A flexible modular construction kit for more high-quality living space in a shorter time: With this concept, Koschany + Zimmer Architekten KZA and the renowned module builder ALHO from Friesenhagen have been selected as winners of the Europe-wide competition for serial construction.
Organizers were the Federal Ministry of Building and the leading association of the German housing industry GdW in cooperation with the Federal Chamber of Architects and the construction industry. The joint system design of KZA and ALHO is now being incorporated into a framework agreement for the construction of residential buildings in serial-modular design.
At a press conference in Berlin, the contract was signed on Tuesday. Housing companies belonging to the GdW and its member associations can now use the concepts to create much-needed living space nationwide.
More than 40 consortia had applied to participate in the competition. 15 of them were invited to submit their concepts. Nine of these concepts have now been awarded and are included in the framework agreement.
Fixed prices and „model buildings“
The paper includes a catalogue of services with fixed prices and „model buildings“. On this basis, individual buildings that adapt to their location can be developed. Using individual orders, construction projects can be realized within a very short time.
The competition task was a good opportunity for the KZA team to contribute their extensive experience with modular-serial construction methods. „We have been working intensively on this topic for more than three years, implementing projects nationwide for one of Europe’s largest housing companies, „explains Axel Koschany, managing partner at KZA. „Against this background in particular, we are proud and happy to be able to provide all GdW members with our concept developed with ALHO.“
Individuality in series
Under the slogan „individuality in series“, the Essen architects, together with ALHO, have developed a modular construction system of maximum variability and flexibility, taking advantage of all – even economic – advantages of serial construction methods. In line with the respective property, it is thus possible to configure different apartment sizes and types of buildings, which largely correspond to the funding guidelines of the federal states. At the same time, all apartments were planned barrier-free.
Incidentally, because the modules can always be reconfigured differently and façades can be designed in many ways, the concept counteracts a common prejudice against modular construction: In contrast to what is often assumed, the system makes it possible to create different buildings adapted to the location, implementing high architectural standards and still needing an extremely short construction time of a only few months.