The future of manufactured homes may reinvent the form of something that already widely exists- trailer parks. All across the United States, these small homes are being reimagined by architects by utilizing more sustainable materials, inventive construction techniques, and value engineering to create affordable homes and reinvent the once negative connotation that surrounded this housing typology.
Trailer parks became widely known across the United States after World War II, where they were often organized around military bases and construction sites. Designed to be temporary, they quickly gained a sense of permanence, especially in the modern day. It’s estimated that over ten million Americans, often young blue-collar workers live in these trailers. However, these parks were looked down upon due to their mass-produced and industrial nature. Trailer homes are mass-produced, and sacrifice craftsmen qualities in favor of cost savings. Many architects claimed that trailer homes had no place in the mainstream design vocabulary, and with planners picking up on these notions, trailer park communities began to feel regulated to less desirable neighborhoods. Additionally, trailers are located on leased land, preventing residents from owning the lots on which they reside.
