Project: ReHome – Modular Construction Solution
Architecture: Cutwork
Location: Ukraine
Photo Credits: Cutwork
Paris-based design studio Cutwork created ReHome to offer an off-site modular construction solution that addresses today’s urgent housing challenges. Although the studio first developed ReHome as a rapid-deployment system for war-torn Ukraine, it now aims to tackle shortages around the world. Cutwork actively seeks partners, including developers and governments, to scale this concept and provide stable, affordable, and dignified housing on a global level.
A Rapid-Deployment Housing System
Cutwork conceived ReHome to build quickly and efficiently without significant on-site labor or major geographic constraints. Teams can assemble its 27-square-meter modules like LEGO bricks, stacking them up to six stories high. This approach drastically reduces construction time—by as much as 40%—compared to traditional methods. The system’s off-site manufacturing also cuts costs, especially when produced at scale.
ReHome emerged from Cutwork’s experience designing emergency shelters, including the Cortex Shelter project, but it stands apart by addressing both immediate crises and long-term needs. Rapidly deployable modules can accommodate families of four to six people, while flexible layouts prevent the cramped feeling that often plagues temporary housing. In fact, the units include practical features such as a multi-part bathroom with double-door frames, allowing simultaneous use of the shower and toilet.
Versatile Design and Layout
Each ReHome unit divides into three sections—kitchen/dining, bed/bath area, and a versatile living space. Families can prepare meals, relax, and sleep without sacrificing privacy. In some designs, a mezzanine increases ceiling height from three to four meters, creating room for two additional beds that merge for couples or separate for individuals.
Cutwork also offers larger apartment typologies. By combining or stacking multiple modules, developers can form units of up to 108 square meters for groups of up to 10 people. Non-load-bearing walls can be removed or repositioned to adjust living space size. In addition, shared community kitchens, laundry areas, and multipurpose rooms encourage neighbors to gather, cook, work, and even record their stories in a small in-house studio.
A Long-Term, Cost-Effective Strategy
Although ReHome originated as a rapid response to the war in Ukraine, Cutwork recognized that the broader global housing shortage demands similar innovation. Research shows that the United States faces a gap of over five million homes, while England requires approximately 340,000 new units each year—145,000 of them affordable. People living without suitable homes often endure overcrowding or must delay independent living, which can harm social well-being and economic growth.
ReHome addresses these issues with a scalable, modular system. Developers who build with ReHome can adapt units for students, professionals, families, and seniors—even after a crisis ends. Units remain valuable assets in stable times because their flexible design suits different household sizes and lifestyles. According to Cutwork co-founder and lead architect Antonin Yuji Maeno, ReHome’s quality ensures it will outlast a temporary crisis. By removing specific interior walls and combining multiple modules, owners can meet evolving demands without tearing down existing structures.
Cutwork believes architects and designers must embrace new solutions for the modern world. ReHome embodies this vision through thoughtful, human-centered design. It offers stability, security, and efficiency in times of emergency and in long-term housing markets—reflecting a deeper mission to ensure that shelter remains a universal human right.
