Menlyn Maine Developers required a small urban intervention in a park space between the main shopping area and the office block precinct. The requirement was for a small coffee shop and shaded outdoor seating. The structure needed to be semi-permanent for potential removal.
Thinking and Making
We aimed to create a simpler and more efficient building system for small-scale construction. Our goal was to develop a system that anyone could use to build homes, shops, or other structures with basic tools and minimal labour.
A complete plywood and steel structural system was designed in detail, modelled in 3D, and sent to CNC machines for cutting and manufacturing off-site into components, which were then rapidly assembled on-site.
The Process
The process begins with designing the building system and its components. The architects prototyped the components, constructing a few initial elements to test the fit and identify improvements. Design development followed, incorporating revisions from the prototype build. Detailed cutting layouts for components were created.
Next, the elements were manufactured off-site and assembled into components before being transported to the site. The on-site build was a rapid process of assembling the building.
Small-Scale Building
This approach recognises the latent talent within local communities, using a system that can be easily constructed and assembled by locals with basic tools. This collaborative process transfers knowledge and skills, fostering small businesses within the community. This creates a building ecosystem where parts are manufactured off-site and assembled on-site by different people.
