Dive Brief:

• The British branch of the YMCA and architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners are going to build and locate prefabricated, 280 square-foot housing units.
• Dubbed Y:Cube Housing, the units are intended to be stacked in groups of 24 to 40.
• Backers say the cubes cost $50,000 to build in one week, one hour to hook up in place, need no foundations and can be located on urban brownfield sites.

Dive Insight:

The promise for the Y:Cube is that housing is in high demand and sales prices and rents are rising, which leaves affordable housing in the dust. The Y:Cube units come fully furnished and finished and are ready for occupancy, the backers say.