You would never guess that the striking, modern home that comes into view as you wind up Christine Fedina’s tree-lined driveway, on Bowen Island, B.C., is a modular one; a home that’s been assembled in a factory, in Kamloops, B.C., and transported by truck and barge to reach her property.
“My husband and I are really interested in design. Readers of Dwell magazine and that sort of thing,” she says. “And we were really happy with the look and feel of the home.” Prefabricated homes are becoming more popular in places such as Bowen Island, says Greg Cormier, building inspector for Bowen Island Municipality, who oversees all the applications, permits and inspections for building on the island. “Within the year that I’ve been here,” he says, “I’ve seen at least 12 built, and then discussions on at least a half dozen more.”
Over all, Cormier says he supports prefab housing, particularly for places such as Bowen Island, where you’re dealing with a “lack of labour,” and says they cut down significantly on construction time – most prefab homes are built and installed in less than 12 weeks – but that people should be aware of zoning laws and permitting requirements.“It’s the same building permits and land use requirements for these buildings, just as if you’re building one from start to finish,” he says.