BLUESKY HOME Yucca Valley, CA This prefabricated home is located in the arid desert region surrounding Yucca Valley, California. The program called for an adaptable, sustainable, modestly scaled, durable and economical residence to serve as a prototype for a future line of "flat-packed" homes. Emphasis was given to site placement: ensuring minimal site disruption while maximizing views and retaining privacy. The 1,000 SF house with 340 SF of outdoor deck is positioned above the site surface on moment-resisting columns and beams of cold-formed, light gauge steel. The building envelope is composed by a grid of pre-manufactured Steel Thermal Efficient Panels, "STEP's," and standardized building components. The bathroom module, containing all home mechanical, plumbing, and electrical services, is built off-site and delivered finished with the flat packed kit-of parts. Interiors are defined by the placement of storage cabinetry, eliminating interior framed walls. Solar technologies provide electricity, hot water and space heating. The flat packed building components minimize transportation volume and promote sustainability through material and structural efficiency. The inherent nature of prefabricated design ensures low embodied energy and minimizes site waste. Low-& Non-V.O.C. products were used in all cabinetry and paint applications. The prototype was completed in May 2009, with an 8 week construction schedule at $270/SF. photos by : nuvueinteractive