Last edited 08 Jan 2026

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Archiblog Architect Website

DOMESTIKIT: UK

Item 23843 Rev A.png

• Facsimile of panel created by Norman Fellows in 1976


Contents

[edit] FOREWORD

This article assumes:—

  • ... that there is a need for a new type of state-subsidized house in the UK.
  • ... that it must be manufactured on a production line in a factory.

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[edit] INTRODUCTION

Item 25790 - Still with 2 End Frames.png • 'End Frames' — Source: Archiblog on YouTube

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT


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[edit] PERIOD ONE: 1944-1949

In 1944, 'A Home of the Future' by Pathé News gave cinema audiences an impression of how the Temporary Housing Programme (THP) was going to work.

NEWSREEL TRANSCRIPT

  • • Britain's first factory-made show house.
  • • Prototype of the half million promised by Mr Churchill as emergency dwellings for demobilised servicemen and their families.
  • • Bright idea number one is the living room fireplace which also provides heated air for two bedrooms.
  • • This house of the future has no stairs no dust collecting wainscoting and is intended to last about 10 years.
  • • Plenty of built-in cupboards are a welcomed feature.
  • • Married women on the staff of the Ministry of Works helped in the design.
  • • The kitchen is compact but the initial blueprint didn't provide sufficient facilities for washing clothes - they're going to fix a small copper now in the bathroom.
  • • The refrigerator tops the list of the £80 worth of internal fittings built into Churchill Villa.
  • • A hinged breakfast table is a space-saving idea.
  • • This show house can be seen in Millbank near the Tate Gallery, London - tickets of admission obtainable from your Local Authority.
  • • Bedroom number two also has plenty of cupboards and like the other rooms is central-heated.
  • • Housewives will want to know where to hang the washing in wet weather and many may criticise the width of the hall
  • • But here's one opinion:—

    "I think it is very good indeed for a small house for the men who are coming home and the women who have been working hard in the factories and want to get back to family life. I think it is an ideal house. Of course it is small but the planning is good and the house could easily be worked and would be most economical to run. I consider the kitchen with a built-in refrigerator, and such other useful equipments, a great advance in a working man's home and a step in the right direction."

Source: British Pathé on YouTube

Item 25771 - Floor plan of the Portal house.jpg

• Floor plan — Source: Prefab Museum

With reference to other models in the THP:—

The dimensions of the rooms can vary slightly depending on the make and model, whether the prefab had a side or central entrance or a separate toilet. However they all conformed to the minimum square footage (635 sq ft) of the prefab design:

• Bedroom 1 11 ft x 9 ft 8 in
• Bedroom 2 12 ft 1 in x 11 ft
• Living room 14ft 4 in x 11 ft
• Kitchen 11 ft x 9 ft 3 in
• Bathroom 11ft x 5 ft 6 in

Learn More

• Transcript from 'A Home of the Future' together with a floor plan of the Portal prototype and a note from the Prefab Museum

In the Preface to 'PREFABS: A History of the UK Temporary Housing Programme', Brenda Vale wrote:—

... and in the Introduction, Brenda Vale wrote:—

Thus this article looks firstly at the Portal and Arcon prefabs discussed by Brenda Vale and then at the other steel-framed houses in the Temporary Housing Programme (THP).


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[edit] • 1944 Portal

According to Brenda Vale:—

  • "This prototype was an all steel product and incorporated a combined prefabricated kitchen and bathroom unit, also the brainchild of the Ministry of Works. From the beginning of May 1944 the Portal Bungalow was on exhibition daily, except for Sundays, at the Tate Gallery. Tickets were necessary for admission. These were issued initially to local authorities for further allocation. Provision was also made for a similar exhibition in Scotland. From the start the prototype was seen as experimental, and comments were invited from the world at large as to any improvements and modifications that might be thought necessary. The Portal bungalow was designed to be exposed to public gaze:
  • [...]
  • The Portal prototype was never put into production although a revised version was again exhibited in London in the autumn of 1944. However, a number of manufacturers were asked to supply bungalows based upon the prototype."
  • (ib., pp.1-2)

