15th International Conference on Experimental Mechanics
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INDUSTRIAL DESIGN OF SPACE. LIGHT AND SUSTAINABLE
PREFABRICATED MODULAR HOUSING STRUCTURES.
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Pedro Joel Costa1(*), Gonçalo Miguel Furtado Cardoso Lopes2, José Manuel Marques Amorim de Araújo
Faria3
1 Master in Industrial Design, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
2 Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
3 Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
(*)Email: pedrojoelcosta@gmail.com
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ABSTRACT
This work presents the project being developed at the second year of the Master in Industrial
Design, Faculty of Engineering. It aims to develop a modular lightweight mobile dwelling,
based on pre-fabrication, with sustainability concerns. Based on three research areas that
structure the whole project development process – design, modular prefabrication and
sustainable construction – this study focuses on the architecture of dwelling as an industrial
product, from formal concept to space design.
INTRODUCTION
The presented project has the primary goal of studying the relation between architecture and
industrial design, through the development of a pre-fabricated modular system. This system,
intended for housing units, promotes multiple spatial and constructive options, as well as
customized solutions. The pre-fabricated element consists in a unique three-dimensional
element, previously defined in project, constructed in an industrial environment. One
objective is to mirror the design definition of artifacts, the design of new products from
emerging technologies, in which attention to detail is a key factor to a vision that allies future
needs to new concepts of usability and value. These values are reflected in the use of
lightweight, compact and sustainable materials. Seeking self-sufficiency, optimized design
solutions are developed in order to assure thermal, acoustic, energy and environmental
sustainability. This project is intended to address the issue of pre-fabrication, not as an end in
itself but as an effective instrument to respond to contemporary design problems. In this study
pre-fabrication does not necessarily mean an universal solution, but the customisation of
elements, with a high level of differentiation. The proposed housing unit is approached as an
integrated union of the pre-fabricated elements, formally identical, but functionally detailed –
kitchen, service, rooms. The articulation of the architectural and constructive module is one of
the strengths of this concept. The relationship and integration of modules allows, in a short
time, to build a custom home.
This research is divided in 4 different parts, the first two being dedicated to achieve
knowledge and theoretical support for the last two parts, that concern the practical side of this
work. The first part deals with the history of prefabrication and industrial fundamental
principles, the theoretical investigation of structural and building systems and new
technologies development. The second part refers to selected case studies, from the modernist
ICEM15
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Porto/Portugal, 22-27 July 2012
period to contemporary and pre-fabricated Portuguese references of companies and products.
The third part refers to the beginning of the practical project, and is defined by the structuring
and the development of the architectural concept. The last part deals with the project
construction details, implementation and testing prototypes phases.
One of the most important characteristics of this project consists in its development with a
real client, studying the process of implementing it on a real context. This, allied with a
relation with the industry itself, through the collaboration of a portuguese company, reveals an
opportunity to study the relevance of this kind of solution at a contemporary time, and not just
as a possible theoretical one. It can also be an important test regarding a possible
implementation of this proposal in the market, both on a domestic as on an international level.
For a set of project drawings, explaining the formal general concept relating its
implementation on site, as well as some construction details currently under study, in order to
be tested by the supporting company, please see figure 1, below.
Fig.1 Concept drawings: general form and construction details
REFERENCES
Andrea Deplazes, ed. Constructing architecture. Materials, processes, structures. A
handbook. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2005. ISBN-13: 978-3-7643-7189-0
Elizabeth Smith; Peter Goessel. Case study houses. Köln: Taschen, 2002. ISBN: 3822864129
Andreas Dorrhofer; Gerald Staib; Markus Rosenthal. Components and systems. Modular
construction, design structures and new technologies. 1a ed. Munich: DETAIL – Review of
Architecture and Birkhäuser Verlag AG, 2008. ISBN: 978-3-7643-8656-6
Tectónica 22: Alumínio (Monografia de arquitectura, tecnología e construcción). Madrid:
ATC Ediciones, S.L., 2006. ISSN 1136-0062
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