The house that HOMERS presented on September 27. Photo source: HOMERS
The house that HOMERS presented on September 27. Photo source: HOMERS
The house that HOMERS presented on September 27. Photo source: HOMERS
The house that HOMERS presented on September 27. Photo source: HOMERS
HOMERS is a subsidiary of the Karbon Invest holding, which has been engaged in robotics and mechanical engineering for 15 years. The HOMERS team sees their work as a step towards a future in which most of the inhabitants of planet Earth can become nomads - people for whom home is not an anchor that keeps them in one place, but something that can be simply packed into a container and taken with them on a journey. new place of residence.
Oleksiy Kolerovy: "All day we sit in a stifling office under the air conditioner, and when we finally return to the apartment or house, then... we sit again in the stifling air conditioner. Deep Technology prefab settling will force you to change this algorithm. The fact is that such houses always have huge terraces: sometimes the area of the open space can be larger than the area of the house itself.
"We can give what the modern world needs most - time. We can build a new house for you not in a year or two, but in two months. And you will receive not only a home, but also furniture and all household appliances in an already connected and ready-to-use state. We also solved the problem of location - you can settle near a lake, forest or mountains. The team will assemble the housing without harming the natural beauty of your site, because of the heavy equipment in our arsenal, there is only a tractor with a manipulator crane. We also solved the problem of relocation: if you get tired of the river and want to move closer to the forest, you can take the Deep Tech Prefab house with you, because such a structure can be transported in an ordinary 20-ton truck or other freight transport," said Artem Shchadko, commercial director of HOMERS.
Artem Shchadko, commercial director of HOMERS. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
As for the financial side of the issue, the Deep Tech Prefab house in many ways solves this problem as well. Firstly, less materials and working time are required for its construction, therefore, in each specific case, the price of such housing will be much lower than the costs of ordering a traditional version of the same size. Second, the price of a Prefab house is always fixed, while when building a brick house, it is impossible to accurately calculate the amount of materials in advance or, more importantly, to know how their cost will change over time.
Prefab house with an area of 100 square meters. m from HOMERS. Photo source: HOMERS
However, even this is not all. The author of the architectural form and interior design of houses, Oleksiy Kolerovy, who developed the design of houses for HOMERS, emphasizes: Prefab houses satisfy an important need that modern citizens often forget - they give psychological peace. In his opinion, this is due to the fact that HOMERS houses are designed to encourage owners to spend more time outdoors.
"All day we sit in a stuffy office under the air conditioner, and when we finally return to the apartment or house, then... we again sit in the stuffy air under the air conditioner. Prefab housing will force you to change this algorithm. The fact is that such houses always have huge terraces: sometimes the area of the open space can be larger than the area of the house itself. And this means that every such house has, figuratively speaking, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor living room, and even an outdoor study. And if an ordinary house has an area of 100 square meters. m, then the HOMERS house of a similar area has another 100 sq. m. m terrace. The house you will see today has several terraces - one in the nursery, one in the parents' bedroom and one in the living room. Each inhabitant of the house will be able to do their business in the fresh air, without disturbing others," added Oleksiy Kolerovy.
Architect and designer Oleksiy Kolerovy, author of HOMERS houses. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
All in: furniture is in place, household appliances are already working, the bed is made
After the opening presentation, Artem Shchadko invited the guests to the house. "Currently, the company produces about 100 houses per year, but in the coming years we plan to reach 500 objects, so if you like this option, you will be able to get it soon. So, let's begin. At the entrance we are greeted by a large living room with a kitchen. Please note: this is the "maximum" configuration - that is, everything you see here will be present in every similar house. Of course, if the buyer does not choose the "standard" configuration," he said.
Artem Shchadko: "Roughly speaking, the client does not get a house, but a room in a five-star hotel"
According to the contract, HOMERS clients can choose one of two configuration options - "maximum", which includes full furniture, sanitary ware, dishes and household appliances, or "standard", which does not include furniture and equipment. If desired, the buyer can also order individual options at an individual price. "I'll tell you this: the client can control the process as much as possible and change everything he wants, but he must be ready to change the terms and price, because in the case of serious modifications, constructive solutions have to be changed, and this is painstaking work," explained Artem Shchadko.
