Rohtash Tayal, Founder & Joint Managing Director, Yugen Infra, discusses the pros and cons of modular / prefab construction in residential projects
Do you see Modular / Prefab Construction becoming more accepted by real estate developers in the near future and why?
Absolutely yes, modular and prefabricated construction is on the threshold of wider acceptance in the residential real estate market, and there are good reasons for this. From the industry perspective, modular construction offers enormous advantages in terms of time and quality. Weather-related delays and quality issues are reduced to a large extent in prefabricated construction, resulting in construction time reductions of as much as 50% in some cases.This trend is supported by market growth figures, which show that the global prefab buildings market which was worth $146.47 billion in 2024 is set to surpass $200 billion by 2030, indicating that there is genuine momentum here.
In addition to the speed advantage, prefab construction techniques can also make construction cheaper by optimizing material use and minimizing site construction, and enhance sustainability, which is an essential consideration in the current ESG-conscious era.
What are the constraints that developers face in this construction methodology?
Although promising, prefabricated construction also has some significant limitations for the developer. The regulatory and approval procedures are usually structured around traditional construction. Large module transportation, especially in an urban setting, may increase costs. The high initial capital expenditure required for factories and equipment may be a cash flow problem. In addition, a knowledge gap exists among architects, engineers, and contractors who are unfamiliar with factory-based processes.A paradigm shift in mindsets that emphasizes successful real-world outcomes is as important as innovation in the acceptance of prefab.
Rohtash Tayal
Does Prefab allow flexibility in design and construction of buildings, including their facades?
Yes, but with nuance. Contrary to traditional views that prefab equals “boxy” and repetitive, today’s modular structures enable a great deal of customization. Advanced design software (such as BIM) and factory precision enable architects to incorporate customized facades, diverse materials, and intricate designs.However, size restrictions due to transportation and early design freeze constraints do impose some limitations on the extent to which extreme customization can be achieved compared to fully customized site-built projects. Even so, panelized and volumetric structures today successfully enable beautiful architectural designs while maintaining the speed and quality benefits that prefab construction inherently provides.
How can the mindset of both the developer and the end-user be changed from Conventional to Prefab construction?
A paradigm shift in mindsets needs education that emphasizes successful real-world outcomes. The developer community is extremely responsive to case studies and numbers that illustrate speed-to-market performance, cost predictability, and sustained success. The end-user, however, needs transparency regarding quality, durability, and warranties. A paradigm shift is as important as innovation in the acceptance of prefab.Modular construction offers enormous advantages in terms of time and quality and what’s more, today’s modular structures enable architects to incorporate customized facades, diverse materials, and intricate designs.
