A language for cloud nine: an investigation on volumetric modular rooftop extensions as sustainable multifamily housing
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Architecture and urban design (MPARC), MSc
Publicerad
2022
Författare
Mohammadi, Mahsa
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
As an outcome of growing populations, high demand for housing is increasing the cost of building for us and our planet, therefore, it is crucial to use the spaces and technologies available wisely in our cities. The construction industry in Sweden faces a great need for more housing, but the progress has not been on par with the need. Rooftop architecture is a solution which offers the opportunity of using the existing infrastructure to create more functional spaces in the city, including but not limited to residential buildings. In this thesis, the modular building method has been explored for this purpose.
Three research questions drive the thesis:
1. How can prefabricated volumetric CLT modules be designed efficiently for rooftop housing?
2. How can a catalogue of possible compositions of prefabricated volumetric CLT modules be designed and composed together to form multifamily rooftop housing that is adaptable to a variety of contexts?
3. Which buildings in the city would be suitable options for rooftop extensions?
Literature and case studies form the foundation of the design process, afterwards, design strategies are drawn from them to explore design solutions for the concept of volumetric building method with CLT for rooftop housing. Initially, a limited number of modules are introduced, and then they are expanded into multiple apartments and arranged into compositions. In the final step, these compositions have been implemented on two different sites in Gothenburg.
The findings consist of conclusions drawn from this design process for best practices. In summary, the main findings are as follows:
It has been determined that using several modules with different lengths will be more effective in terms of the limitations in the dimensions of the existing building as well as providing to a mix of target users for each case. Furthermore, because of the structural durability of CLT as the main building material, along with the flexibility of organizing the apartments built with modules in diverse compositions, spaces between them can be adjusted according to the requirements for the site.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
rooftop architecture, modular housing, prefabricated CLT volumetric modules , volumetric construction, timber structures