The automation of processes seems to be quite the norm across varied industries nowadays, the real estate sector included. For owners of real estate properties, making use of property management software offers a promising advantage. Whether what you have is a commercial or residential property, the advantages are similar, nonetheless.
Small Lightweight Aluminum Modular Prefab House / Mountain Shelter
| Schemes/Drawings/Floor plans |
| About Lusio Architects |
| About Vitosha Nature Park |
Design: Lusio Architects
Area: 13,8 m2
Year: 2017
Location: Vitosha Nature Park, Bulgaria
Mountain shelters serve as protection for climbers during severe weather conditions. However, a Bulgarian project team found that many shelters were destroyed, putting climbers at risk. As a winning proposal in the "Architecture of 2050" competition, this innovative small lightweight aluminum modular prefab house addresses this critical problem through a combination of sustainability, materiality and technology.
"If the shelter is to withstand the weather, it must protect itself first."
Designed by Lusio Architects, this small lightweight aluminum modular prefab house consists of four separate aluminum modules. The modules can be delivered by helicopter and then assembled on site. When set up, the shelter appears "hidden" on the mountainside to "not attract unwanted visitors". In case of bad weather, the shelter becomes a beacon, "with lights and sound that make it extremely easy to find, even in the thickest fog."
There are several elements integrated into the small lightweight aluminum house to assist in the safety and rescue of climbers. A direct video connection to the mountain rescue team is automatically activated when someone enters the shelter, and a floor heating system is powered by the solar and wind energy captured and stored by this small modular house. A system of hammocks is also included on the walls of the shelter to provide multiple resting spaces while saving space.
Based on weather conditions, the lightweight prefab aluminum house changes modes to ensure the safety of the people inside. The modes include "FIND ME Mode", "RESCUE ME Mode" and in periods of better weather, "RELAX Mode".
Description by architects
Three factors from the deep-dive research formed the shelter’s design:
it has to be smart and hidden when not needed, as many of the shelters in Bulgaria are destroyed by vandalism
it has to shelter people in extreme weather conditions as temperatures in Vitosha can drop up to 20 degrees in one hour, which makes the mountain dangerous and often times underestimated
situated in Vitosha National Park, it has to be light and sustainable, with a minimal footprint
Design solutions
The modular lightweight aluminum house has to be smart in order to protect the mountaineers, but also itself from unwanted visitors.
Via aluminum coating it reflects its ambiance and remains hidden in good weather. In case of bad weather conditions, the shelter transforms into a beacon, with lights and sound that make it extremely easy to find even in the thickest of fogs. In this mode of operation, a person walking inside would automatically activate the floor heating and video connection with the mountain rescue service. The low-positioned windows would invite him to sit on the warm floor and in case that the group is large, there are integrated hammocks into the walls which are easily pulled out. Also, water and shoe-drying containers are placed at the entrance.
The lightweight aluminum modular house is sustainable and produces energy through solar panels and a wind turbine and stores it into a high-capacity battery; its use is prioritised only for emergency cases and critical life support. Sensors for weather conditions and occupancy govern the shelter’s different modes. If threatening human behaviour is detected, a signal is immediately sent to the local mountain service and a video connection is established.
Its body is extremely lightweight and is inspired by the aeroplane industry. In order to have a minimal footprint, its modules can be transported via helicopter and assembled on-site.
2500 ft² Prefab Modular House, Mexico
| Drawings/Floor plans/Sections |
| About VTALLER |
| About Tropico de Arquitectura |
Architects: VTALLER, Tropico de Arquitectura, TALLER DOS
Construction: TALLER DOS
Year: 2015
Location: Zapopan, Mexico
Representation: SEE 3D
Area: 230 m² (2500 ft²)
The proposal of the 2500 ft² prefab modular house arises from the search for a theme of using the interior space and the optimization of the use of materials to find a practical and efficient decision for construction and living space design. The client is an architect and builder, focused on the economic factor, fast construction process and maintaining a contemporary and elegant design.
The prefab modular house responds to a modular structural solution, leaving the apparent materials to act on their own. Steel as a structural element makes it possible to create openings that can be resolved with light walls and wooden panels, which are integrated between them to create the building's personality.
The space is open with the solution of offering sufficient natural light and cross ventilation on its two facades, the project is solved with a patio that generates activity on the ground floor, and acts as the heart of the prefab modular house. A double height ceiling generates breadth and connection from the entrance and there is a terrace that connects the interior with the exterior through a pergola.
