European Approach to Prefabricated Design

Transcription

European Approach to Prefabricated Design: Comparing Prefabrication Techniques
Everett E Henderson Jr
European Sustainable Design
2009-12-03
Why am I interested in prefabrication and modularity?
I believe a main key to sustainable thought, building and construction is
prefabricated and modular systems that can be re-purposed (in their design entirety) and
not sent to a landfill at the end of their first designed life. Components or the entire
system can be relocated and reused for its original design intent. Too many times we
begin the design process from scratch, when we already have components.
Outline and Overview
To spotlight European approach to prefabricated design, I chose three case studies
on which to focus. The case studies allow for specific design ideas to be examined and
researched. While some systems are not exclusively European in thought, I looked at the
ways in which European prefabricated design is applicable to the content of modularity is
relevant.
The buildings that I chose for the basis of my research are all located in proximity
to the same region in Germany. I selected them for their similarity of program, region,
choices of differing prefabricated systems and dedication to the wish for good
architectural design. The building systems, while having many similarities in material
choices, approach the design process from three different philosophies. All three
buildings use prefabricated systems, but none of the systems could be interchanged due to
differing modules. To rephrase the previous statement, there is no ‘open source’ system
that is shared between the three.
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The three residences are illustrated below in order of axonometric, elevation, photo
detail, section, plan and detail for comparison. These illustrations are placed in this order
to show the similarities and differences of each of the projects. The overview (below)
will elaborate on the design intent as well as the outcome.
Residence 1
The House in Rothenburg/ Wumme by architect Schulitz + Partner, Braunschweig
Figure1
Residence 2
The Residential and Office Building in Kassel by architect Alexander Reichel
Figure 2
Residence 3
R128- The House built for and designed by the engineer Werner Sobek
Figure 3
axonometric
elevation
photo detail
section
plan
detail
2
Focus:
I shall focus more on the structural and external envelope systems rather than the
mechanical, electrical or plumbing systems. While not dismissing these essential building
systems, the envelope is pivotal in creating and enclosing the space, linking the exterior
and interior, and informing the user of the function of the space. The structural systems
are integral to the designs as well. All of the prefabricated systems use structural systems
to which the buildings skins are attached and supported. The skin is either an infill
situation or attached to the column and beam system on the outside. The structural
systems are stand-alone with the skin systems being attached. This type of system allows
for reconfiguration.
Overview of the residences:
Residence 1 Overview
Figure 4
The House in Rothenburg/ Wumme, is a single story home with relatively
standard assembly components. The walls have corrugated aluminum panels that appear
to be totally site assembled and placed. The aluminum panels are supported by battens,
which cover the rain membrane. There is fiber insulation, mineral insulation and
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plasterboard. The large amount of glazing is double pane. The roof is elastomeric
sheeting over rolled insulation that provides the slope. The roof is relatively flat (as are
all of the roof conditions in each of the three residences). The plan of this residence is
less flexible than the other two due to the permanent wall systems that have been
installed. Because the building is single story, it was easily tucked under the tree canopy.
Figure 5
The plan is more organic and less rigid than the other two configurations. While it
may suit the site better, it appears to be a less efficient design. There is much more
exterior wall and roof surface due to the meandering plan. The plan would also have
issues of reprogramming the spaces due to the rigid program. It is obvious how the spaces
were programmed. Much of this buildings skin has been fastened together in ways that
would make it difficult to repurpose or recycle at the end of the buildings life. The spaces
appear to be more ‘chopped up’ due to the configuration.1
4
Figure 6
Figure 7
The house in Kassel has an additional component of offices as well as the
residential program. There are several of these office / residence structures on the site.
The buildings were part of a design competition. The design was chosen for its flexibility
as well as the ability to be reconfigured. The Kassel housing was designed to incorporate
flexibility so that the spaces could be reprogrammed as needed. The system utilizes a
system of strict modularity, yet allows for site-specific orientation. The interior spaces
can be configured in a number of ways, allowing to be oriented to allow for natural light
to enter as devices to control the natural light. The project was completed in 1999. The
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system allows for multiple configurations and is expandable and reprogramable with less
effort to reconfigure than regular construction.2
Figure 8
The concrete skeleton of the project is its strength as well as its weakness. The
concrete column and beam system is exposed on the exterior as well as the interior.
While this is visually pleasing and simple to construct, and insert panels into, it does
nothing to help insulate, thus creating a thermal bridge. The cold air from the exterior is
transmitted directly through the concrete system and directly into the living spaces. The
components used in the structural system were stainless steel and glass fiber to prevent
corrosion and create a long lasting frame. The strength is that the panel systems are
regulated and fit tight to the glass fiber reinforced cast in place concrete system.3
Figure 9
This structural system allows for the six buildings to be configured for roof
gardens, double height interior spaces and below grade parking. The poured in place
concrete system would not easily be re-purposed elsewhere or recycled. It would be
easier to re-purpose it in place.4
6
The house in Stuggart is 2706 SF. It is similar in size to the other two projects and
has a strong presence on the hillside. Its immediate geometrical appearance is a glass
cube. The main differences between this project and the two previous are that it was
designed by an engineer, has integrated technology at the forefront of the design and has
sustainability in mind at all times.5
Figure 10
Sustainability was designed into every component of the system. Materials were
not permanently joined together in order for the materials to be removed and recycled at
the end of the life of the building. The exterior skin of the building is exclusively glass in
order to help recycling of the material as well as have no volatile organic compounds
introduced to the inhabitants. The steel frame system is integral to the glazing system in
