? can you shipp so far ? where are you located ? biotch@net.hr

James — June 24, 2009
Visit www.designmobile.com

Chris--click the link provided for the Office of Mobile Design for more info and to contact the company. I won't speak for them, but I know they are facing some market challenges at the moment.

chris — June 25, 2009
about house

why is that all so hard ? it should be so simple.. you have a house I have the money. I pay you send ... easy ... please...let someone to contact me soon with prices and lists....or some distributer for your houses in Europe... thank you

James — June 25, 2009
Easy fo' sheezy

Yes Chris (biotch), it is easy. Send us money, you'll get your house.

James — June 25, 2009
Easy fo' sheezy

Yes Chris, it is easy. Send us money. You'll get your house.

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Jody Self — August 3, 2009
Pricing

What is the pricing for a swell house like the one pictured. live4theself@msn.com

manjupriya marisamy — November 1, 2009
for project

hai sir, i am an engineering student, i am very much interested to do by final year project about the portable house so can you kindly help me in this topic and more practical knowledge about the construction.