Garry Vermaas, PhD, PE’s Post

How Modular Construction Can Provide Architectural Aid: From Rapid-Response to Transitional and Affordable Housing https://lnkd.in/eU4jBSZC

"...Modular Construction: A Housing Crisis Solution '...#Modularconstruction takes the speed, cost, and quality control benefits of a mass production model and applies them on a large scale to the #construction sector. Unable to build entire structures in their entirety in a factory setting, buildings are produced in ‘modules’ under controlled conditions before being joined together and finished on site. Using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventional building techniques, the factory-controlled process is greener with less material waste and simpler reuse, faster with a reduced construction schedule and fewer delays, safer with reduced risk, and more cost-effective. The speed, cost, and sustainability benefits of the process make modular construction, if scaled up appropriately, a realistic solution to the housing crises in many countries..." (archdaily.com, James Wormald) . . . KTGY #prefabrication #offsiteconstruction #architecture #structuralengineering #buildingmaterials #affordablehousing #homelessness

The Jerusalem Planning Committee recommends approving major construction in Talpiot, including housing, public buildings, commercial areas, and employment zones. For daily news and analysis subscribe to the https://lnkd.in/gkPc4uBJ newsletter. #Construction #Engineering #Infrastructure

🚀 Exciting times ahead! Follow my professional journey on LinkedIn as I dive into new projects, share industry insights, and connect with amazing professionals. Let’s grow and inspire each other together! 🌟 #CareerJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #StayConnected

Modular is a great housing solution but it will not scale until the tech can bring the costs down to at least equal to site built. Generally modular is more expensive than site built. Building in a factory warehouse just like we site build today adds the cost of the factory plus transport, set, stitch and connect to utilities costs to the build. About 90% of the time modular will be more expensive than site built. Using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventional building techniques, the factory-controlled process is greener with less material waste and simpler reuse, faster with a reduced construction schedule and fewer delays, safer with reduced risk, and more cost-effective. The speed, cost, and sustainability benefits of the process make modular construction, if scaled up appropriately, a realistic solution to the housing crises in many countries. https://lnkd.in/gH-W6fy6

Architects and planners play a key role in creating social value. Our privileged position allows us to be involved in the design, construction, and post-occupancy evaluation - each crucial for fostering long-term sustainability in places. As part of my PhD research, I had the chance to speak with Abigail Batchelor and Hajir Kheder from Karakusevic Carson Architects . I learned about the exceptional work they are doing to create #socialvalue through housing design, with notable examples of collaborative projects with local authorities and housing associations that place resident engagement and co-design at the forefront.  The following case study reviews one of their projects: the Urban Design Framework for the regeneration of the Broadwater Farm Estate. This comprehensive document outlines a project focused on creating social value through a combination of retrofitting, strategic redevelopment and infill. It shows how housing regeneration can be planned to preserve and enhance existing community assets, mitigate disruption, and incorporate long-term planning for sustainable growth. Many thanks to Abigail, Hajir, and Paul Karakusevic for your time and interest in the work we are doing in the RE-DWELL — MSCA-ITN.

In a significant win for us, and cohousing in general, our project in Eltham (Melbourne) has successfully been appealed at VCAT, with no changes required and a very fast turnaround of 2 weeks. We’re still looking for ~5 families to join the project, so spread the word as the project has now been significantly de-risked now that we have this decision in our favour. With construction to begin in early 2025. https://lnkd.in/g2R9JSWZ From the reasons given by VCAT: 1. This case provides an exemplar of an innovative approach to dealing with the challenge of providing more diverse housing opportunities to meet the needs of all Victorians. 2. In 2021 a group of people formed a housing co-operative and decided the best way to tackle housing supply and affordability was to purchase a site and develop a series of dwellings around a plethora of communal facilities. In short, this group of people decided to take action to solve their own housing affordability issues. 3. This was by no means a half-baked idea. Instead, the group engaged highly respected professionals in a range of fields, including architecture, to design a series of dwellings that responded to the site’s constraints in an informed and clever manner. In a system where a development only needs to meet an appropriate or reasonable standard in order to gain a planning permit, it is our view that this proposal goes well beyond such measures. We have found that the proposal is an excellent response to its context both in terms of policy and its physical context 4. The proposed addresses the call for diversity in housing supply that is one of the key planks of the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. In our view, this is a project that could and should have been supported and fast tracked because of the qualities we have outlined above. That instead this project was met with substantial delays and opposition, is part of a wider trend we are observing, that will fail to produce appropriate housing projects that canstart to address the existing shortfall of housing supply presently being experienced across Metropolitan Melbourne.

So we are going to get 1.5 million new homes. 🏠 Apparently.. Optimistic housing targets but is it a stretch too far? 🎯 There is lots of talk about ripping off the planning red tape but there are more factors involved. Lack of skilled construction workers being one. But also with 100's of people with 1000's of years of experience leaving the Building Control industry, how are the new homes being built going to be regulated and signed off? There are a number of other factors involved too but fingers crossed solutions are found to meet the demand for new housing. #Buildingcontrol #Construction #Housing https://lnkd.in/dDJ_zSaU

Investing in a collection of publicly available, pre-approved building plans is a great way for local governments to (1) support smaller, local developers by reducing regulatory burdens and shortening development timelines and (2) build support among concerned neighbors by increasing predictability and encouraging higher quality design.

Really interesting article about architects getting involved in housing the homeless space.