The house seen by the guests of the presentation includes many wardrobes, beds, tables and sets of chairs, as well as bed linen and many mirrors. "Roughly speaking, the client does not get a house, but a room in a five-star hotel. Please note that the kitchen is fully equipped: all cabinets and ovens are connected, everything works. Next, we can go to the bathroom - it is also fully equipped and has floor heating. A boiler and a washing machine with a drying function are also installed here," explained Artem Shchadko.
Interiors of a 12-module house from HOMERS. Photo source: HOMERS
Interiors of a 12-module house from HOMERS. Photo source: HOMERS
Interiors of a 12-module house from HOMERS. Photo source: HOMERS
According to Mr. Artem, the company only buys equipment from quality brands, so future owners will definitely not have to spend additional money and puzzle over small household problems. “Next I would like to show you the sleeping quarters. Please note: we make the furniture ourselves. So, at the entrance to the bedroom there are deep, voluminous and comfortable wardrobes, and mirrors and all interiors have LED lighting. Can its color be customized? Of course, at the stage of agreement of the concept, we produce project documentation, where we prescribe absolutely all the details and nuances, including the colors and tone of the light - cold or warm, as well as points regarding the location of light bulbs, switches and sockets. The question of their quantity, quality and placement is specified in each individual case. By the way, we don't skimp on electricity, we buy Schneider and analogues of the corresponding class," Artem Shchadko reassured the guests.
The tour ended with a conversation about the most important aspect of the configuration, namely, equipment. "The area of the presented house is 112 square meters. m and 12 modules, but you can choose a house of one of the standard sizes: from a studio apartment to a large house with an area of 140 square meters. m," said Artem Shchadko.
HOMERS offer options for 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 "modules". The smallest option is an apartment with a living area of 36 square meters. m. It contains a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room and a carport, as well as a terrace measuring 28 square meters. m.
As for planning, there is no direct connection between it and the number of modules, so, for example, a 6-module house can have both one bedroom and two. As for the configuration of the modules, it will depend on the wishes of the owner. "Modules can be placed in the shape of the letter "L" or "P", and also have another similar shape. First, the client chooses the number of modules depending on his needs, and only then - the internal planning," concluded Artem Shchadko.
Design inspired by yachts, sports cars and airplanes
The future owner will be able to choose the configuration, layout, dimensions and design - the manufacturer and the architectural studio of Kolerovoy KOLEROVIY Architecture & Design already have a set of ready-made solutions. Regarding the last of the points, this design has something to surprise, because if earlier architects operated with an established set of style patterns, then modern approaches to construction have opened up new horizons for them. The house, which the guests saw at the presentation, has a very unusual design: its appearance evokes associations with airplane wings, yacht sails and outlines of modern sports cars.
Oleksiy Kolerovy admits: the HOMERS team really aimed to create something unique. "We reviewed all market offers and realized that the old options are no longer interesting to anyone — people want something dynamic and with special notes. I believe that this "something" has worked out for us. The style of our models is tangential to automotive and aviation themes: there are few elements that create uniqueness, but all of them are simple and expressive. This is modernity in simplicity and simplicity in modernity. And they are, I think, timeless. I hope that just as Ferrari once created a model that has hardly changed over the years, our design will remain in trend for a very long time," said Oleksiy Kolerovy.
When asked if the audience is ready to accept the idea that the houses of the same series will have the same appearance, like cars of the same model, the architect answers: the principle of "individual approach" for the HOMERS company is not an empty sound, therefore, although the company offers standard options, in fact it has never sold an object, the configuration or layout of which would completely repeat the previous options. So the similarity will remain, but it will never be complete.
"When a person comes and says: "I need a house or a cool office design", we understand that "here's a house for you" in response to such words is not quite right. We always look wider and create a product for the client that will be new and unique. After all, what makes a brand popular? This is unique," assures Oleksiy Kolerovy.
Oleksiy Kolerovyi: "The house that we presented to you today, like all our products in general, complies with all Ukrainian standards, but it is manufactured according to European standards. And they are much tougher than Ukrainian ones. Relatively speaking, this house is as energy-efficient as houses designed for Norwegian conditions."
The guests were presented with a color option for the "middle climatic zone" - beige, graphite and terracotta. Photo source: HOMERS
The guests were presented with a color option for the "middle climatic zone" - beige, graphite and terracotta. Photo source: HOMERS
The guests were presented with a color option for the "middle climatic zone" - beige, graphite and terracotta. Photo source: HOMERS
One of the most unique findings of the architect's team is the minimalist concept of "three materials plus three colors": metal frames for walls and roofs, wood for floors and polyurethane foam for insulation, as well as "southern", "middle" and "northern" color schemes.
