18 Dec 2025

The Future of Housing: A Deep Dive into Modular Innovation with ZedPods

Modular housing is often discussed as a technical solution, but the harder questions are commercial, political and practical: who pays, who builds, and how do you make the model work?

Stephen Drew speaks with Lalit Chauhary, Design Director at ZedPods, about modular housing, zero carbon delivery, starting a business, pricing work properly and closing the gap between design ambition and construction reality.

The conversation covers:

How ZedPods grew from an idea into live modular housing projects
What zero carbon delivery means when the building has to perform in use
Why pricing, feasibility and client expectations can make or break a practice
How air rights and underused sites can create new housing opportunities
What architecture professionals can learn from a more integrated delivery model

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▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-N9twMkyAE

📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/the-future-of-housing-a-deep-dive-into-modular-innovation-with-zedpods/

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and setting the scene
01:05 Meet Lalit Chauhary and ZedPods
01:45 Studying architecture and early career routes
06:33 Early lessons from practice
11:03 Starting ZedPods and the first challenges
17:22 Breakthrough projects and growth
26:18 Navigating the pandemic and expansion
46:46 Pricing mistakes and lessons learned
53:01 Growth and success of ZedPods
54:12 Commitment to a zero carbon approach
55:08 Bridging the gap between design and construction
55:43 Performance gap and energy standards
56:58 Business model, air rights and delivery innovation
01:06:35 Hiring and empowering smart people
01:14:25 Challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship
01:22:29 The future of modular construction and technology
01:35:39 Conclusion and contact details

(00:00) - and Setting the Scene
(01:05) - Introduction and Background
(01:45) - Journey in Architecture
(04:05) - Career and Internship Experience
(06:33) - and Lessons in Architecture
(11:03) - Zed Pods and Initial Struggles
(17:22) - Projects and Growth
(26:18) - the Pandemic and Expansion
(46:46) - Mistakes and Lessons Learned
(47:05) - Client Expectations and Fees
(47:44) - in the Architecture Industry
(48:20) - of Timing and Feasibility Studies
(48:59) - to Charge Appropriately
(50:01) - Client Conversations and Emotions
(51:44) - Competitive Fees and Managing Risks
(53:01) - and Success of Z Pods
(54:12) - to Zero Carbon Approach
(55:08) - the Gap Between Design and Construction
(55:43) - Gap and Energy Standards
(56:58) - Business Model and Air Rights
(01:06:35) - and Empowering Smart People
(01:14:25) - and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
(01:22:29) - of Modular Construction and Technology
(01:35:39) - and Contact Information

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