Architecture studio Wittman Estes constructed the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab, highlighting the possibilities of sustainable prefabricated housing. Prefabricated housing, or prefab homes, are buildings constructed using components manufactured in a factory and then assembled on-site.
Sustainable Design
The Whidbey Puzzle Prefab is unique because of its size. It’s a 600-square-foot prototype, with an additional 557 square feet of outdoor space, that was created to minimize environmental impact while providing a “nature-connected” living space for the owner.
The tiny home is a quarter of the size of an average 2,000-square-foot American home. Located on Whidbey Island in Washington State, it’s organized into four distinct modules. The design is reportedly infinitely reconfigurable. “This could be placed anywhere with little disruption to the natural ecosystem and landscape,” said the 2024 AIA National Small Project Award Jury. “This project shows how innovative prefab construction can be.”
The tiny home’s modularity emphasizes the adaptability of prefabrication, making it suitable for remote, suburban, and urban environments.
Net-Zero Living
Whidbey Puzzle Prefab is designed for net-zero living. It features a solar panel array that generates nearly 4,000 kWh annually. According to Matt Wittman, ‘Prefab delivers higher quality construction on a shorter timeline,’ highlighting the environmental and time-saving benefits of prefabrication.
In addition, it features a rainwater collection system that channels water from the roof into a tank that purifies it for portable use in the home. While the rainwater system addresses the water needs inside the tiny home, it also provides irrigation for the indoor greenhouse. Wittman added, “Climate change is both the biggest and most accessible issue architects can influence.”
Nature-Friendly Construction
The Whidbey Puzzle Prefab has a mission to respect the local environment by avoiding the use of concrete. Instead, it uses micro pin piles, which protect tree roots. “The fragile forest ecology was respected by shifting the construction off-site,” said Wittman. In addition to reducing environmental disruption, it lowers the carbon footprint of the tiny home by 77% compared to traditional concrete buildings.
Despite being a tiny home, the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab is apparently spacious and flexible. Its integration of indoor and outdoor spaces creates a special connection to nature. “It’s so compact that it feels enormous,” Wittman said.
