Spring of 2004 marked a turning point in Studio 804’s history.  The infill lots in the city of Lawrence had been converted effectively by past projects, and the time had come to begin considering the urban residential crisis in a different city: Kansas City, Kansas.  Suddenly, with students living and working in Lawrence, the idea of a stick-built house became out of the question.  Prefabrication became the solution. 

Beginning with Modular 1, Studio 804 designed and constructed a single family house consisting of prefabricated, modular units that are both flexible in floor plan and adaptable in configuration to suit personal preferences and a variety of site locations.  The end result is a house that is composed of five modular units of equal size, yet different programmatic use. It's simplicity in form and warehouse prefabrication makes for an economically efficient building process which reduces construction waste and ensures a seamless construction process without weather delays.

Continuing the tradition of past Studio 804 projects, Modular 1 remained committed towards continued research and development into affordable and innovative housing.  Examination of the standards of human comfort required to create comfortable living solutions was necessary in the design of prefabricated units that are limited by the transportation process.  Additionally, issues of building materiality, longevity, and energy efficiency continued to be vital aspects of the design process.  However, with the introduction of Studio 804 in Kansas City, Kansas, the elements contributing to the overall design process increased; in a city with a larger population, exposure, and residential crisis, the urban planning strategies and community connections necessary to complete the project became ever more multifaceted.

Modular 1 continued to reflect Studio 804’s goal to maintain a continued insistence on providing real solutions to the issues faced by our current housing market.  As the first prefabricated house produced by Studio 804, Modular 1 represents a viable, modular prototype that meets the needs of the Kansas City housing market, as well as sets the precedent for future projects produced by Studio 804.