Prefab Builder Blend Projects Makes Tiny Cabins and Full-Blown Homes Made of Healthy Materials

John Trujillo
·2 min read

The British Columbia company’s gable-sided residences start at $290 per square foot and prioritize finishes that are toxin-free.

Welcome to Prefab Profiles, an ongoing series of interviews with people transforming how we build houses. From prefab tiny houses and modular cabin kits to entire homes ready to ship, their projects represent some of the best ideas in the industry. Do you know a prefab brand that should be on our radar? Get in touch!

After more than 15 years spent in construction, high school friends Simon Fyall and Richard Egli began to think that there must be a better way to build. When the two visited the indigenous island of Haida Gwaii in Canada in 2019, suspicion grew into inspiration. Feeling that the buildings on the island ignored their natural surroundings, Simon and Richard started to imagine an architecture that blended in with the landscape of British Columbia. Soon after, the pair founded Blend Projects to build their vision: crisp gabled homes strung together from eight-foot-long cedar-sided glulam sections. We asked Kelly Robinson, the creative director at Blend Projects, about how one of their projects usually plays out.

The prefab homes are built from a structure of 8-foot-long glulam (a robust, structural material made of laminated wood) sections sourced from Western Archrib.
The prefab homes are built from a structure of 8-foot-long glulam (a robust, structural material made of laminated wood) sections sourced from Western Archrib.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

Honestly, all of our completed projects have been so exciting, especially because we are a young company. But the one that stands out is the Flanagan Residence. Geordie Flanagan, his wife, Jess, and young daughter Stevie came to us wanting to build on their beautiful but challenging lot on Salt Spring Island in BC. At the time they were expecting their second daughter and were in a hurry to build their nest. Throughout the build process, Geordie naturally became an ambassador for the company and is now our head of sales. While the build wasn’t quite complete for the birth of their second baby, they were able to move in shortly after the completion of their family and are absolutely loving it. Geordie and Jess graciously show their home to many of our future clients, so in many ways, it feels like it is part of the Blend family.

The standing seam metal roofs are made from steel, and the cladding from natural cedar. The siding is darkened with a low-VOC, formaldehyde-free stain: a healthful alternative to more traditional options.
The standing seam metal roofs are made from steel, and the cladding from natural cedar. The siding is darkened with a low-VOC, formaldehyde-free stain: a healthful alternative to more traditional options.
In addition to the 175-square-foot deck, Blend Projects also offers to build amenities like outdoor showers, saunas, and ADUs.
In addition to the 175-square-foot deck, Blend Projects also offers to build amenities like outdoor showers, saunas, and ADUs.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Prefab Builder Blend Projects Makes Tiny Cabins and Full-Blown Homes Made of Healthy Materials
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