The façade is resolved with a shutter that has the right angle so that the eastern sun does not enter directly into the interior, but as a soft and indirect light, creating an intimate and private atmosphere in the main room. In the wooden front there are modular doors that act as blinds for the same treatment of views, sun protection and privacy.
The prefab modular house achieves a formal abstraction by searching for the shape by itself, so that the decisions made are specific and functional, resulting in an order of natural elegance.
Modular Residential Tower, India
Residents can choose modules to attach to their apartments in modular residential tower, India
| Schemes |
| About Pooja Crafted Homes |
Design: Penda Architects
Construction: Pooja Crafted Homes
Design: Team Chris Precht, Dayong Sun, Xue Bai, He Quan, Pengchong Li, Frank Li, Snow Sun
Area: 36,000 m²
Project year: 2015
The penda office released images of its first project in India. Based on a modular building system, Pooja Crafted Homes will allow residents of Vijayawada to organize their own apartments by choosing the modules from a catalog that will then be attached to the modular building's structure.
"In a time of mass production and a certain conformity in the construction industry, we try to use modern construction techniques to rescue a level of individuality for the residents of a tower. A type of individuality that you would have when building your own home," commented penda architects.
The tower, which is scheduled for construction in 2016, will be divided into eight distinct elements: structure, walls, facade, ceiling, floor, infrastructure, balconies and vegetation. As well as a modular shelving system, the modular tower's structural grid and infrastructure will be the only consistent elements in the building. Each unit will be customized by its residents to allow for future modifications.
"The modules differ in that they have different types of flooring, facade elements and internal organization. When choosing these elements, we offer owners a tool to become the designers of their own apartments", added the architects.
The different facades and open corridors of the building allow a constant air flow between the apartments, ensuring natural ventilation for the residents. A gray water and rainwater systems will be implemented to collect and reuse water for irrigation of vegetation.
Description by Pooja Crafted Homes
For those who dream with a passion for the extraordinary, Tree Storey is the search stopper. This project is an example of sound construction, high amenity value and a quality lifestyle. Spread over 6285 Square yards. The project offers you all the comforts and conveniences of modern urban living infused with nature-made tranquility.
Key Attributes
- 95 Residential Apartments
- Variable Unit Sizes of 2100 – 2650 Square Feet to meet every lifestyle requirement
- Gated Community with perimeter Solar fencing, regulated ingress and egress
- Larger Club House with plethora of features like Swimming Pool, party areas, Gym, Games Room etc.
2 Bedrooms Modular Prefab SIP Panels House
| Drawings |
| About abarca + palma |
Project: Modular House 01
Architects: abarca + palma
Area: 120 m²
Internal area: 77 m²
Bedrooms: 2
Year: 2016
Location: Pupuya, Chile
Photos: Andres Maturana
Manufacturers: Maderas Bucalemu, Sudpanel, Yousef
Construction: Francisco Abarca, Camilo Palma, Sebastián Ochoa
Collaborating Architect: Nicolás Acosta
Land Area: 5800 m²
Built Area: 120m²
Construction Term: 4 months
Value: 20 UF x m²
This 2 bedrooms modular prefab SIP panels house is located in the hills of the "Los Maquicillos" region, between Plaza de Matanzas and Vega de Pupuya. Its implantation on the hill provides a wide view to the sea and a very close view of hills, big trees and the powerful rural landscape of the “La vega de Pupuya” ravine.
The prefab modular house has 77 m² of internal space, which includes two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen integrated into the living and dining room that leads directly to a covered balcony and a corridor that projects over the land on its sloping part. All environments have a view that can cover the entire region of the ravine and the distant sea.
This first Modular House 01 is a part of a system of prefabricated modules and a serial structure and is adaptable to the terrain. The wooden structure is built in situ by joiners before the arrival of the prefabricated panels that are mounted on it.
It is a mixed system, where the carpentry tradition and the industry are directly connected. The structure made of pine wood is composed by the method of pilotis, beam, composite pillar and serial trusses that build a roof that protects the entire modular prefab house. The prefabricated panels are of the SIP type with variable thickness depending on the country's climatic zone.
In climatic terms, the modular prefab house is characterized by a large roof that protects the entire built area with eaves over one meter in length, which ensure protection from rain and sun, giving greater durability to the coverings of the residence and reducing considerably maintenance. The cover is separated from the modules to reduce the incidence of heat on them, in addition to promoting air circulation. Finally, the width of the residence and the sequence of windows allow for cross ventilation in all rooms.
