INSIGHTS SITE LINES Evolving modular design
Architect James Walsh gives his views on the merits of a component-based approach concept for modular buildings, which could shift them away from their former stigma
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s the move to modular construction gathers pace, what are the key design drivers when tackling a modular project, and how do we learn from the mistakes of past failures? The first thing to say is that traditional architects are not best placed to design a modular building, as the process is not something that sits well with designers: terms like ‘standardisation,’ ‘repetition’, and ‘designing from the plan’ (not to the urban context) send shivers down their spines. It requires a fundamental shift in thinking from a contextual urban design response to a manufacturer-led production mindset.
Starting points
The starting points are simple – it must be designed as a modular building from day one, translating buildings post-planning into modular designs is costly and inefficient. The second key building block is a project must be based on production design parameters. Seems simple, but if you are to manufacture something it needs to be the same component and not many variations of a component. 80 per cent of the building needs to be ‘the same’ – not ‘almost the same’ with many minute variations, but the same. What do we
mean by ‘the same’ however? What elements can be fixed and what elements are open to variation? The answers lie within the production process, and are in common with the car industry.
Standardisation & customisation Customisation is just that, you can amend a standard product through product variation: an example being that a Tesla and a Fiat use the same wiper motor and accelerator foot pedal, but look completely different. Most cars within a range sit within the same frame, but the panelling is never the same. The engine block is the same across many cars, but the speed possibilities vary due to customisation.
The same is true with buildings. The overall frame size needs to be the same, height, width, depth, the internal arrangement doesn’t. The windows’ position needs to be the same size and location, the cladding doesn’t. The M&E systems need to be in the same locations, with the same basic layouts, but upgrades and site variations can be accommodated. The best example is the Victorian house. These are essentially the same design and layout, but infinitely customisable. You will never
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CONSISTENT CitizenM Tower of London, a hotel whose design by Studio Anyo used the same modular units throughout
ADF NOVEMBER 2018
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