Modular construction versus modular architecture

Publisher
Tisková zpráva
16.10.2015 07:00
KOMA MODULAR s.r.o.

The modular construction system is gradually being more and more understood in the Czech Republic not only for its unparalleled properties in the form of speed and practicality of construction. Even in the Czech Republic, buildings are now emerging that have pushed the original meaning of modular construction systems beyond the mere immediate use of stacked unattractive residential containers.
 
Among the architecturally most significant modular buildings in the Czech Republic is undoubtedly the Czech Pavilion at EXPO in Milan from the architectural workshop of the Brno studio Chybík Krištof AA and from the workshop of the Vizovice company KOMA. However, recently, the modular construction system has again been appearing in the media, especially in the context of crisis situations, thus again more in the world of merely utilitarian buildings, and modular architecture is somewhat being forgotten. However, modules have their advantages precisely in this variability.

Prefabricated modular homes originally emerged mainly for the purpose of immediate human needs stemming from more or less crisis situations. For example, there were the so-called Airohys, which addressed the post-World War II housing crisis in Great Britain for returning soldiers. In the USA, the shortage of housing and unused factories after World War II was solved by producing caravans, or somewhat later so-called Mobile Homes. And it is clear that even today, due to various war conflicts, Europe is facing another humanitarian crisis in the form of a wave of refugees. Modular prefabricated construction is therefore again coming to the forefront but only in connection with its practicality and usefulness. "We know very well how modular construction has established itself in the world and we are proud of that. We are also suppliers of social housing and primary schools in the city of L'Aquila, which we built after the devastating earthquake in 2009 in Italy. However, we also want to emphasize that modular construction is not just utilitarian but also beautiful with added architectural value", explains KOMA's marketing director Martin Hart, about how he combats the public perception of modular construction.

So how does modular architecture compare to modular construction? Among the modular powerhouses are the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, the USA, and Great Britain. In the world, modules are used to create school buildings (e.g., temporary school by architect Jure Kotnik), children's homes (e.g., Children's Home from containers by studio 4D and A Architects), multifunctional houses for employees (e.g., Cafeteria and changing rooms in Vizovice produced by KOMA), social houses (e.g., Modular residence with nursing care by HVDN architecten), hotels (e.g., Japanese modular hotel Bayside Marina by Yasutaka Yoshimura Architects), and residential buildings (e.g., Modular residential complex by the Australian studio MODSCAPE).

In the Czech Republic, there has recently been the most talk about the pavilion EXPO 2015 in Milan. This pavilion was manufactured and built by the Vizovice company KOMA, which won the public contract. The jury was particularly impressed by the fact that its pavilion is recyclable, its construction is super fast, and the price did not exceed the set limit. After all, the secondary use is the fundamental character of recyclability. "We will disassemble the pavilion, transport it, and reassemble it here in Vizovice," announced KOMA's director Stanislav Martinec, "three basic reasons led me to this decision: firstly, we sold the modules we produced due to the success at EXPO to Paris, Hamburg, London, and other cities; secondly, we care very much about preserving the original character and architecture of the building and its functional use; and thirdly, I am a patriot, so when Tomáš Baťa could build the tallest building in Europe in Zlín in his time, we can build the EXPO pavilion in Vizovice."

KOMA, which is the main promoter of modular architecture in the Czech Republic, demonstrates its interest in modular architecture through other technologically and architecturally interesting buildings. Among other things, it has introduced atypical CITY modules, which have appeared in several cities in recent months (you can read more about CITY modules in cities in the article "Minor modular architecture revitalizes cities"). KOMA also organizes the modular architecture festival ModulArch, which includes an architectural competition, and facilitated the creation of the first Czech-written book on modular architecture "I [love] Module", which was written in collaboration with Martin Hart from KOMA by editors of the architectural server EARCH and which is still available for sale at the email redakce@earch.cz.

Therefore, it is indeed possible to build architecturally impressive buildings from modules. If you want to know more about modular architecture, follow it on https://www.facebook.com/modularni.architektura.
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