As an expert in the field of architecture, I have witnessed the evolution of modular design over the years. From its humble beginnings with the Nagakin capsule tower in Tokyo to its current role in sustainable living, modular architecture has come a long way. The Nagakin capsule tower was designed to accommodate itinerant businessmen in downtown Tokyo. The building's unique design consists of 140 capsules stacked and rotated at various angles around a central core. Each capsule measures 4 x 2.5 meters, providing enough space for a person to live comfortably.
The capsules can be easily plugged into the central core and replaced or exchanged when necessary. Another example of modular architecture is the Revival school building in Ukraine. This project was designed in response to the devastation caused by war. The structure is built to house more than 176 students within a modular aluminum structure that can be adapted and changed to suit the needs of its users. My Micro, a nine-story residential building located in Manhattan, New York, is another great example of modular architecture. The tower contains 55 modular units made of steel structures and concrete slabs.
These units were prefabricated outside of Brooklyn, which accelerated the construction process significantly. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance and efficiency of modular architecture. In just two weeks, a 1000-bed hospital was built using prefabricated rooms and components, earning it the nickname “instant hospital”. This is just one example of how modular construction can be used to quickly respond to urgent needs. ModSkool is another innovative project that showcases the versatility of modular architecture. This low-cost school can be built by the community in just a few hours and can also be quickly dismantled.
The concept was developed after a school for 200 children in a settlement near the Yamuna River was declared illegal and demolished. One of the biggest challenges facing coastal communities is unpredictable climate changes. Modular architecture offers a solution to this problem. The Makoko floating school, built by NLE Architects with the sponsorship of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Heinrich Boell Foundation, makes extensive use of local materials and resources to produce architecture that meets the needs of people and reflects the culture of the community. Architect Chris Precht has also embraced modular architecture with his farm project. The farm serves as a way to reconnect people in cities with agriculture and promote sustainable living.
The Three Types of Modular Architecture
In Product Design and Development by Karl Ulrich and Steven Eppinger, three types of modular interface design are described.These include modular slot architecture, modular bus architecture, and sectional modular architecture. The modular slot architecture consists of elements with different interfaces. In contrast, the modular bus architecture uses a common bus or similar concept, where each element is connected through the same type of interface. In sectional modular architecture, there is no common bus or base element that interacts with other elements. Instead, each element uses a common set of interfaces to connect to each other. Modular construction techniques have been used in various projects worldwide, showcasing its versatility and efficiency.
OMC used modular construction to manufacture two new 6,400 square foot permanent modular buildings, each with six classrooms. DMDModular has also achieved an important milestone by successfully completing a major energy-efficient housing project fully funded with EU funding. ROC Modular is another company that has embraced modular construction. They recently completed a new permanent modular student residence for Selkirk College in Nelson BC. One of the main advantages of modular architecture is that any module can be replaced or added without affecting the rest of the system. Modular construction offers many benefits to homeowners, including quality management and improved completion time.
It also allows for minimal disruption to the surrounding environment, as seen in a project where the main objective was to ensure minimal disruption to the sacred grounds surrounding a new modular building. Modular architecture is not limited to buildings; it can also be used in other structures. In partnership with InProduction, Phoenix Modular Elevator (PME) designed, manufactured, and installed seven modular elevators for the F1 Grand Prix race in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today's modular construction companies can work with levels of design and construction sophistication that exceed all expectations and fall short of those of their site-built counterparts. The future of architecture lies in sustainable and recyclable design. The structure acts as a prototype for sustainable and recyclable architecture and highlights the importance of modular architecture in the future.
The modular design of the building also allows for future scaling by adding several blocks and rooms.
The Benefits of Modular Architecture
The three modular bedrooms have a shared laundry room, kitchen, living room, showers, and bathrooms for residents. This is just one example of how modular architecture can be used in residential buildings. Relocatable buildings (RB) are another example of how modular construction can be used. These are partially or fully assembled buildings that comply with applicable codes or state regulations and are constructed on a building manufacturing plant using a modular construction process. Wilmot Modular was hired to advise and provide what was originally a project to expand two-story classrooms.As an expert in the field, I have documented information on three types of modular interface designs for future reference.
