Revisiting Modular Design in a Contemporary Sociotechnical Context
- Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
Published in The Fourth NZAAR International Event Series on Natural and Built Environment, Cities, Sustainability and Advanced Engineering, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 27 January 2018, pages 49 to 56. New Zealand Academy of Applied Research. ISSN 2463-5979 (online), 2463-5960 (print). Indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection, Conference Proceedings Citation Index (Clarivate).
Abstract
The current housing market reflects a need for diversity and human centered design strategies. Similar housing conditions during the Post-war period during the mid 20th century experimented with modular design as an affordable and easy to manufacture housing typology. However, shifting attitudes during Postmodernism dismissed modularity as an inhuman design strategy. Recent social attitudes and growing technologies, however, have created a unique opportunity to further explore the true potential of modular design as a flexible, usercentered design method. Through analysis of previous modular methods, a contemporary modular design strategy was formulated. New production methods, computational design technologies, and distinctive designer-user relationship has allowed modular design to fully engage its diversity, adaptability, and customizability. The contemporary modular method looks at building from the inside out, analyzing the user lifestyle to inform the final output. Contemporary design culture is the perfect set of socio technological conditions to explore modularity as not only a production method, but a complete design strategy.
Keywords: modular architecture; modularity; Modernism; contemporary housing; user-centered design
Rights
Copyright © New Zealand Academy of Applied Research Ltd 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduced in the GDI Academy archive from the original proceedings without change to the authors’ text.