"As for materials, metal allows you to create forms that resemble airplane wings or outlines of sports cars or yachts. In addition, we design the exterior of buildings so that materials and colors transition from the outside to the inside and from the inside to the outside — this helps to connect not only the exterior but also the interior with the outside environment. This also gives another rather interesting effect: the space of such a house seems very large, because its internal environment seems to be a continuation of the external one. It is also important to mention environmental friendliness — there are only three materials, and this minimalist approach helped us make a prefab house absolutely safe for health," said Oleksiy Kolerovy.
The environmental friendliness of prefab houses is truly beyond competition: the milled galvanized metal used for the construction of modular houses does not come into contact with the external environment and does not emit harmful substances. Polyurethane foam insulation is also not harmful - neither during daily contact with it, nor even in the process of its production. "By the way, as you know, metal does not burn, so these houses are also very fire-resistant. And, by the way, they are not afraid of rodents either," adds Oleksiy Kolerovy.
Moving on to the story of the second of his discoveries, namely, the principle of "three colors", the architect notes that each of the colors is selected taking into account the natural conditions in the environment for which it is recommended. "We provide ready-made color schemes, and the client only has to choose, relatively speaking, the color of the pillows on the sofa. As for "southern" interiors, the facades of such houses are beige and light graphite, which contributes to better light reflection, and the interiors are dark. For example, when we were developing the "Spain" project, we came to the conclusion that since there is a lot of sun there, if the interior is bright, residents will have to wear dark glasses even indoors," said Oleksiy Kolerovy.
The same principles were used when selecting colors for the middle climate zone and northern regions. "The base color for the "copper" option is neutral beige. There are also shades of graphite, and a lot of dark terracotta seems to enter the house from the outside. But at the heart of it is still a pleasant beige color - it is very soothing - and, of course, a lot of mirrors. Light shades of this interior visually increase the area of the house. We also have a cool "northern" design in dark green "pine" color. The interior is based on dark green color, while beige and graphite serve as accents. Combined with the dark green facades, it just looks fantastic,” explained the architect.
Oleksiy Kolerovy emphasizes: the choice of color scheme is also very important for those who want a house in a natural environment - in the steppe or in the forest. So, in the first case, it is worth paying attention to the color scheme for the middle climatic zone, in the second - to the "northern" version.
Rooms equipped with state-of-the-art air conditioning systems will keep you warm even in the coldest winter. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Rooms equipped with state-of-the-art air conditioning systems will keep you warm even in the coldest winter. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Rooms equipped with state-of-the-art air conditioning systems will keep you warm even in the coldest winter. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Rooms equipped with state-of-the-art air conditioning systems will keep you warm even in the coldest winter. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Artem Shchadko: "We are contacted even by residents of regions where it is either very hot now or close to it. And many people want a house right there... Of course, some residents of hot spots are interested in the possibility of further relocation to Western Ukraine."
Energy efficiency: absolute thermal insulation
The principles of selecting materials and even colors in prefab houses are based on two principles: environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. It was at the last stage that the presenters of the presentation decided to stop at the final stage of the event. The guests were told: polyurethane foam, which is used to insulate modern "modules", is also used to insulate freezers in refrigerators.
"The house that we presented to you today, like all our products in general, meets all the standards of Ukraine. However, it is manufactured according to European standards. And they are much tougher than Ukrainian ones. Relatively speaking, this house is as energy efficient as houses designed for Norwegian conditions. As you probably know, polyurethane foam is an insulation used to insulate the walls of ordinary freezers in refrigerators. And if the insulation thickness of 3 cm inside the freezer will be about -18, and outside it can be +20, +25 or even +30, then the thickness of the polyurethane foam layer in the wall of the modular house is 15 cm. Draw your own conclusions," said Oleksiy Kolerovy.
As for heating, it is provided by air-water heat pumps and fan coils near the windows. In winter, the system works for heating, and in summer - for air conditioning. The ventilation system also provides for the possibility of recovery.
"You may have associations with a split system, but if in this version the rooms are simply air-conditioned, then the water-to-air pump transfers energy through the internal water circuit. Usually, manufacturers of modular houses offer conventional electric convectors in each room and air conditioners, but heat pumps and fan coils are much more efficient. Moreover, the air-water heat pump is only a basic option. If desired, the client can order an even more economical option - a geothermal pump," said Artem Shchadko.
