Building Innovation: New Builds Going Modular and Skyscrapers in Space

As construction has evolved over the years it is no surprise that it has taken on new forms in a bid to deliver quality, aesthetic designs and more bang for your buck.  This month has seen two very different builds in the online press: the modular build and a futuristic skyscraper that hovers above ground.

Modular Construction

Most of us know what a modular construction is; but for the few of us who are old school just what is this new build format?

According to the Modular Build Institute a “Modular Construction is a process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time.”

Most MacDonald restaurants and Premier Inn hotels have tended to be modular built. Modular constructions boast to be generally stronger than traditional types of build and ensure a better construction quality management process.

3,000 Modular Homes for London

It is not surprising then that modular builds are moving from restaurants and hotels to standard domestic living. April 2017 saw the announcement in the news that Aecom has won the bid to build up to 3,000 new homes at the £3.5bn 62-acre regeneration of Silvertown in East London Build.co.uk’s article on the build also reports that  “The developers and Aecom are now in the process of drawing up plans that include a modular construction facility at the site with the capacity to create 500 homes per year from 2018, which is when main building work on the site will start, subject to planning approval.” A modular build for a modular build.

The Worlds Craziest Build Concept?

Details of the Analemma Tower, New York City, were (admittedly) distributed on line very close to April Fool’s Day, by CNN Style. But could this actually be the future of the construction industry?  Advertised as being a building that hovers “majestically above the ground because it would be attached – wait for it – to an actual asteroid, in space, that is forcibly put into orbit around the earth” it’s hard to take seriously.

But what if this is the next step from modular build? Each section would need to be built separately, on the ground, and then put together by a very tall crane….in this case a very, very, very tall crane.

And would we need to make sure all construction site staff were not only fully qualified but also experienced in space flight?

Either way, modular or hover-build the future of construction remains exciting.

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Sharlene Britton
Office Manager