Work submitted to the Halina Skibniewskaya student competition - HEALTHY HOUSE
Today, housing is one of the most expensive consumer goods. When a young person invests in his or her first apartment, he or she must weigh the budget, which limits the size of the living space. In addition, as the needs of residents change over time, the number of people in the family often increases. To meet these expectations, the idea of modular homes that grow with the need was created.
Starting with a small area, we can gradually expand it, both by adding another module in the first floor and by creating new floors. This way we don't have to wonder if the apartment will be too small for us in a few years, because there is always the option to expand it without moving out.
The house can be expanded by adding more modules, both on the first floor and vertically
© Sylwia Turkot
The basic modules of the prefabricated space are: the window module - complementary, the sloping ceiling module, the equilateral wall module and the wall module with different lengths of sides - structural modules. Modules constructed in this way complement each other and allow you to create unique combinations. Designing a space on their basis is somewhat like a game, in which the appropriate arrangement of "blocks" creates a functional apartment.
Modules are divided into structural and complementary
© Sylwia Turkot
Construction costs are also lower due to the fact that most of the construction work is leveled. The average prefabricated house is 30% cheaper than a brick house. Thanks to the elimination and reduction of many risks that occur with traditional technology and the use of modern technology, the construction of prefabricated buildings is more predictable in terms of timing and cost. The time for the formation of housing units has been reduced to a minimum and is not dependent on weather conditions. In order to speed up the process of module formation, the most economically advantageous solution - standardization, i.e. the largest possible number of repetitive elements - has been used. In principle, once the functional layout has been agreed upon, you can move on to the first stage of construction - the creation of the foundation.
The house grows with the needs of the users
© Sylwia Turkot
On the prepared foundation, prefabricated structural wall modules are assembled according to the agreed layout. The construction of the walls is reinforced concrete, with a division into a load-bearing, reinforced layer and an outer, sheathing layer, as well as thermal insulation and an air layer between them. The modules are manufactured in halls with the latest technology and under controlled conditions. In places where the walls are not in contact, window modules appear to complement and enclose the entire structure, while letting in natural light.
house plan, basic option
© Sylwia Turkot
Already at the stage of module production, appropriate pipes, wires, conduits and other accessories are placed in the formwork to facilitate and shorten the introduction of electrical and sanitary installations. The entire construction work can be shortened to as little as a few months, which is very impressive compared to several years for the construction of a brick house.
Photovoltaic panels can be installed on sloping roofs
© Sylwia Turkot
The entire structure is covered by ceilings. Both flat and sloping ones are made of prefabricated hollow core slabs. They are supported by fixed and mounting supports. Reinforcement is laid at the joints of the slabs to protect them from keyboarding. The roof is additionally covered with protective layers and a sloping layer draining rainwater into gutters hidden in the facade. The sloped ceiling allows additional natural light and the installation of photovoltaic panels.
cross-section of the house
© Sylwia Turkot
New technologies are also emerging in the prefabricated space, i.e. photovoltaic panels located on the sloping roof modules, which are used to produce green energy. This energy powers, among other things, a heat pump that heats water and the building, working in conjunction with underfloor heating. Another device that buildings are equipped with is a recuperator. Such an installation supplies the house with fresh air, which is filtered, without having to open the windows, while reducing energy losses. Thanks to the cooperation of recuperation with a photovoltaic installation and a heat pump, a compatible heating system with high efficiency is created.
The house grows with the users
© Sylwia Turkot
Faster heating and slower energy loss is one of the features of prefabricated space. In a prefabricated building, the chances of thermal bridges are minimal. Modular walls are better insulated than in the case of a masonry building with thermal insulation, and the joints between modules are additionally protected with mineral wool, and the joints themselves with expansion cord and flexible sealant.
Another important element is the fact that the construction does not generate waste, since most of the elements are made before installation, then later work does not require any adjustment or cutting of materials on the site.
The interiors are kept in natural colors
© Sylwia Turkot
The interiors use natural colors, textures and materials that are associated with nature, warming the interior while providing a backdrop for what will be going on inside. Concrete flooring in the form of poured concrete dominates. The material is very durable and easy to keep clean. In combination with underfloor heating, it is not at all cold or unpleasant as some might think. Its neutral shade goes well with the rest of the interior elements. On the walls appears a textured paint, in the shade of broken white. The whole is complemented by furniture in shades of white, beige and wood, as well as dark raw accessories in the form of, for example, lamps.
Sylwia Turkot
Illustrations: © Author