For this 2 bedrooms modular prefab SIP panels house, five modules were used: Double Bedroom Module, Simple Bedroom Module, Bathroom and Kitchen Module, Living Module and Balcony Module, in addition to a corridor across the front of the house.
Skuta Alpine Shelter - Prefab Modular Mountain House
| Drawing |
| Video |
| About OFIS Architects |
Architects: AKT II, Harvard GSD Students, OFIS Architects
Year: 2015
Photographs: Anze Cokl, Andrej Gregoric, Janez Martincic
Location: Zgornje Jezersko, Slovenia
Manufacturers: Guardian Glass, Rieder Group
Structural Engineering: AKT II, London, United Kingdom; Hanif Kara; Edward Wilkes
Structural Engineer Local: Projecta, Milan Sorc
Engineering And Consulting: Freeapproved, Anze Cokl
Realization and Local Coordination: PD Ljubljana Matica, Slovenia; Matevz Jerman; Davor Rozman
Façade: Rieder Smart Elements, Austria; Wolfgang Rieder; Matthias Kleibel
Glass: Guardian, USA; Domen Komac
Bivouac Maintenance Representatives: Matevz Jerman; Davor Rozman
Main Contractor: Permiz d.o.o., Slovenia; Bostjan Perme
Anchoring and Fixing: Hilti, Slovenia
Thermal Installations and Fire Safety: ROCKWOOL stone wool
Construction Team: Alpinist section PD Ljubljana Matica, Visinska dela Orti; Team: Matevz Jerman, Jernej Ortar, Blaz Ortar, Davor Rozman, Natasa Vodopivec, Matevz Kastrin, Boris Mance, Boris Bokavsek, Luka Klemencic, Ziga Asic, Jernej Knop, Anze Klaric, Uros Grilj, Marko Granda, Boštjan Oblak
Helicopter flights: Slovenian Army - Tomaz Perse, Primoz Pintar, Andrej Groselj, Peter Smrkolj; Installation Support: Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia, GRZS - Brane Zorz, Tadej Mrak, Bojan Goli
Client: PD Ljubljana Matica
The prefab modular mountain house project developed by an architectural design studio at Harvard Graduate School of Design led by Rok Oman and Spela Videcnik of OFIS. In the fall of 2014, studios of thirteen students faced the challenges of designing an innovative, yet practical, prefab house/shelter to meet the extreme needs of the alpine climate. Inspired by Slovenian vernacular architecture with its rich and diverse architectural heritage, students produced twelve proposals that met various terrain conditions, material considerations, and programmatic concerns were produced and cataloged.
The extreme climatic conditions in the mountains introduced a design challenge for architects, engineers and designers.
Within a context of extreme risk to environmental forces, it is important to design buildings that can withstand extreme weather conditions, radical temperature changes and rugged terrain. Responding to environmental conditions is not only a protective measure, but also translates into an issue of immediate safety of life. The harsh conditions of wind, snow, landslides, terrain and climate demand a response of specific architectural forms and conceptual projects.
120 years after the installation of the Aljaz Tower in August 1895 in Triglav, this new prefab modular shelter was inserted under the Skuta mountain in the Kamnik Alps. It replaces the old 50-year-old camp that was previously on site.
The camp is an object that represents a basic human need, a shelter. It is a symbol of refuge. The exterior shape and the choice of materials were made to respond to the extreme conditions of the mountain, and also provide views of the stunning landscape.
Its implantation in the wild requires respect for natural resources and, therefore, it should be implanted in a light and safe way to ensure that the shelter was strongly anchored with minimal impact on the terrain. In addition, the outer layer needed to be made of a highly resistant material, together with fiberglass and concrete elements for the facade, which were able to meet all the requirements of aesthetics, material quality and the challenge of withstanding the harsh conditions.
The interior design imposes modesty, totally subordinated to the function of the shelter providing accommodation for up to eight climbers.
Inspired by traditional alpine architecture by constructive elements, materials, structure and form, the design scheme made by students Frederick Kim, Katie MacDonald and Erin Pellegrino was selected. After the end of the school semester, OFIS architects and AKT ll structural engineers continued to develop and adapt the project for the given terrain, responding to other contributions from climbers, Anze Cokl, Milan Sorc and other engineers and led the project to the throughout the planning phase.
The design consists of three prefab modules, partly to allow transportation and also to divide the space programmatically. The first is dedicated to entry, storage and a small space for food preparation. The second provides space for both to sleep and socialize while the third has a bunk area for sleeping. Windows at both ends offer beautiful panoramic views of the valley and Skuta Mountain.
