South Korea Explores Modular Slide-In Housing

There are so many great ideas floating around about how to solve the affordable housing shortage. This one from a South Korean design studio features modules that slide into a steel frame. I actually like this design. 

It would be perfect for young renters looking for their first apartment, a young couple, retired folks, and anyone that wants a tiny space without maintenance.



This proposed design of a modular residential complex in South Korea creates a flexible and customizable living layout. The modular housing industry is invigorated by governmental support, and the academic research involving this industry predominantly focuses on constructability and technical improvement

Since the primary focus is on economic efficiency, the quality of living is a secondary issue. Under these circumstances, this project aims to enhance the spatial quality of a modular house intended for one to two persons by developing a flexible system for homeowners to rearrange and reorganize their homes accordingly. The design investigates a new type of house unit that is structured by basic prefabricated modules assembled offsite.



Two types of residence are provided, one for single-person use, and one for two or three people, according to the minimum size suggested by the 2020 Korean Government Residential Masterplan. Since traffic laws restrict the size of transportable modular units, an 11 ft by 22 ft module became the basic size. After the site concrete work is finished, prefabricated modules are delivered and assembled in a short period of time.

A SLIDING CARTRIDGE SYSTEM ALLOWS EASY MODIFICATION OF THE UNITS

A flexible, customizable cartridge system is proposed by the design team to support various ways of living within the limited space instead of providing fixed spatial conditions as conventional modular houses. The flexible program allows residents to choose and order various cartridges as necessary, as well as to customize, detach, update, expand or compress the interior space using a sliding system.

Community program units such as a gym, a library, and a communal kitchen, as well as corridor units, balconies, landscape elements at the roof level, and facade systems are, also designed by module and pre-manufactured in the factory. Accordingly, the whole process expedites the construction schedule. The modular housing project opts for the alleviation of the serious housing supply issue in South Korea.

CLICK HERE to read the entire designboom article



Gary Fleisher, Contributing Editor

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Gary Fleisher

Gary Fleisher, “The Mod Coach”, has been entrenched in the offsite construction industry for most of his life. Having started his career in the lumber industry, Gary spent decades working with manufactured and modular home producers and homebuilders. For the past 15 years his blog and LinkedIn postings have introduced thousands to the benefits of factory-built construction and have served as a forum for industry professionals to share insights and perspectives. Gary lives in Hagerstown, MD with his wife, Peg.

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