Quonset House Prototype

Quonset House Prototype

2025

Status: Design
Location: Catskills NY, USA
Client: Private
Program: Private Residence
Scope: House Prototype

From Quonset Hut to Quonset House

Originally designed in 1941 for the U.S. Navy, Quonset Huts were conceived as prefabricated, lightweight, all-purpose buildings that could be shipped anywhere and assembled in a single day by a team with no special training. Built from corrugated galvanized steel arches, they were celebrated for their durability, efficiency, and ease of construction.

Today, Quonset structures remain available through multiple suppliers and continue to offer remarkable advantages: cost-effective purchasing and installation, structural resilience thanks to the ribbed arch geometry, and a naturally watertight enclosure.  Form is optimized for structural performance, achieving generous spans with great material efficiency, minimizing carbon footprint.

We reimagine the utilitarian structure as a contemporary residence. The steel shell is insulated with sprayed closed-cell polyurethane foam for energy efficiency, and finished inside with curved plywood, creating a warm, inviting interior. Large glass facades enclose the ends of each arch, opening the home to views and daylight, and allowing clear expression of the pure structural form.

The prototype is composed of three structures:

  • Main Living Shell — a generous arched volume (30 ft wide by 40 ft long) housing communal living, dining, and kitchen areas, complete with a loft mezzanine and compact bedrooms.
  • Private Shell — a smaller arched structure dedicated to the master bedroom suite (20 ft wide by 32 ft long).
  • Auxiliary Shell — a functional building accommodating a garage, storage, and workshop (25 ft wide by 40 ft long).

Together, the three buildings frame patios and decks, reinforcing a strong orientation toward the surrounding views and landscape.

The Quonset House embraces its industrial origins while reinterpreting them into a sleek, modern design—honest, efficient, and uncompromising.

The concept is scalable and adaptable for many types and sizes of site, program, climate and budget.  If you are considering a Quonset House, please contact us for further information. 

From Quonset Hut to Quonset House

Originally designed in 1941 for the U.S. Navy, Quonset Huts were conceived as prefabricated, lightweight, all-purpose buildings that could be shipped anywhere and assembled in a single day by a team with no special training. Built from corrugated galvanized steel arches, they were celebrated for their durability, efficiency, and ease of construction.

Today, Quonset structures remain available through multiple suppliers and continue to offer remarkable advantages: cost-effective purchasing and installation, structural resilience thanks to the ribbed arch geometry, and a naturally watertight enclosure.  Form is optimized for structural performance, achieving generous spans with great material efficiency, minimizing carbon footprint.

We reimagine the utilitarian structure as a contemporary residence. The steel shell is insulated with sprayed closed-cell polyurethane foam for energy efficiency, and finished inside with curved plywood, creating a warm, inviting interior. Large glass facades enclose the ends of each arch, opening the home to views and daylight, and allowing clear expression of the pure structural form.

The prototype is composed of three structures:

  • Main Living Shell — a generous arched volume (30 ft wide by 40 ft long) housing communal living, dining, and kitchen areas, complete with a loft mezzanine and compact bedrooms.
  • Private Shell — a smaller arched structure dedicated to the master bedroom suite (20 ft wide by 32 ft long).
  • Auxiliary Shell — a functional building accommodating a garage, storage, and workshop (25 ft wide by 40 ft long).

Together, the three buildings frame patios and decks, reinforcing a strong orientation toward the surrounding views and landscape.

The Quonset House embraces its industrial origins while reinterpreting them into a sleek, modern design—honest, efficient, and uncompromising.

The concept is scalable and adaptable for many types and sizes of site, program, climate and budget.  If you are considering a Quonset House, please contact us for further information.