Documentation, energy independence and communications - a modular home will solve these tasks for you
The construction of a new house is not only materials, design and equipment, but also tasks that require a lot of time and effort to solve: laying communications, collecting documents and, optionally, creating energy independence systems. The company will help solve these issues and provide all the documentation necessary to obtain capital construction documents.
"At the time of installation of the house, communications must be prepared and brought to the entry points according to the project. But at the request of the owner and for an additional fee, we can do it for him: we will prepare a well for water and a septic tank and connect electricity. We can also install solar panels and other additional systems to obtain energy from nature," explained Artem Shchadko.
Owners can choose one of several configuration options or ask for individual options. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Owners can choose one of several configuration options or ask for individual options. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Owners can choose one of several configuration options or ask for individual options. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
As for another important problem, which usually falls on the shoulders of the buyer - documentation, the module manufacturer will help with this information. "Someone will want the building to remain non-capital, while someone will say that they need it to have capital construction. Today, Ukraine is rapidly moving towards digitalization, so the owner will be able to submit documents through Diya and receive all the necessary papers in a few weeks. From our side, we will provide all the necessary informational support and documentation. That is, when a person buys this house from us, we provide a project and documentation for all equipment and furniture. All warranty cards, etc.," assured Artem Shchadko.
When asked whether clients often order additional options, Artem answers: definitely yes. "Energy independence and working with digital services is an important trend. In general, modern approaches are becoming more and more popular. As, in fact, and Deep Tech Prefab houses in general. Today, the direction continues to gain momentum: for example, in a country like Slovakia, 14 thousand modular and Deep Tech Prefab houses are sold every year. This is a huge amount! If we talk about us, we have factories in Ukraine and Slovakia and fulfill orders for customers from all over the world," Artem Shchadko shared.
Artur Hasyunas: "In particular, people are still living in the houses we erected at the beginning of the war. In general, this direction could be a great solution for poor countries and regions suffering from wars and economic problems. And it is already becoming one, because recently there have been many options for modular housing for any needs: container, on rollers, piles, timber, made of sandwich panels and much more."
In Ukraine, the direction of assembly of modular houses is also developing quite actively. The main idea of the Deep Tech Prefab company, says Mr. Artem, was to convey to people: a Prefab house is not only a vacation option, but also a full-fledged home in which you can live all year round. And the company achieved its goal.
"We are even approached by residents of regions where it is either very "hot" or close to it. And many people want a house right there... Of course, some residents of "hot" spots are interested in the possibility of further revocation to Western Ukraine. The western regions are also very popular among business clients: entrepreneurs order both houses for rent - daily, weekly or monthly, as well as buildings for commerce - cottage towns in nature or even hotels in natural areas. It also works that we try to be flexible and, receiving orders for 20-30 houses, we strive to optimize costs. This makes it possible to make the price of the product more pleasant for the client," Artem Shchadko notes.
Among the achievements of HOMERS are also social projects - at the beginning of the war, the company, together with the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, assembled about 100 modular houses for displaced persons from the occupied and front-line regions of Ukraine.
Artur Gasiunas, HOMERS operations director. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
"We are a commercial company, but if we are offered a social project, we will most likely agree. In particular, people still live in the houses that we erected at the beginning of the war. In general, this direction could be a great solution for poor countries and regions suffering from wars and economic problems. And it is already becoming one, because recently there have been many options for modular housing for any needs: container, on rollers, piles, timber, made of sandwich panels and much more. In fact, this field is actively developing, and while working on a social project at the beginning of the war, we even found new solutions: we refined a unique technology that allows us to manufacture and install a house in a few days almost without tools," said HOMERS operations director Artur Gasiunas.
In summary, the company's experts emphasized that the main advantage of Deep Tech Prefab houses is their modernity. "For some reason, when we buy a car, we try to choose the latest model, but when it comes to houses, old thinking patterns are activated. It is worth struggling with this, because a Prefab house is not a fancy, but a house of the future. In a Prefab house, you will literally feel like you are in a car of the latest model," promises Oleksiy Kolerovy. Artem Shchadko agrees with him: "If you were told 20 years ago that later you would be constantly talking to other people with the help of a small black box, would you have believed it? And the fact that this box will help to get access to all the information in the world? So, because Deep Tech Prefab houses are a breakthrough that can only be compared to the technological breakthrough of the XNUMXst century. This is the future."