Learn More (dimensions of rooms)

Item 25773 - A Home Of The Future (1944).png• Screenshot — Source: Pathé News Item 25772 - Portal prefab Tate 1944.png• The original Portal prototype with a central entry door at the Tate exhibition in 1944 — Source: Prefab Museum, PRM.00161 Item 25769 - Portal House. Exhibition, Tate Gallery 1944.jpg• Interior, Portal prefabricated bungalow — Source: Prefab Museum, PRM.00161.01 Item 25778 - Arcon Mark V.png• Rear elevation — Source: RIBA 38747
Item 25775 - Built-in closets in the Portal prototype.png• Screenshot — Source: Pathe newsreel Item 25768 - Exterior view of a Portal House, 5-9-1944.jpg• The second Portal prototype with a side entry door, May 1944 — Source: Airfield Research Group via Prefab Museum, PRM.00102.11

Item 25774 - Emergency Factory Made House - Elevations & Sections, Ministry of Works October 1944.jpg

• Elevations and sectional drawings of an unnamed prefab (possibly Portal House) — Source: Chiltern Open Air Museum archive via Prefab Museum, PRM.00150.01

Item 25771 - Floor plan of the Portal house.jpg• Floor plan, possibly for the second Portal prototype with a side entry door — Source: Prefab Museum

Learn More


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[edit] • 1944 Arcon

According to Brenda Vale:—

Learn More

Item 25777 - Arcon Mark V.png

• Front elevation — Source: RIBA 38732

Item 25780 - The kitchen side of the Arcon service unit inside the Mark IV.jpg• The kitchen side of the Arcon service unit inside the Mark IV — Source: Arcon, “The Arcon Group, 1947-1967,” Report 4/67, London, 1967. Item 25724 - Arcon Temporary House - Floor Plan.png• Arcon MkV floor plan — Source: Susan Wright via Prefab Museum

Item 25776 - Arcon Mark V bungalow plan.png

• Plan — Source: Ministry of Health/Ministry of Works via Brenda Vale, p.3


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[edit] • 1945 Howard

According to Wikipedians:—

Item 25786 - Howard House.png• Howard houses - Source: Scrapbook Item 25784 - The Howard prefabricated house - the dining area seen from the sitting room.png• Dining area seen from the sitting room - Source: RIBA 38727

Item 25785 - Howard House - Ground Floor Plan.png

• Ground floor plan - Source: Scrapbook

Item 20103.png

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[edit] • 1945 Phoenix

According to Wikipedians:—

Item 25754 - Phoenix House.jpg

• Phoenix prefabs - Source: Oosoom on Wikipedia

Item 25787 - Phoenix Type temporary bungalows in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.png

• Phoenix bungalows in Hemel Hempsead - Source: Heritage Calling

Item 25788 - The Wake Green Road prefabs.jpg• The Wake Green Road Prefabs - Source: Birmingham Conservation Trust Item 20103.png• Floor plan

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[edit] • 1946 BISF

According to Wikipedians:—

Learn More

Item 25781 - BISF House - Ministry of Works Demonstration Houses at Northolt, London.png• Front elevation — Source: RIBA 17034 Item 25782 - BISF demonstration house - the living room looking through to dining-kitchen.png• Demonstration house: the living room looking through to dining-kitchen — Source: RIBA 3289-50 Item 25783 - A pair of British Iron and Steel Federation Prototype houses under construction at Northolt, London.png• A pair of BISF Prototype houses under construction at Northolt, London — Source: RIBA 18305

Item 20103.png• Floor plans

BISF House Architectural Building Plans

Learn More


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[edit] PERIOD TWO: 1965-1971

In 'The psychology of steel construction', published in the Architects' Journal, Martin Pawley wrote:—

Thus this article looks briefly at the proposals for steel-framed houses covered in more detail by Norman Fellows in 'Housing Research by Cedric Price'.


