Fields of study
Architecture and Design
out of the box | 1st and 3rd Semester | Winter Semester 2022/23
In the winter semester of 2022/23, the first and third IMIAD semesters worked together on a design on the topic of modular timber construction.
How can we address the housing shortage in cities? For redensification, we locate urgently needed apartments on supermarket roofs. Wooden modules offer the ideal framework with little weight and fast construction time. A system with modules has to be found that works in sequence and stacking. Social housing is to be created, dealing with the question of how to create quality of stay that is serial, cost-effective and sustainably manufactured and does not correspond to a typical container architecture?
The arrangement of the apartments and modules can be done with a central corridor or an arcade. A minimum of 5 modules side by side and 2 floors of modules are to be planned. Balcony areas are to be provided and single or retirement apartments with 1 bedroom over +/- 35sqm and family apartments with 3 bedrooms over +/- 105sqm (without balcony) are to be created, which do not comply with the standard. The maximum dimensions for the transport of individual modules should be considered. The apartments should be thought over 2 floors. Haptics, surface, geometry, narrowness/width, height/depth and exposure should be incorporated. How can the placement of walls, fixed fixtures, exposed elements, galleries, varying room heights, color accents, patterns, materials add quality for the occupant? The semester assignment starts with the analysis of the possible geometry and construction methods of wooden modules, we then turn our attention to the floor plan, its hierarchies, its order and its spatial configuration. From this we develop an idea and concept for the modules, which finds its origin through the interior figure.
The semester design was supervised by professors Diane Ziegler and Monika Joos-Keller. Lecturer Benedikt Pedde M.Sc. taught a supplementary seminar on timber construction.
"Space Capsule" requires only 48 truckloads for construction. The 160 prefabricated wooden modules were assembled into a modern and timeless living complex and offer space for up to 85 people of different age groups. The purposeful orientation of the residential modules is reminiscent of the walls of a knight's bow and clearly separates indoor and outdoor areas. A spacious and green piazza in the center of the residential community serves as a social and quiet retreat for all residents. "Space Capsule" is thus an innovative and sustainable concept that helps to counteract the growing housing shortage in large cities. The residential modules are made of solid wood and clad with cork panels, which not only creates an attractive, very pure appearance, but also makes a clear statement for sustainable construction. This construction method using renewable raw materials and energy-efficient housing makes a small contribution to the climate goals of the European Union.
The "Lantern" design enables maximum comfortable living with minimum space requirements on unused supermarket roofs. Two modules, a cube and a two-sided sloping roof, are combined to form family, single and senior apartments. The raised roof section ends in a skylight. Bright rooms are created, which, complemented by a reduced, calm interior design, appear open and spacious. In sum, the apartments form a city-like structure with small alleys, parks and public squares.
In order to counteract the housing shortage in cities, the project investigated what efficient and attractive urban redensification could look like. This should be located on supermarket roofs and offer an attractive solution with the help of a wooden modular construction with low weight and fast construction time. Functions are located on the two compactly designed floors, which are connected by an air space. Two single residential units use a common outdoor area. The gallery situation allows an open feeling of space and the opposite windows, located on the sloping facade, visually open the space and emphasize the geometry of the wooden module. The kitchen as well as the rest of the interior is designed in light birch wood.