its modularity. All of the components are modular and replaceable.
Repairing and replacing parts and pieces of this system would be simple in that all
the pieces are bolted together and connected in ways which allow for deconstruction. The
argument that could be made against the design of the building itself in that there is ‘too
much glass’ and that the R-value is less than an insulated wall system. The glazing has no
volatile organic compounds, lets in natural light, is fully recyclable and helps keep
cooling and heating loads even. The energy consumption to cool and heat the structure
was not reviewed in this comparison.
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Figure 11
The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are flexible as well as accessible
in order to make repairs without destroying walls and floor systems in the process of
repair. Reworking of the systems for new technologies was anticipated as best as
possible. Modular design and prefabrication were at the forethought of the designer.
Minimal materials were used and the construction was as lightweight as possible for
multiple reasons, but mainly because the materials were brought in piece by piece to the
site due to the remote hill condition.7
Werner Sobeks describes in his own words:
(The) (F)our-storey (sic) building, which is completely recyclable, produces no emissions
and is self-sufficient in terms of heating energy requirement. The completely glazed
building has high quality triple glazing panels featuring a k-value of 0.4. Its design is
modular. Because of its assembly by means of mortice-and-tenon joints and bolted joints,
it cannot only be assembled and dismantled easily but is also completely recyclable. The
electrical energy required for the energy concept and control engineering is produced by
solar cells.7a
Prefabrication was used for the close tolerances that were possible. The close
tolerances allowed for standardized components as well as tight fits that allow for no
unintended air infiltration. All of the pipes and wire are in accessible chases. The
columns have been pre-fabricated and pre-threaded in order to accept the bolts. This
creates a clean connection visually while removing the need for welding on site.8
8
Figure 12
Conclusion:
While all three of these projects clearly accomplish the task of exibiting good
design, when examined from the point of view of prefabricated design, some systems
were more flexible for reprogramming, recycling and end of life reused or recycling. It
may seem like a simple thought, but it was no accident that residence three accomplished
these tasks the best. While it may have taken more design time to coordinate all of the
systems, It was ultimately the most successful. Residence three clearly has a holistic and
synergetic approach to design. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing are clearly as
important to the design as the structural and architectural systems.
After reviewing each of these projects there is a wide range of reasons for
prefabrication in addition to design intent. The reasons range from ease of construction,
synergies form the entire building system and repeating the components in mass. The
most successful of the buildings is the Stuggart residence where the entire project was
planned with careful thought to each and every bolt and how the bolt was incorporated
into the design. The issue of budget was not considered in this review. The architects and
engineers fees were not considered as well.
Overall the simplest system with the most integrated design appears to be the best
system for construction and deconstruction. Materials are not permanently ‘fixed’
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together, so they can be pulled apart and repaired or recycled. The system is tight, so
fresh air will need to be mechanically brought into the building. The system itself, or
variations of it, could be used for other applications in different locations in the world if
different panel systems were prefered.
Figure 13
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Endnotes:
1
Staib, Gary - Dorrhofer, Andreas and Rosenthal, Markus. Components and Systems:
Modular Construction Design – StructureNew Technologies. Edition Detail. Birkhauser.
2008. This book highlights the current systems being used today as well as the history of
prefabrication. (p. 76-77) This residence had the least information available of the 3
projects.
2
prefabrication. (p. 106-109)
3
http://www.cse.polyu.edu.hk/~cecspoon/lwbt/Case_Studies/Kassel. Retrieved from the
Internet 2009-11-14.
4
http://www.springerlink.com/content/k874079598817q1h/ Retrieved from the internet
2009-11-14.
5
http://129.187.114.214/e_ch/Werner%20Sobek%20r128%20r129.pdf This PDF
document gives an outline of Werner Sobek’s R128 House. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
7
http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/R128_House,_Stuttgart,_Germany This website locates
the project and shows how vegetated the hillside actually is.
7a
http://129.187.114.214/e_ch/Werner%20Sobek%20r128%20r129.pdf This PDF
document gives an outline of Werner Sobek’s R128 House. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
8
Sobek,Werner. R128: Architecture in the 21st Century. Birkhauser- Publishers for
Architecture. Basel Boston Berlin. 2002. (Translated into English). This book showcases
Werner Sobek’s own house. It sheds light onto why and how the building was
constructed of prefabricated components.
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Additional Bibliography for the houses in Wumme:
http://www.detail.de/rw_5_Archive_En_HoleArtikel_2011_Art. Retrieved from
the internet 2009-11-14.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/k874079598817q1h/ Retrieved from the
internet 2009-11-14.
http://resources.metapress.com/pdfpreview.axd?code=k874079598817q1h&size=largest Retrieved from the internet
2009-11-14.
Additional Bibliography for R128:
http://www.wernersobek.de/index.php?page=251&modaction=detail&modid=30
This is Werner Sobeks own site and is full of first hand information.
Additional Reference:
Duran, Sergi Costa. NEW PREFAB Architecture. 2008. Equipo Loft Pullications.
This book highlights current thinking as to prefabrication and construction.
Trulove, James Grayson & Cha, Ray. PreFabNow. Collins Design and James
Grayson Trulove. 2007. Korea.
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Figures:
Figure 1
Modular Construction Design – Structure New Technologies. Edition Detail. Birkhauser.
projects. This image is a compellation of images scanned from the book.
Figure 2
prefabrication. (p. 106-109). This image is a compellation of images scanned from the
book.
Figure 3
constructed of prefabricated components. This image is a compellation of images scanned
from the book.
Figures 4, 5 & 6
projects. This image is scanned from the book.
Figures 7, 8 & 9
prefabrication. (p. 106-109). This image is scanned from the book.
Figures 10, 11,12 & 13
constructed of prefabricated components. This image is a compellation of images scanned
from the book.
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European Approach to Prefabricated Design

Transcription

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