Architects' Activism: How can we build a better 2021

With urban areas perhaps feeling the effects of lockdown most intensely, our built environment may seem an unlikely source of optimism in 2021. However, buildings have an unrivalled capacity to reflect our values as a society, so their design, planning, and construction can all represent positive action in our communities.

As we work together to overcome the impacts of Covid-19, we as architects should act to ensure the right values are being reflected. We should take steps to address insufficient housing stock for our most vulnerable, reduce construction’s environmental impact, and build to support Covid-stricken communities. Innovation, from cutting-edge construction methods to emerging technologies, can help us to create a better future.

Make Space for Modular

Urgent efforts to rethink our use of space will continue to yield benefits after the coronavirus pandemic has passed. Even prior to Covid-19, the UK was struggling badly to meet demand for affordable housing, with the gap between supply and demand estimated to be as large as 1 million homes. Now, with social distancing requirements exacerbating the crisis, potential solutions to accelerate the provision of affordable housing have begun to attract attention.

Modular construction, for instance, could support a rollout of affordable accommodation at pace, by allowing different stages of construction to take place simultaneously rather than sequentially, as with traditional building processes. And with prefabricated housing units constructed in a factory setting while groundwork is carried out onsite, modular can reduce programme length by 50% and building time by more than 75%.

Moreover, modular units offer flexibility of arrangement and façade treatment, quickly enabling schemes to deliver high-quality homes that are more than cookie-cutter copies of one another. astudio’s Sugden Way project in Barking, for instance, provides socially rented apartments that blend seamlessly into the surrounding brick properties – and are delivered in a much-reduced time period compared to a traditional build

Utilised at a greater scale, modular building can help to provide vulnerable communities with robust, future-proof access to vital housing supply. What’s more, since this innovative construction method integrates eco-friendly materials and optimises energy efficiency, residents can enjoy the peace of mind which comes with a healthy home environment, as well as the security of having a roof over their heads. After all, everyone has a right to high-calibre housing, regardless of the situation they find themselves in.

Read the whole article at: Architects’ activism: How we can build a better 2021 | netMAGmedia Ltd (architectsdatafile.co.uk)

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