This is how MorgenWonen builds a home every day

That prefabricated construction makes construction more efficient is common knowledge. But how that efficiency takes shape becomes really clear when you take a look at a construction site. There, a construction kit is put together at lightning speed and you see the house come into being before your eyes. We visited a construction site of MorgenWonen in Babberich.

Every day one house is built at the construction site in Babberich. The components of such a house come to the construction site on 5 trucks that arrive at regular intervals and are lifted into place and assembled with an electric crane. Finally, the heat pump goes on the roof, and then the house is finished at 3 or 4 o'clock, says Martijn Winters, sales and marketing manager of MorgenWonen, VolkerWessels' industrial building concept. 'We've been doing this for ten years, so we know exactly what we're doing.'

Planning a year ahead

Precast construction is largely a matter of planning, Winters contends. The assembly crew working here must be able to keep busy. When the last home is built here in Babberich, they move on to the next project, in Deventer, the next day. And so on. 'We plan at least a year ahead.'

The capacity of MorgenWonen's factory is exactly calculated for one house per day. One production line is now operational, but starting next month there will be so many orders that it can be scaled up to two production lines. An additional production line was already taken into account when the factory was built; there is even room for even more lines. Once the factory is scaled up, the number of assembly crews will also be doubled and MorgenWonen will thus be able to realize two construction projects simultaneously.

The package of facades arrives at the construction site.

Preparation is everything

When we visit Babberich, one block has already been completed and the assembly crew is working on the second house of the next block. In total, there are to be 13 houses, posing as row houses. 'But they are separate from each other,' Winters says. "Actually, we are building detached houses here that are just very close together.

Two weeks ago the foundation was laid, and the stairwell to the second floor already on it. That will be done in one or two days, and then the meter box and NUTS connections will also be installed. 'In those two weeks before the assembly crew comes, the utilities are then installed. After that, the assembly of the house can begin.'

The stairwell and the meter box are already there.

The assembly crew

On the construction site, we meet the experienced David Kodde. He is the flying keeper of the assembly crew, he tells us. He has been doing this work for five years and knows the building process inside out. This allows him to help out and fill in anywhere. Today the foreman is absent, so Kodde is standing in for him.

A crew consists of 10 men, he says. 'That includes the crane operator and the foreman. You have two electricians, a plumber, two men for erection and two for tackling, who are downstairs. And then there's someone to finish off what we built the previous day, the baseboards and such.'

Once MorgenWonen has scaled up, David becomes foreman of his own team. Now his main job is to make sure everything runs smoothly and that everyone can keep moving forward and not forget anything. He also inducts new people. He contradicts with fervor that building with precast is no longer fun. 'New guys are enthusiastic, they love it. They don't have to lug anything around here either, which is very good for your back. You can still do this work easily at 56.'

The rear façade is lifted into place.

Finish

After the homes are built within a day, they still have to be finished, Winters says. "That's not as fast as building; it takes about eight weeks. The roof tiles and solar panels still need to be put on the roof, the kitchen installed and everything else finished. 'But you can already shower in the bathroom,' Winters concludes.

By the time we say goodbye, the roof is already being lifted onto the house under construction. Just a few more hours and the construction crew can go home early. To start work on a new house tomorrow.

Before lunch, the roof goes on the house.

MorgenWonen at Construction Fair 2025

Today begins BouwBeurs 2025. Martijn Winters will give a talk on Thursday a presentation about how MorgenWonen is building homes fast. If you have any questions, you can ask them there. Below is a video depicting the assembly process and Martijn announcing his presentation.