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Why we should bring back prefab buildings

March 19, 2026

Soaring construction costs and a carbon‑heavy industry are worsening the housing crisis, while modular building emerges as a faster, cheaper and more sustainable alternative.

https://p.dw.com/p/5ABpi

Modular construction is gaining momentum as a faster, cheaper and more sustainable way to build housing. Factories can produce fully equipped modules in hours, cutting costs, waste and carbon emissions. With global housing shortages growing, large projects in Europe show how prefab homes can speed up construction and reduce environmental impact.

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About the show

DW "Planet A" Key Visual Composite

Planet A

We're destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn't need to be this way. Planet A explores the shift towards an eco-friendly world and challenges the way we are dealing with climate change.