Introduction
Meta-Modular proposes housing for Dubai that changes with the families who live in it: courtyard homes with wind towers, built from 3D-printed parts and dry assembly so rooms can be added or taken away.
It combines two construction techniques, pairing concrete 3D printing with modular construction to reduce work on site.
Prefabricated, 3D-printed components are designed to let whole neighborhoods be built from homes shaped to the ways different families live. Each house can have its own design, avoiding the repetition of traditional precast modular construction.
At each scale of this modular system, families would be able to customize the design.
Courtyard, Wind Tower, Areesh
The design draws on three lessons from traditional Emirati homes. The first comes from the Areesh house, built from palm-frond panels that could be taken down and put up again; the design aims for the same flexibility through 3D printing and dry assembly.
The second is the way many homes balance privacy with welcoming guests. The third is the wind tower: the house is designed to draw air through one, which also forms an open entrance and houses the staircase to the upper level. The wind tower works with a courtyard that keeps the house private and is meant to help it ventilate.
Materials And Waste
Meta-Modular is also designed to be built with recycled materials. The 3D-printed modular system uses dry assembly, which is intended to reduce construction waste. This approach aims to lower the house’s carbon footprint over its lifespan. The proposal includes a comparison of building materials by environmental impact and appearance.
Tailored To Fit
The kit of parts responds to what changes in a family’s life: new family members, changes in income and new ways of living.
It is meant to spare families major renovations or moves: the structure stays while the parts change.
Three Scales Of Modularity
The Meta-Modular system works at three scales in every house. It consists of blocks (rooms) of varying sizes and styles. The blocks are composed of units (walls) with different finishes and patterns. These units, in turn, are made up of modules that can be highly customized.