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[edit] • 1965 Steel House

According to the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Steel House was:—

Item 18839 - 308711.jpg• Axonometrics and plans with notes - Source: CCA Item 18838 - 308596.jpg• Possible unit conditions - Source: CCA Item 18840 - 308746.jpg• CONCEPTUAL CONDITIONS: cross reference - Source: CCA Item 18841 - 496998.jpg• Floor plan - Source: CCA

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[edit] • 1967 24 hour Living Toy

Cedric Price's article in Cedric Price Supplement No.2 included the following bold claim:—

  • "THE HOUSE IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE AS A PRE-SET ORDERING MECHANISM FOR FAMILY LIFE"
  • (AD/1/71, p.28 - capitals in original)

Cedric Price also claimed:—

Item 18766.png• Photocopied page - Source: Cedric Price Supplement No.2 Item 18767.png• Photocopied page - Source: Cedric Price Supplement No.2 Item 18922 - 496815.png• Plans for housing units showing occupation of space at different times of the day - Source: CCA

Item 25789 - Housing - The Architect's Albatross.png

• Cutting from AD/7-8/77

According to Cedric Price:—


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[edit] • 1967 SHORT LIFE HOUSING STUDY—U.K.

According to CP:—

Item 18919 - 440219.jpg

• House Type A - Source: CCA

Item 18921 - 496822.jpg

• House Type C - Source: CCA

Item 18915 - 440215.jpg

• Axonometric - Source: CCA

Item 16817.png • Source: Cedric Price Supplement No.4, p.630, AD 10/71

• Digitized images

Item 23679.png Item 23680.png Item 23681.png

• Cuttings from Facsimiles of text in sidebars on pp.619-620 and 621 — Source: Housing Research by Cedric Price

The objectives of the study are reproduced in full above because they are central to the argument for a new type of state-subsidized house in the UK.

For example, the following points are of particular relevance, namely:—

In addition, the sketches illustrating the principles enumerated below paint a clear picture of a house manufactured on a production line in a factory:—

Item 16813 43337945781 o.png

• Photocopy of page 626, Cedric Price Supplement No.4, AD 10/71 — Source: Cedric Price Supplement via WordPress


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[edit] PERIOD THREE: 1972-1977

The abstract of Cedric Price's research and development programme was completed in December 1971. (See Cedric Price Supplements No.4 and No.5.)

In his comment after the conclusion of the programme, Cedric Price made two points:—

  1. "All that remains is to build the thing — and to thank Lord Kennet for annoying me sufficiently constructively for me to start this in the first place.
  2. I do not consider the house sufficiently important — as opposed to the next meal — for everyone to develop an appetite and attitude to build his or her own."

(See Cedric Price Supplement No.5, p.41, AD 1/72)

The first point indicated:—

The second point ruled out the self-build model as a viable solution.

Thus Norman Fellows recognised the need for a new type of state-subsidized house in the UK and proposed a service whereby such a house could be manufactured on a production line in a factory, namely:—

However, Norman Fellows also recognised the need for new types of state-subsidized houses manufactured on production lines in factories elsewhere around the World.

Domestikit was therefore started by Norman Fellows in January 1972—having been anticipated by both Buckminster Fuller and Cedric Price. It was introduced to Cedric Price in January 1978 as an architectural response to a need, namely:—

(See 'DOMESTIKIT: WORLD-WIDE DWELLING SERVICE')

NOTE: The name 'Domestikit' resolved the ambiguity between the world-wide dwelling service proposed by Buckminster Fuller and the model of a potential 'housing' service postulated by Cedric Price.


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[edit] • 1972 DOMESTIKIT: UK

Work on Domestikit began in January 1972 with the publication of the second part of the summary by Cedric Price, namely:—

However, the title was not coined by Norman Fellows until October 1972 after a reading of a soliloquy entitled 'I Figure' published in 'Ideas and Integrities' in 1963 in which Buckminster Fuller discussed the idea of a "World-Wide Dwelling Service" (p.109).

