Your questions about SAM, answered

Prefab for small spaces has been around for a while. What makes SAM different is that the system goes beyond the physical structure. Where traditional prefab solutions only provide the walls or skeleton, SAM also integrates the kitchen, bathroom, heating, ventilation, water and electricity into one prefabricated whole.

On top of that, SAM has no fixed design. The system consists of 35 configurable cabinet modules that can be freely combined, from a student room to a full apartment or office.

Another key difference: because all technical installations are contained within the modules rather than in the walls or floors of the building, a space can easily be reconfigured later. That makes SAM interesting not just at the time of construction, but also in the long term, when a building gets a new purpose or residents have different needs.

SAM is most valuable when it is designed in from the very start. Because all technical installations, kitchen, bathroom, heating and ventilation, are integrated into the modules, architects can map out the entire space including utilities in advance. The earlier SAM is incorporated into the design, the greater our impact on the overall layout of the project and the more additional living area we can create. When SAM is brought in later in the process, the possibilities are more limited because the major design decisions have already been made.

That said, SAM can also be integrated into a project that is already further along. The modules are flexible enough to fit into existing plans. In that case, we look together at the best approach within the existing constraints.

For configuration, architects work with our SketchUp plugin, which lets them put together a SAM themselves and immediately see how it fits within the space. This keeps a lot of design freedom intact, within a system that is already ready for production.

When multiple units are involved, our preference is a collective hot water system. That means one central installation supplying hot water to the entire building, which is more efficient and more sustainable than individual boilers per unit. If an heating installation per unit is preferred, we can offer that option as well.

SAM consists largely of custom-made joinery, produced in a controlled environment. That means the modules, including all technical installations, are manufactured under optimal conditions, without the variables of a traditional building site.

In conventional construction, builders typically account for an error margin of around 10%. The controlled production process of SAM reduces that percentage drastically. What you order is what you get.

The drainage lines need to be extended into the shaft. We then take care of the further connection through to the final drainage points. The supply lines should be fed through the shaft with approximately 2 metres of extra length.

That depends on the size of the unit. In smaller spaces such as city apartments and student rooms, all lighting and sockets can originate directly from the SAM module. In larger living areas, additional connections elsewhere in the space will be needed. We keep that as minimal as possible, for example, by using wireless switches.

From the final design to the completed installation, the process runs as follows:

‍Final design received from the developer, architect or in collaboration with Bao Living
‍Production: approximately 13 weeks
‍Delivery to site
Installation per unit: 3 to 5 days

The earlier we are involved in the project, the smoother this process runs.

The price depends on the size of the unit, the chosen finish level and the order volume. Larger volumes result in lower unit costs.

-Overall, SAM is cost competitive with traditional building methods. Add to that the fact that SAM can create up to 24% more usable living area per unit, and the financial case quickly tips in favour of SAM.

Configure your own SAM and get an immediate price indication via the SAM Design Studio.

SAM is installed once the shell is wind and watertight. That is a firm requirement, as the modules are produced in a workshop and must not be exposed to weather conditions on site.

,Regarding floor finishes: for tiled floors, we recommend laying the tiles before SAM is installed. For vinyl flooring, the opposite applies as vinyl can still settle after installation. Floor finishing is not part of our scope of work.

Through the circular cashback programme, Bao Living buys back materials at the end of their lifecycle. The guaranteed return price applies to materials that are returned correctly: cleaned, undamaged and free of any fixings or adhesive residue. The client is responsible for transport to our storage facility.

‍Joinery After first use, we guarantee a residual value of at least 10% of the purchase price.

Sanitary materialsThe residual value differs per material type:

Steel without contact (e.g. TECE): 50% of contract price
Steel with contact (e.g. shower tray): 25%
Brass tapware: 50%
Plastic exposed (walls, shower screen, pipework): 20%
Plastic concealed (cistern): 20%
Sanitary porcelain: 25%
Chipboard furniture: 10%

More information about the full cashback programme can be found on our circular cashback page.

SAM is most efficient on projects with multiple similar units. The larger the volume, the lower the unit costs and the faster the turnaround.

The strongest use cases are:
‍Student rooms and studios: SAM bundles all functions into a compact space and creates up to 24% more usable floor area.
‍One-bedroom apartments: the ideal format for a single integrated SAM.
‍Care homes and serviced apartments: compact layout, high finish quality, easy maintenance.
‍Office-to-residential conversions: SAM fits into existing structures without major modifications.

From two bedrooms onwards, we typically work with separate modules rather than one integrated whole. That requires a bit more design work, but it is certainly possible.

All technical installations in one place: Kitchen, bathroom, heating and ventilation are all bundled within the SAM modules. That limits the amount of pipework and cabling running through the building and makes future maintenance much simpler.

‍Sustainable timber; The timber used in SAM modules is FSC-certified, sourced from sustainably managed forests.

‍Maximum recyclability: Because everything is produced in one workshop, materials can be properly sorted and recycled. And because the technical installations are separate from the building structure, they can easily be recovered or replaced at the end of their lifecycle.

‍Repair over replacement: Through our Zupply platform, we track the full lifecycle of every installation. That allows for targeted maintenance and repair rather than replacement.

‍Less construction waste: The traditional method of cutting channels through floors and walls for pipework generates hundreds of kilos of waste per home. SAM eliminates that entirely.

We work with three finish levels: Standard, Upgrade and Plus. The higher the level, the greater the choice in materials, colours and appliances. The full range of options is available in the SAM Catalogue.

In the bathroom, cabinet fronts are finished with HPL panels in a freely chosen colour. The shower consists of a waterproof base plate with wall panels in PVC or Resopal. We also offer a circular option: a shower panel made from recycled material.

Exposed shell walls in the bathroom are not finished by us. We recommend treating those before installation.

We offer inspection and flow measurement as optional services. Whether it is more cost effective to arrange these through Bao Living or together with other parties already on site depends on the specific project situation. We assess this per project.

Depending on the technical installations to be integrated, such as ventilation type C or D or an electric boiler, 1 or 2 cabinets will be reserved for technical use. These are always the cabinets closest to the technical shaft. The rest of the SAM remains fully available as living and storage space, which in most cases still results in more usable area than a conventional fit-out.