LeapHome unveils sustainable, super-efficient Frame prefab

LEAPfactory, the Italy-based company known for building gorgeous prefabricated structures in extreme locations, just unveiled their very first LeapHome. Frame is a two-story, 1,400 square foot house built with minimal impact on the environment. The home’s design is super energy efficient, so it can easily go off-grid.

LEAPfactory was inspired by the idea of living in harmony with nature to create Frame. The home can be customized and configured according to a buyer’s desires and budget, and includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study area, a kitchen, dining area, an outdoor terrace, and a double height living room. Forest Stewardship Council certified wood, metal sheet cladding, and finishes made with ecological materials comprise the home that includes prefabricated components.

The outdoor shell of the home was designed with energy efficiency in mind, so the home doesn’t consume as much power as others do. Solar energy powers the home, which heats water with a solar thermal system. LED lighting and radiant technology electric systems recycle heat in Frame. According to the company’s website, “The structure is designed to maximize air circulation and distribute heat and humidity.” LEAPfactory says the home could potentially be set up in off-grid configurations – sewage can be independently managed thanks to a biological liquid waste treatment system and other sanitation systems.

Panoramic openings in the home also serve to connect an inhabitant with nature. Large sliding glass doors, a bay window, a skylight, and a vertical ribbon window can all be part of the design.

LEAPfactory co-founders Stefano Testa and Luca Gentilcore said in a statement, “Living immersed in nature represents one of the most important choices to embrace a new style of life. We like to think that we can combine the comforts of a modern home with the profound freedom and the pioneering spirit of a life in perfect harmony with the environment that surrounds us.”

LEAPfactory’s process allows them to go from a design to a fully furnished and functioning house “within weeks” according to their website.