Plant Prefab has teamed up with Richard Pedranti Architect (RPA) to create the first Passive House LivingHomes: three customizable, high-performance, factory-built homes that ship complete with all finishes, fixtures, and technical systems.

As a certified Passive House Consultant and Builder, Richard Pedranti has completed multiple Passive House–certified homes on the East Coast and has turned his firm into a national leader for the design standard. Now he’s joining a roster of acclaimed names (including Ray Kappe, Yves Béhar and KieranTimberlake) as the newest Plant Design Partner.

Designed with young families in mind, the RPA LivingHome 1 is a single-story, four-bed, three-bath residence with a loft.

"In over a decade of designing and building Passive Houses, ​the RPA LivingHome designs from Plant Prefab ​offer the most complete Passive House products that I’ve seen on the market," says Pedranti. "Additionally, by using the Plant Building System—Plant’s comprehensive and flexible off-site building platform—we were able to design custom, high-performance homes with Passive House–level envelopes and sustainable finishes."

A pitched roof optimizes the RPA LivingHome 1 for solar panels.

The interior of the RPA LivingHome 1 is centered on an open-plan living space.

The RPA LivingHome series consists of three distinct designs geared for family living that range from 2,218 to 3,182 square feet. As with all Plant Prefab LivingHomes, these dwellings can be customized with the buyer’s choice of finishes, fixtures, appliances, and smart home technology. Prefabrication takes an estimated three to four months, and all homes will be constructed in Plant Prefab’s 62,000-square-foot homebuilding factory in Rialto, California.

Like the RPA LivingHome 1, the RPA LivingHome 2 features a pitched roof for optimal solar collection.

While all Plant Prefab LivingHomes are designed to meet net-zero energy standards, the RPA LivingHomes raise the bar for sustainable construction with their dedication to Passive House standards that mandate airtight construction and highly efficient mechanical systems.

The three-bed, 2.5-bath RPA LivingHome includes two floors with 2,316 square feet of living space.

A spacious, open-plan kitchen/dining/living space and a private office are located on the first floor of the light-filled RPA LivingHome 2. The sleeping quarters are on the second floor.

"By reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling through envelope improvements like higher levels of insulation, better windows, and airtight construction, a Passive House requires a smaller and more affordable on-site renewable energy system to meet net-zero energy," explains Pedranti. As a result, Passive House-certified homes use 80% less energy for heating and cooling than conventional buildings. "The heat recovery ventilation system in a Passive House is a critical component in reducing energy consumption while providing exceptional indoor air quality."

Meeting stringent Passive House standards requires proper solar orientation, which is determined in Plant Prefab’s initial site visit and feasibility study.

Pricing for the RPA LivingHomes starts at $586,257 inclusive of all finishes, fixtures, appliances, and smart home technology. Although design fees are not included in cost estimates due to the unique zoning and building codes of each municipality, as well as the need for custom site plans, Plant Prefab Founder and CEO Steve Glenn notes that the added charges for these services are minimal. Once site work is complete, the RPA LivingHomes are designed to be assembled in one to two days.

At 3,182 square feet, the four-bed, 3.5-bath RPA LivingHome 3 is the largest of the three options, and it comes with luxury finishes.

The single-story LivingHome 3 takes inspiration from midcentury case study homes in California.

In addition to open-plan spaces conducive to indoor/outdoor living, the RPA LivingHome 3 comes with a spa wing with a steam room and sauna that can be configured into a live-in suite, large workspace, or home gym.

"Plant is focused on building homes that are as healthy and sustainable as possible, and we push the boundaries," says Glenn. "We use the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes program as well as our own stringent health and sustainability program, Z6, to create some of the world’s healthiest homes with the lowest possible impact on the planet."

"Passive House is another major environmental certification program, and it integrates uncompromising standards for occupant health, comfort, and energy performance," he adds. "We are honored to be partnering with one of the nation’s foremost Passive House experts and most experienced Passive House designers to introduce our first Passive House LivingHomes."

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Architect of Record: Richard Pedranti Architect

Builder: Plant Prefab / @plantprefab

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