A new housing development in Mitcham has been officially opened this month with the aim of alleviating some of the need for affordable, practical housing in the capital. The Y:Cube is a block of 36 self-contained, pre-assembled flats based around a central courtyard. The functional units each contain a living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom and are intended to be occupied by a single person in need of housing.

The entire project was focused around economy, with the cost of materials and construction kept to an absolute minimum. The construction is simple and economical; each unit was assembled offsite in Derbyshire and then transported to their final London location, then stacked on top of and alongside each other to form the block. The entire block cost approximately £1.6 million.

Despite the low cost, the units actually exceed current building standards and boast high energy performance levels thanks to the innovative use of renewable timber, state of the art thermal insulation and air infiltration systems.

Such low production costs mean that the expenses do not need to be recouped through high rents, making these units much more affordable than other properties. In fact, the rental costs will be 65 per cent of the average in the area. Tenants will be allowed to remain in their unit for up to five years, giving them time to save up for a deposit on a permanent home.

This project demonstrates how there are many ways for architects to address the current shortage of affordable housing in the capital, with prefabricated structures providing a possible solution. As these housing modules are assembled offsite, it is possible to install them in locations where traditional construction would not be possible, opening up many more development opportunities. As an architect in London dedicated to coming up with functional yet beautiful homes, we have been watching this story with interest and look forward to seeing how it influences new residential developments in the future.