John and Jodie McAllister, two Dublin residents, aspired to construct their dream house in the locality they cherished. When a chance to purchase a plot in a neighbouring backyard came up, it instantly enticed them to preserve their local roots. The question that remained was the specifics of the house they should construct.
Being an architect himself, John held a well-defined interpretation of how their new abode must appear — a sophisticated blueprint showcasing energy-productive make-up. Enter WeberHaus, the German firm offering self-construct homes. The duo became fond of the precision, promptness, and admirable realization that the corporation promised. This appreciation even extended to the rate of delivery.
John states, “What we were looking for was something impactful, ample ceiling height, and a conceptual construct starting from the inside and going out. A modern unit employing natural resources”. John added that they could collaborate with WeberHaus to bring their unique idea to fruition, creating the house they had always desired. They even took into account every eco-friendly elements that mattered to them.
“The house is crafted from natural, optimally insulating, eco-friendly timber, which, as an architect, I greatly value. This house is the realization of our dream,” John remarks.
Operating from its headquarters in Rheinau-Linx, southern Germany, WeberHaus is a family business that builds ecological pre-fabricated homes, primarily utilizing natural sustainably cultivated wood. The home modules are assembled in the company’s German facility, and thereafter sent to the construction site.
To this point, WeberHaus has successfully erected 10 of these homes across varying locations in Ireland, as well as 40,000 across Europe. The corporation further explains, “The virtue of our process is that it only requires a few days to manufacture a watertight casing, including windows, doors, walls, and a roof, based on our standardised ÖvoNatur wall system.”
Providing a vast spectrum of styles, from quaint bungalows to expansive villa-like residences, along with a myriad of finishes and adaptable layouts, is amongst the numerous benefits WeberHaus is known to offer. What truly sets the company apart is the considerable freedom it provides customers to customise their dream homes.
WeberHaus is a popular choice amongst those seeking an all-inclusive solution, thereby avoiding the hassle of dealing directly with construction workers. The company prides itself on managing everything from laying the groundwork, erecting the basement and the skeleton of the house, directly in collaboration with their network of trusted suppliers. It further extends its services to cover all aspects of design, which encompasses gaining planning permissions, orchestrating interior design, and facilitating house construction.
So, wondering how long it takes to have your home stationed? Though on-site construction gets weatherproof in about a week, the comprehensive journey from drawing up designs to achieving a finished house generally spans roughly a year, according to WeberHaus.
Be mindful, the fact that your home is manufactured in Germany does not exempt you from adhering to our planning norms. As always, drafting the design and securing planning permission for it requires some time.
Once these prerequisites are handled, clients are welcome to WeberHaus’s renowned World of Living platform in Erlenpark. Here, they get a chance to explore show homes and the Hall of Creation, brimming with numerous options to decorate their houses, ranging from kitchen fittings to door knobs.
Upon concluding these choices, the designs are scheduled for construction. Once the blueprint is concretised, quotations are usually maintained for up to a year.
WeberHaus is meticulous in its preparations. Detailed work plans are developed, encapsulating everything from exterior materials, air flow layouts to socket placements and beyond, to assure precision in pricing. As elaborated by the Managing Director of WeberHaus UK, Manuel Schönwitz.
The typical construction duration within the factory can differ based on the house’s size. It might only take a handful of weeks for a smaller building, whereas an upscale mansion or a villa would warrant a more extended timeline.
Once built, the house is transported to its location, with each segment of the home’s walls furnished with windows, doors and in most instances, pre-installed services. This allows for rapid assembly on-site within a few days, preparing the structure for its internal finishing touches.
John recalls the efficiency of the process, “The house was thoroughly constructed in a mere week, what more could one ask for?”
However, the completion of the interior work takes a bit more time – typically three to six months, largely contingent on the degree of personalisation and house size.
According to WeberHaus, the major upside is the reduced risk of subcontractor default. The aim being to eliminate these risks from the process, they say.
WeberHaus’ signature personalised style is clearly evident in the McAllisters’ residence. It features a trio of distinctive rooftop designs covering approximately 280 square meters of habitable space. This unique mix was a conscious decision by John to achieve stark contrasts, akin to the ones between the plaster facade and weatherboarding.
The family was particularly enthusiastic about incorporating a touch of nature indoors, achieved through the extensive use of floor-to-ceiling windows offering a glimpse of the city’s verdant landscape.
“The living room can essentially be described as an extension of the garden, and vice versa,” John shares. This feeling of openness is also felt in the master bedroom, which features a glass balcony outside a floor-to-ceiling window to maintain the view and create a sense of space.
Jodie shares, “Despite being in the city centre, there exists a pleasant feeling of openness instead of confinement.”
Lighting in the home varies based on the time of the day, with sunlight illuminating the living and dining spaces from multiple angles and even through a skylight. The insertion of a glass element next to the basement stairs allows light to penetrate even at the lower level of the house, which has a separate entrance and serves as a self-contained flat with three rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The house design was constrained to two levels due to planning restrictions, making the basement a resourceful solution.
Situated in the heart of Dublin, the house is set apart from the main road and enveloped by gardens, creating a tranquil, green refuge.
The environmentally friendly aspect of the home is of significance to the family.
Jodie asserts the peace of mind afforded by their home, due to its eco-friendly features such as the rainwater collection system and solar heating. Should you be considering a prefabricated property, however, options are plentiful in Ireland. WeberHaus, although a prominent provider, isn’t your only choice.
There’s Huf Haus, collaborating with Denis Byrne Architects to draft your dream home made in Germany, before having it transported and assembled at your location by their expert team. Scandinavian Homes is another alternative, a company dedicated to building energy-efficient, timber-clad residences since 1999. Their homes, crafted in Sweden, are then built at your chosen location within Ireland.
The starting price for a complete 39 square meter home from Scandinavian Homes stands at approximately €162,000. For a larger 79 square meter passive house, the price rises to nearly €229,000. WeberHaus, on the other hand, provides a ready-to-occupy package, barring the kitchen and basement, starting from €3,750 per square meter. Thus, the starting price for a spacious 185 square meter house, or roughly 1,991 square feet, would be around €693,750.