Palo Alto, CA (October 19, 2011) – Innovative, modular, and 100% off-the-grid, the House Arc is an ingenious prefab system designed by Bellomo Architects of Palo Alto, CA. The curvaceous 150-square-foot home, which is part of the firm’s Arc Products line, is prominently featured in the new publication, “Nano House: Innovations for Small Dwell... read more

Palo Alto, CA (October 19, 2011) – Innovative, modular, and 100% off-the-grid, the House Arc is an ingenious prefab system designed by Bellomo Architects of Palo Alto, CA. The curvaceous 150-square-foot home, which is part of the firm’s Arc Products line, is prominently featured in the new publication, “Nano House: Innovations for Small Dwellings” (Thames and Hudson), out in bookstores now.
Designed to be flat-packed and shipped in a box that is 4x10x3 feet and easily assembled on site by its owners, the House Arc represents a new model for compact living. Upon assembly, the House Arc becomes a curvaceous 150 square-feet and weighs just 3000 pounds due to the use of a lightweight frame made of steel tubes. The House Arc can withstand tropical winds and weather and also features a solar energy generating roof.
Architect Joseph Bellomo says of the House Arc, “We designed it to be a kit of parts that the average person can assemble quickly–like an IKEA house, only easier to put together.” In fact, the modest and easy-to-construct House Arc was conceived to function as both emergency shelter for communities in need, and an attractive solution for individuals interested in backyard home expansion.
The House Arc was a natural choice for inclusion in “Nano House: Innovations for Small Dwellings,” which The New York Times has hailed “an examination of small dwellings around the world.” Author Phyllis Richardson selected the House Arc because it is an exceptional example of sustainable, low-cost housing that is well-designed, efficient and built with function in mind.
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