Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Efficient Prefab Panels Form This Southern California Abode

Efficient Prefab Panels Form This Southern California Abode

Net-zero prefab panels and Icelandic-inspired design come together in Dawnsknoll, a sustainable home in Santa Monica.

Icelandic husband-and-wife duo Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson of the award-winning studio Minarc have built another home with mnmMOD-a prefabricated, panelized building system they developed using a blend of recycled steel and EPS insulation. The resulting 2,500-square-foot home, called Dawnskoll, keeps sustainability at the forefront while playing with color and smart usage of space.



Dawnsknoll optimizes the capture of natural light and cross ventilation, keeping down electrical costs. Interior/exterior courtyards, as well as the master and living room sliders, help circulate breezes. Sustainable heating is also introduced through radiant floor heating and domestic water heating throughout the house.

Manufactured in Los Angeles, mnmMOD panels are an efficient, durable, and fully customizable building material that yields "net-zero" efficiency, and creates a healthy, mold- and termite-free environment, while also reducing the amount of manpower needed during construction.



"mnmMOD panels incorporate high-quality, off-the-shelf, sustainable materials that have been researched, tested, and selected to meet stringent quality specifications," says Thorsteinsson. "Materials are prefabricated into precisely cut panels at the factory, then flat-packed and delivered to the site where they are assembled."



Colors from dramatic, Icelandic landscapes inspired the contrasting interiors. Volcanic orange creates a multifunctional gathering point at the heart of the home while the swimming pool brings in a lagoon hue; the cabinets recall glaciers and lava. In the kitchen, "disappearing" chairs are stored under the island to maximize space.



The mnmMOD building system was used for the walls, floor panels, and ceiling panels of the house. The interior floors on the first floor are concrete, while flooring for the upper floor is bamboo. Kirei Echopanels were installed in the living room to reduce noise.



The sink in the powder room was made from recycled tires.



Minarc created a living moss wall in the powder room.

Minarc made a conscious effort to use only materials in their most organic form, so they avoided carpets and tiles, and used recycled materials as much as possible.



An outdoor swing bed makes the most of sunny, Santa Monica weather.

Inspired by the dramatic landscape of Iceland, the design and clever use of color create contrasting interiors that stimulate the senses.



The orange kitchen island mimics volcanic lava flowing as it cuts across the main space to create a multi-functional communal area in the heart of the home.

A heated patio and fireplace in the outdoor dining area encourages an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, while the river rocks in the exterior courtyard give the outdoor spaces a soothing, Zen-like ambiance.



A pull-out console provides smart storage in the headboard.



Dawnsknoll’s exterior sidings are cement panels and Resysta wood. The house’s front gate and garage are made from recycled wood.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
×