Pre-fab 101: Green Field Trip to the MOMA

If you happen to be any where near New York City in the next few weeks, be sure to check out Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling at the MOMA before it closes on October 20th. Prefabricated building is a great option for those interested in a more sustainable home. Prefab integrates green concepts, architectural invention, and new materials, as well as reducing both construction and living costs.

MOMA essentially covers what I studied in several semesters of my college Architecture major in one well designed, interactive exhibit. There is plenty to read, see, and touch (my general criteria for happy museum going). The exhibit starts on the top floor of the MOMA, with the history of Prefab, including models, video, and even a tiny house. But that’s not all! With your MOMA ticket you can head around the corner of the building to the west lot, where five built prefab houses are open to walk in, around, and underneath.

If you can, head over on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 3:30 pm, to see James Timberlake, one of the partners at KieranTimberlake Associates, as he leads the public through his Cellophane House (my favorite of the buildings by far). Getting the chance to walk through his building is certainly fun, but meeting the architect and hearing about his work and commitment to sustainability in person should be even more exciting! (As a side note, KieranTimberlake was one of the firms involved in Brad Pitt’s Make it Right NOLA architecture project, which got some of the best architecture firms involved in Prefab to help design and rebuild in New Orleans.)

Check out the next page for a Gallery…