Due to the nature of the installation process, the prefab mountain house was designed as a series of modules, so that it can be brought in parts to the mountain. The entire prototype was built off-site, in a workshop. The modules were designed as a series of robust frames, which would be structured together on site, providing a manageable installation and a less invasive base. In order to disturb the terrain on the mountain as little as possible, the modules are secured with strategically placed pin connections, which also act as the foundation on the ground. Glass is a triple panel system that has been designed to withstand heavy loads of wind and snow. The camp was set up by Ljubljana Matica under the direction of Matevz Jerman, with transport by helicopter with support from the Slovenian Armed Forces and a Mountain Rescue Service team - Ljubljana Station. The entire transport and installation process was carried out in one day.
Although the scale of the prefab modular mountain house is small, the project required a lot of effort and planning from more than sixty participants who were mostly volunteers and sponsors. Everyone agrees that, despite the small size, the project was no less demanding than any major construction project. However, all the effort and planning for this small-scale project is aimed at maintaining the memory, spirit and culture of the mountains as a special place for Slovenians. The hope is that the modular house will serve as a shelter for all climbers in need, and that through their care and attention to the camp they will continue to use it for many years.
Modular system allows to build houses among trees without cutting them
| Floor plans and drawings |
| About Rebelo de Andrade Architecture & Design |
Location: Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Portugal
Architects: Luís Rebelo de Andrade
Area: 55 m²
Year: 2015
Photographs: Fernando Guerra | FG + SG
Project Team: Luis Rebelo de Andrade, Diogo Aguiar, Raquel Jorge, Pedro Baptista Dias, Madalena Rebelo de Andrade
Structural Design: Modular System
Infrastructure Project: Scarlety Engenharia
Construction: Modular System
Project Coordination: VMPS - Eng. Vasco Portal
Eco Houses are born from a double conceptual root. On the one hand, the profitability of the Parque de Pedras Salgadas as a hotel tourism project, makes the option of rehabilitating the existing hotel or building a new one, becoming a project as slow as it is expensive.
On the other hand, the organic nature of the park ends up suggesting the implementation of these bungalows, of reduced dimensions compared to a conventional hotel and of much easier concealment in the existing grove.
Their main feature is their modularity. This fundamental feature continually transforms the experience of those who inhabit it. Any of the houses - made up of entrance and bathroom + living room + bedroom - allowed for a multitude of very different provisions, which resulted in the possibility of implementing them without having to cut any of the existing trees. Each house, in fact, coexists with a specific set of trees and integrates into this ecosystem without disturbing it. These are houses that, ultimately, want to be confused with trees. They want to be trees.
Although they do not differ from each other - an option due to the need to establish an atmosphere of security for guests - the versatility of the structure allows the relationship between public space and private space to be balanced and justified. The modules and decks are oriented so as not to impair the privacy of their occupants. Covered with slate plates, the feeling is that they are as old and organic as the park itself.
Gomos System Modular Prefab Reinforced Concrete Homes
| Drawings, floor plans |
| About Gomos System |
| About SUMMARY |
| About Farcimar |
| Architects | SUMMARY |
| Area | 998 m² (10742 ft²) |
| Location | Cambra Valley, Portugal |
| Year | 2019 |
| Photographs | Fernando Guerra | FG + SG |
| Manufacturers | FTS - Technical Solutions, Farcimar |
| Project Team | Samuel Gonçalves, Inês Rodrigues, João Meira, Gonçalo Vaz de Carvalho |
| Building Structures And Networks | FTS - Technical Solutions |
| Electricity and Communications | Aproj |
| Pre Fabrication And Assembly | Farcimar, Precast Concrete Solutions |
After making a prototype and exhibiting at the Venice Biennale, SUMMARY presents a new project, using exclusively prefabricated and modular construction systems. The requirements of this project were clear and were defined from the first moment: the construction would have to be fast, economical and modifiable over time, depending on the different needs that could arise. The content of this order led the studio to use prefabricated elements and to leave parts of the project undefined, assuming the speed of construction, flexibility and optimization of resources as central themes.
The two programs that make up the building are positioned on two different floors: the ground floor is occupied by multifunctional service areas, in direct contact with the public road; the upper floor is intended for housing units (six 45m² rooms). An independent access is created for each of these programs, positioned at different levels, taking advantage of the natural slope of the terrain. Prefabricated structural panels perimetrically delimit and support the ground floor, which was designed to allow changing the layout and number of the interior partition walls, or simply eliminating them, transforming this whole area into a large open space.
