The more buildings that can be described by technical standards, state-based standards and rule sets ripe for some form of algorithmic design, the more we will be able to design more efficiently, more quickly and to a higher quality.
For example, floor-to-floor heights are relatively standard across a variety of different buildings: schools, hospital wards, apartment buildings and certain office types.This is because the heights result from the size of people, rather than being necessitated by the requirements of a particular sector.
We allow for the height of a person, plus headroom, plus a zone for structures, M&E systems and architectural finishes.Recognising this reality, platform construction (P-DfMA) was Bryden Wood’s attempt to identify these types of cross-sector commonalities and develop a kit of parts which could then be used to build a variety of different sector types, but using the same components.This allows the application of manufacturing techniques and processes, with consistent quality achieved, as well as facilitating greater economies of scale..
The manufacturing industry has long enjoyed the benefits of this design to value approach.At BMW and Volkswagen a common car chassis is used across all models.
It’s the finer details that change from car to car - the wheels, trim, engine, bodywork… Similarly, Ikea use a limited kit of components to create their various pieces of furniture.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re making a bed, wardrobe or bookcase, most of the connecting pieces are the same.Tools and processes such as automation in construction, Platform Design for Manufacture and Assembly (P-DfMA), and computational design approaches can help us create a brighter future, both for the built environment and the construction industry as a whole.
Our PRiSM housing design app is just one such tool.PRiSM brings speed and insight to the housing design process by harnessing the benefits of standardisation and automation, whilst promoting creativity and flexibility.. Our primary goal when we developed PRiSM was to help democratise the knowledge around Precision Manufactured Housing (PMH), a term which refers to homes designed and built using MMC principles.
PMH homes can be built up to twice as fast and to a higher standard than those built with traditional construction methods.When we talk about using MMC techniques (platform construction, panelised, volumetric etc.