Domestikit itself was not actually published by Norman Fellows until 10 January 1978 at a meeting with Cedric Price at 38 Alfred Place.

Item 23736.png• Source: 3D Warehouse Item 23738.png• Source: 3D Warehouse Item 19421.png• Isometric projection - separations. Source: NF fonds on Flickr Item 18974 - REV A.png • Typical plans - Source: NF fonds on Flickr

• Selected digitized items from the Domestikit Catalogue — Source: Domestikit on 3D Warehouse

Cedric Price's research and development programme — "Son of Thinkbelt" — had studied two sites for housing in the UK, namely:—

  1. Rochdale (Deeplish)
  2. the Thames near Tilbury [Muckingford].

Thus this article demonstrates:—


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[edit] CONCLUSIONS

This article concludes, firstly:—

Thus the evidence appears to support Brenda Vale's hypothesis, namely:—

However, all of the prefabs built under the Temporary Housing programme accepted the house as a pre-set ordering mechanism for family life.

Secondly, in contrast, the types of prefabricated steel houses designed by Cedric Price during the period from 1965 to 1971 did not.

According to the Canadian Centre for Architecture:—

However, in the case of the housing studies which came out of the Potteries Thinkbelt, Cedric Price's premise represented a working hypothesis - i.e. a proposition as a basis for further ongoing research.

Thirdly, the same conclusion can be made about Domestikit - the iteration predicated on "Son of Thinkbelt" by Norman Fellows between 1972 and 1977.

This article concludes, therefore:—


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[edit] References


Prefabs (General)

  1. Google Books (2025) 'Prefabs: A History of the UK Temporary Housing Programme', Google
  2. Prefab Museum (undated) 'Design', Prefab Museum
  3. Vale, B. (1995) 'Prefabs: A History of the UK Temporary Housing Programme', Google Drive
  4. Wikipedians (2024) 'Prefabs in the United Kingdom', Wikipedia

Portal

  1. Google Books (2025) 'Emergency Factory Made Housing Programme', Google
  2. Grace's Guide (2024) 'Portal Prefabricated Houses', Grace's Guide To British Industrial History
  3. Hansard (1944) 'HOUSING (TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION) BILL', 5 October, api.parliament
  4. Heichelbech, R. (2025) 'This Fascinating Clip Gives a Look Inside a Prefab House from 1944: These tiny homes were only intended to last about 10 years!', Dusty Old Thing, Great Life Publishing
  5. Lobner, P. (2020) 'Portal pressed steel prototype temporary bungalow', lynceans.org
  6. Pinterest (2025) 'Portal House. Exhibition, Tate Gallery 1944', Pinterest
  7. Prefab Museum (undated) 'Exterior view of a Portal House, 5/9/1944', Prefab Museum
  8. Prefab Museum (undated) 'Portal House. Exhibition, Tate Gallery 1944', Prefab Museum
  9. RIBA (1948) 'The Portal prefabricated house: the rear elevation', ribapix
  10. YouTube (2015) 'A Home Of The Future (1944)', YouTube

Arcon

  1. Harrison, E, Woudstra, R. and Jackson, I. (2024) 'Accelerating Development: Taylor Woodrow and Arcon’s Prefabricated Steel Structures in Decolonizing West Africa', ABE
  2. NSH (2022) 'The Arcon Temporary Bungalow', Non Standard House Construction
  3. Prefab Museum (undated) 'Search the archive', Prefab Museum
  4. Prefab Museum (undated) 'Arcon MkV', Prefab Museum
  5. Prefab Museum (undated) 'Arcon MkV floor plan', Susan Wright via Prefab Museum
  6. RIBA (1948) 'Mark V prefabricated bungalows', ribapix