The upper floor is entirely composed of modules from the Gomos System. Considering that the maximum area to be built legally allowed was very limited, the required empty space is used as a separator of the various housing units. Conceived and licensed as a fraction of collective housing, with these separations, this part of the project incorporates the main advantages of single-family housing: clearly individualized entrances and a complete acoustic separation between the different units.
The prefabricated reinforced concrete, predominant in the structure and composition of the building, is assumed to be visible in all its extension (inside and outside), without paintings or coatings, a fact that contributes to the reduction of costs and the environmental impact of this construction, by the suppression of additional materials and labor inherent in its application. This economy of resources and workforce also results in an accelerated construction process: the different components of the building are completed in the factory and are assembled in site in their final shape and finish, while solving structural, insulation and cladding issues.
Scandinavian Modular House Concept, Denmark
| Construction Process |
| Floor Plans |
| About Njordrum |
With the idea of reduction and minimal spaces in mind, the Danish architecture firm Njordrum is working on innovative proposals for housing. Exploring modularity and Scandinavian aesthetics, the firm seeks to synthesize architecture, nature, natural light and people.
Believing in the importance of architecture instead of valuing its dimensions, Njordrum is implementing a system that initially starts with a 45 sqm module, designed to work independently, but that has the possibility of creating different configurations when combined with other modules.
The proposal is based on modular houses closely connected to nature. The interiors are, therefore, as natural as the exterior. In fact, the architects explain that "when you have light, space and a strong relationship between interior and exterior, the amount of square meters is no longer essential to define whether the house is perceived as large or small".
"The project was carefully developed to be flexible, so that the modules can connect without compromising architecture or nature". - Martin Wienberg, partner at Njordrum
Sustainability and integrated design are core values of this project. To match the constant changes in material, location and lifestyle, Njordrum expands the limits of flexibility, proposing an architecture that can change its size and needs. His designs are also mobile, without, however, compromising the quality of the architecture.
“This is the philosophy on which our concept is based; modular housing designed by architects - houses connected to the outside, joining building and nature to an architectural whole. Make leaving as natural as entering. "- Martin Wienberg, partner at Njordrum
New Modular IKEA Store - car-free and green, Vienna, Austria
| About IKEA Austria |
| About querkraft architects |
IKEA Austria has plans to build a new store in the heart of Vienna. With no vacancies for cars, the project addresses, in some way, emerging global issues, taking into account changes in the behavior of its clients and urban mobility.
The IKEA Westbahnhof is accessible only by public transport, bicycle or on foot. Designed by Vienna's querkraft architekten office, the store's four facades and roof will be covered with vegetation. Defining a new meeting point in the dense city center, the store is located at the end of Mariahilferstrasse, the main shopping street in the center.
Accessible on foot from all points of the two metro lines that pass under the building, IKEA Vienna Westbahnhof is meeting the mobility standards of the local population. The building will house, in addition to the IKEA store on its first four floors, small commercial establishments on the ground floor, creating an active facade, a hostel on the upper 2 floors and a roof garden.
Green, in accordance with the human scale, modular, the IKEA store seeks to become a landmark in Vienna. The transparency of the closings creates a welcoming aspect, in addition to offering unconventional showcase and showcase opportunities. The project team seeks to obtain BREEAM Excellent certification for the building, and, for that, plans to plant 160 trees that can lower the building's internal temperature by up to 2ºC.
Description by IKEA
Innovative and environmentally friendly
The concept focuses on the current megatrends and takes into account the dramatically changed shopping behavior as well as a new form of mobility without a car. Customers have little time and appreciate convenience and comfort. This is clearly noticeable in the furnishing area: More and more customers no longer even think about carrying their purchases home themselves. You can have them delivered. This is of course also being promoted by the boom in online ordering. IKEA at Westbahnhof does this: All products that are larger than “small items” are delivered to your home within a maximum of 24 hours.
The whole modular store is geared towards pedestrians, subway and tram drivers and cyclists - there is no space for cars. There is a lot of experience, gastronomy, space to stroll and look and more green than a park in this area could offer. 160 trees will ensure a more pleasant microclimate on the modular store. The modular building was designed by the Viennese architecture firm querkraft architekten in close connection with the specialists from IKEA.
What happens next?
On April 6, we were able to resume construction work with appropriate precautions - our Covid-19 measures follow the "Instructions of the social partners for dealing with construction sites due to COIVD-19" from March 26, 2020. The construction company takes care of the safety precautions for the construction workers (protective equipment, minimum distance, number of people in one place, hygiene regulations).
