MODULAR

ARCHITECUTRE
THEORY OF DESIGN
3RD YEAR 6TH SEMSETER

HARUN VIGNESH CJ | HRITVIK SAHU | KARTHIKEYAN J | SANJAL MARU

What is
Modular
Design?
 Modular design or “modularity in design” is a design approach that
subdivides a system into smaller parts called modules or skids that
can be independently created and then used in different systems. A
modular system is characterized by functional partitioning into
discrete scalable and reusable modules, rigorous use of well-defined
modular interfaces and making use of industry standards for
interfaces. The benefits of modular design are flexibility in design and
reduction in costs.
  Historically, in classical
architecture, the diameter of a
column was used as basis for a
number of modules.
In Japanese architecture, room
sizes were determined by
combinations of rice mats
which were 90x180cm.
 Matila Ghyka’s work on the
golden section was one of the
sources of the Modulor, but his
The Origin work, in general, was used by
other architects, such as Le
of Modular Corbusier’s rival Andre Lurcat.
Lurcat proposed his own range
of proportions related to the
Design work of builders as much as to
that of designers.
 Proportions and modules –
thus became a central issue in
the postwar French
reconstruction, as architects
struggled to maintain their
status amid changing
procedures in building
production
Modular
Architecture
  There are many ways of categorizing
architecture. Architecture can be either modular
or integral. In reality, fully modular or fully
integral architecture is rare and almost all
architecture is somewhere in between.
 On one hand, modular architecture has
functionally de-coupled interfaces between
Modular components. In practice, this often leads to
architecture that is one, where the functional
Architecture elements in the building are mapped one-to-one
vs Integral to the components of the design. However, an
integral architecture is the opposite of modular
Architecture architecture.
 Integral architecture has coupled interfaces
between components. It tends to have more
complex (not one-to-one) mapping from
functional elements in the function structure to
the components of the design
Mini Sky City
Hunan Province,
China
China has embraced modular construction as a means to grow the
country’s infrastructure quickly and efficiently. In an unheard-of
development, the Chinese firm Broad Sustainable Building recently
erected a 57-storey, modern skyscraper in just 19 days.

The steel and glass tower was put up at the rate of three floors per day.
The mixed-use building has 18 atriums, 800 apartment units,
substantial office space and is constructed of 2736 individual modules
that took four months to assemble off site
My Micro NY
New York City

In Manhattan space is at a premium. My Micro NY is the city’s first

micro-apartment building and, consisting completely of modular units.
At nine stories tall and 35,000 square feet total space, the building
features 55 modular units (each one is 250 to 370 square feet) that were
built completely off site, trucked to the city and craned into place. Made
of steel frames and concrete slabs, each “apartment” is pre-wired and
plumbed, brought to the site, placed, bolted and tied into the building
systems. The building features a gym, lounge, roof terrace and garden.
Pier 57
New York City

 Cargo containers are a natural (albeit sometimes controversial) option

when it comes to cost-effective modular design. One project currently
being developed by Youngwoo & Associates and designed by Handel
Architects and !Melk Landscape Architect and Urban Design takes
modular cargo container construction to the next level.
 Historic Pier 57 in New York is about to undergo conversion into an
extensive modular shipping container mall on the water. The project,
will use cargo containers prefabricated and plugged into the existing
structure to be used as retail space.
Habitat 67
Montreal,
Canada  This project demonstrates that a single primitive shape can be
strategically accumulated and organized to create a dynamic set of
unique private spaces while simultaneously allowing for circulation
and social public spaces.
 Habitat 67 is formed using approximately 20x40x10 ft concrete
rectilinear volumes, which are oriented and connected in specific
ways to create varied apartments. At the time of construction, these
boxes were an experiment and ultimately a breakthrough in
prefabricated concrete. For this reason, all the boxes were uniformly
mass produced, creating the challenge of designing unique spaces
with a single form.
Habitat 67
Montreal,
Canada
Habitat 67
Montreal,
Canada
Habitat 67
Montreal,
Canada
  Hundred Percent Recyclable Most modular
structures are constructed using recycled metal, glass, and
wood. Also, the construction of modular structure takes place
in a factory, where all the waste material gets recycled and the
material surplus gets used.
 Minimizes Carbon Footprint Modular structures
help in reducing the carbon footprint as these structures are
built in a controlled environment. Such an environment
Advantages ensures a strict control on the use of electricity, water, and
other resources, whose overuse results in emission of harmful
of Modular gasses.

Architecture  Built with Greater Detail Each module of the

modular structure is constructed with attention to every detail
and are made as per the client’s requirement and expectation.
 Modular Buildings are Low Maintenance
Modular buildings are constructed in a way that it lasts long.
The materials used to build these structures are of high quality,
starting from the screw to the log of wood or a glass sheet. It
uses materials that are produced to withstand harsh
environment and the stress of transportation.
  It is significant to use the modular approach in
architectural designs. Modular design is
characterized by properties such as upgradability,
serviceability, flexibility and so on.
 Also, the beauty of modular architecture is that you
What do we can replace or add any module without affecting
the rest of the system. But, how important is it to
do? encourage designers to use modularity? The
answer is in the way we use modularity and the
objectives of modular systems.
 Thin of all the infinite numbers of architectural
designs and forms we can create with a simple set
of modules.
THANK YOU