Prefabricated and Modularized Residential Construction: A Review of Present Status, Opportunities, and Future Challenges

Many countries worldwide are facing a housing crisis, marked by a shortage of affordable housing. To respond to this growing crisis, prefabricated residential construction is gaining popularity due to cost savings in mass production, faster construction times, improved quality control, and sustainability considerations. This study provides a critical review of the available literature within the prefabricated and modular residential construction industry to assess its present status and to identify opportunities and challenges. The literature was categorized into the subfields of architecture, sustainability, structural, energy, environment, factory build, installation, policy, possibilities and challenges, and case studies. A detailed summary is provided for each subfield. This study aims to provide insights into the prefabricated and modular residential construction industry to fill the knowledge gap, discover possibilities, and address any challenges to create a clear pathway for implementation.