Next, the excavated material is lifted out of the basement areas and transported away below the concrete cover.
The construction site is well secured and surrounded by a construction fence, the tram stop remains. It only changed from a double to a single stop.
For the residents there is - as far as possible - current information and contact addresses (email and phone) for suggestions and complaints.
After completion of the work, IKEA will also finance the construction of a recreation area that is attractive to the neighbors. This is regulated in the context of an urban development contract.
What should the new house look like:
IKEA at Westbahnhof should become the meeting point for the whole district. In the furniture store itself, which extends over several floors, interior design ideas and the entire IKEA range are shown in an innovative way. There is room for inspiration and chilling. What will not exist is a traditional furniture store, because all larger items will be delivered directly to your home from the new logistics center in Strebersdorf.
More than 250 employees provide competent advice and a pleasant atmosphere. In addition, the modular house also offers areas that can be used by the public. And of course Swedish gastronomy, a direct connection to the public transport network and lots of greenery on all parts of the facade - including a cozy roof terrace that is also accessible outside of IKEA opening hours and invites you to linger, chat or have a coffee. A Accor JO & JOE brand hostel moves into the top two floors.
On Mariahilfer Straße, the façade on the ground floor area has been set back to create an arcade and, above all, a sidewalk that is twice as wide as before. This increases safety in the tram stop area and makes strolling more pleasant. The connection to ÖBB Bahnhof City should also be more open and inviting.
Emergency Modular Hospitals - Projects for COVID-19 Pandemic
Alternative healthcare facilities: architects mobilize to fight COVID-19
As healthcare infrastructure is overwhelming and hospitals around the world are reaching their capabilities, alternative possibilities emerge. In response to the shortage of beds and the saturation of facilities, architects around the world are taking action in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus. Focusing their knowledge to find fast and efficient design solutions that can be implemented anywhere, they propose flexible, quickly assembled, mobile and simple structures. With a tight schedule, some projects are already implemented and in service, while others remain on a conceptual level, waiting to be adopted.
Although overall, the planning guidelines for new hospitals dictate that 15-20% of spaces should be dedicated to communicable diseases, most facilities worldwide could not have anticipated a pandemic of this scale. As a result, Carlo Ratti has converted shipping containers into intensive care units, consisting of fast-mounting, easy-to-move and safe units. CURA, a secure isolation room, containing all the necessary medical equipment, has its first prototype ready. In the Philippines, the WTA established 60 emergency quarantine facilities. Temporary structures made of wood and plastic can be replicated anywhere to increase the capacity of hospitals. Other more conceptual approaches include mobile units designed by startup JUPE HEALTH, rapidly deployed rest and recovery units, as well as mobile ICUs. At "1/30 the cost of a hospital room," they're designed and built for doctors by doctors, and can be shipped anywhere.
On the other hand, in New York, officials, who anticipate the need for 10 times the existing rooms, seek to generate useful spaces for patients by altering the capacity of existing structures or converting buildings with a different program, such as office spaces, stadiums, convention centers, etc., which already have the basic required amenities, such as HVAC and adequate treatment infrastructure. Additionally, to help identify suitable alternative sites for patient care, the American Institute of Architects has released a new design guide from its COVID-19 Task Force, a quick assessment to recognize compatible buildings that can support care operations. In line with this logic, Opposite Office has proposed to transform the New Berlin airport, under construction since 2006, into a "super hospital" for patients with coronavirus. The adaptive reuse alternative can be implemented at any airport in the world, since traffic is limited and restricted.
In addition, specialized architecture companies such as MASS published guidelines to limit contagion in the Tents COVID-19. In founding his research on past epidemics, MASS explains that the risk of cross contamination is high when people are in tight places. To limit disease transmission, 3 main ideas should be adopted: limit the spread of drops between people, designing distances between people of 6 or more to avoid direct contact with respiratory drops; mitigate contagion through surfaces, identifying, cleaning and disinfecting high contact surfaces; and control of airborne infections by preventing, diluting, and removing contaminated air.
To highlight different design approaches, inspire creative solutions and encourage quick responses, we have brought together 10 architectural platform initiatives that address current issues, each presenting a novelty and introducing a different concept. A space protocol, an urban quarantine camp, emergency medical shelters, fast-building hospitals made from recycled shipping containers and inflatable fabrics, low-cost mobile facilities, hospital ships, and personal protective spaces for doctors, among others.
