Using a 'Micro-Factory' Approach, Builder Aims to Make Rebuilding After Disaster More Efficient
A San Francisco-based startup may soon make post-disaster rebuilding much faster and more affordable. After the January wildfires in Los Angeles destroyed homes in areas like the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, recovery has been slow. But on a vacant block in Altadena, construction is about to begin on a new home with the help of Cosmic Buildings, a builder of sustainable, fire-resistant homes, Fast Company reports.
Cosmic first gained attention for producing sustainable accessory dwelling units through a streamlined system designed to reduce both time and cost. Last year, the company expanded its focus to creating larger, fire-resistant single-family homes in Northern California. However, when the Los Angeles fires struck, the team accelerated its plans to introduce mobile “micro-factories” to the affected neighborhoods.
Unlike conventional prefabricated housing methods that require large offsite facilities, Cosmic’s micro-factories are compact manufacturing units that can be transported directly to the project site. Their first micro-factory is now stationed in the Pacific Palisades, where the company is working on permits for another house nearby. The unit will rotate between the Palisades and Altadena as projects move forward. According to founder Sasha Jokic, Cosmic’s mobile factory method builds homes roughly 10 times faster than traditional construction while requiring about 60% less labor.
The company also uses technology for the design process. For the house in Altadena, for example, it used software to design a house to the clients’ specifications in seven days. “Really, the breakthrough technology is that it’s AI-driven,” Jokic says.
The company, he says, can instantaneously create a code-compliant plan designed specifically for the site and the client’s needs. And because the software will only output designs that the company knows it can build, it’s easy to provide accurate timelines and pricing information.