BISF

  1. Wikipedians (2024) 'BISF', Wikipedia
  2. Wikipedians (2024) 'BISF house', Wikipedia
  3. Admin (2012) 'BISF House Construction Types', NSH
  4. Admin (2019) 'British Iron & Steel Federation BISF House', NSH
  5. Prefab Museum (undated) 'BISF', Prefab Museum
  6. RIBA (1939) 'British Iron and Steel Federation demonstration house: the living room looking through to dining-kitchen', ribapix
  7. RIBA (1944) 'A pair of British Iron and Steel Federation Prototype houses under construction at Northolt, London', ribapix
  8. RIBA (1944) 'Ministry of Works Demonstration Houses at Northolt, London', ribapix

Howard

  1. Wikipedians (2024) 'Howard', Wikipedia
  2. NSH (2025) 'Howard Steel Framed House', Non Standard House Construction
  3. RIBA (1944) 'The Howard prefabricated house: the dining area seen from the sitting room', ribapix
  4. Prefab Museum (undated) 'Howard Steel Houses in Stafford', Prefab Museum
  5. NSH (2025) 'Howard Steel Framed House', Non Standard House Construction
  6. Google Arts & Culture (Undated) 'Prefabulous!', Arts & Culture

Phoenix

  1. BCT (Undated) 'The Wake Green Prefabs', Birmingham Conservation Trust
  2. Google Arts & Culture (Undated) 'Prefabulous!', Arts & Culture
  3. Historic England (2022) ' A Brief History of Prefabs', heritagecalling.com
  4. Lynceans (2020) 'Phoenix steel frame temporary bungalows', lynceans.org
  5. Wikipedians (2006) 'Grade II listed Phoenix prefabs in Wake Green Road, Birmingham', Oosoom on Wikipedia
  6. Wikipedians (2024) 'Phoenix (THP)', Wikipedia

Steel House

  1. CCA (2008-2009) 'Steel House', Cedric Price on Canadian Centre for Architecture

24 hour Living Toy

  1. Cedric Price (1971) '24 hr Living Toy', Architectural Design, January
  2. Cedric Price (1971) 'Cedric Price Supplement No.2', Architectural Design, January, p.28 on cedricpricesupplement at WordPress
  3. Cedric Price (1971) 'Cedric Price Supplement No.2', Architectural Design, January, p.29 on cedricpricesupplement at WordPress
  4. CCA (2008-2009) 'Plans for housing units showing occupation of space at different times of the day', Cedric Price on Canadian Centre for Architecture
  5. Cedric Price (1977) 'Housing:The Architect's Albatross', Architectural Design, July-August, on Designing Buildings

SHORT LIFE HOUSING STUDY—U.K.

  1. Cedric Price (1967) 'A change is required in our current attitude to “Housing”', Architectural Design, May, in Extremely Provocative
  2. Cedric Price (1969) 'Expediency', Architectural Design, September
  3. Cedric Price (1971) 'A note on fixed life evolutionary housing', Architectural Design, September
  4. Cedric Price (1971) 'Cedric Price Supplement No.4', Architectural Design, October
  5. Cedric Price (1972) 'Cedric Price Supplement No.5', Architectural Design, January
  6. Pawley, M. (1998) 'The psychology of steel construction', Architects' Journal, 17 December

DOMESTIKIT: UK

  1. MHLG (1966) 'The Deeplish Study', Ministry of Housing and Local Government, on Google Drive
  2. Cedric Price (1971) 'Cedric Price Supplement No.4', Architectural Design, October, on cedricpricesupplement at WordPress
  3. Cedric Price (1971) 'Cedric Price Supplement No.5', Architectural Design, October, on cedricpricesupplement at WordPress
  4. Norman Fellows (2021) 'Domestikit: A National/global service', domestikit.wordpress.com
  5. Norman Fellows (2019) 'Domestikit: A fantasia of the stories behind it', domsetikit.anticipatorydesign.info
  6. Norman Fellows (2017) 'Domestikit', 3D Warehouse

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[edit] Further research


--Archiblog 11:51, 31 Jan 2025 (BST)


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