Adaptive Housing or Flexible Housing

A  transformable house  (also known as  adaptive housing  or  flexible housing ) is a type of architectural form capable of dynamically adjusting its spatial layout, functionality, or structure in response to residents' needs, changes in family composition, or environmental conditions.

The house consists of standardized modules (such as light steel structures and prefabricated wall panels), allowing for quick adjustments in area or function (e.g., adding bedrooms, study rooms, or merging living rooms). The building structure (e.g., the steel frame) is highly durable, and the interior space can be modified multiple times, avoiding the waste of demolition and reconstruction. The material utilization rate of transformable housing is over 30% higher than that of traditional housing.

In China, many local governments have included light steel villas in green building subsidy programs due to their energy efficiency and environmental benefits (30%–50% lower carbon emissions compared to traditional buildings). For example, Zhejiang Province provides subsidies of 50–100 RMB per square meter for light steel prefabricated housing projects that meet standards.

Light steel villas have become a popular choice for rural self-built home renovations due to their fast construction and controllable costs. Some provinces (e.g., Sichuan, Hunan) are piloting light steel rural housing projects to support the development of beautiful countryside initiatives.

With the advancement of the  "dual-carbon" goals , the proportion of light steel villas in green construction is expected to rise. However, the industry must address challenges such as costs, standardization, and consumer trust to achieve large-scale adoption.