New Concepts in Modular Housing

Terrapin and Avanti Architects have undertaken a joint venture to develop

a number of offsite solutions for the housing market to meet growing
demands on quality, environmental performance, low wastage, cost
efficiency and ease of delivery. Our collaboration brings together our
expertise in designing high quality affordable homes with all the
advantages of Modern Methods of Construction.

Our products have been developed to meet the design, procurement and
delivery needs of:

 Private Housing Developers

 Housing Associations
 Local Authorities
 Procurement Officers in Government Departments
 Corporate Investors in Residential Property
 Housing companies
 Housing Advisory Authorities

These modular building solutions have been developed with the express
intention of optimising transportation, exploiting the structural efficiency
prefabricated materials and maximizing the developable potential of land.
Designs have been based around meeting new space standards with unit
widths ranging from 3.75m to 6.2m.

The 3.75m wide module has proved to be especially efficient and has
therefore been adopted for a range of unit sizes including microflats and
1–4 bedroom units. Larger units are capable of being configured as two
storey maisonettes or side by side on a single floor.

The variety of options mean that units can be made suitable for a range
of homeowners; from single occupiers to families, the elderly and non-
ambulant. Variations allow living space to be maximised, extensions and
outdoor space to be added and amended depending on the occupants’
needs.

A number of access typologies are also possible, including single stair

core, open access deck, multicore spine solutions plus hybrids which
combine some or all of these forms of access. There are choices in how
elements such as staircores, landings and balconies can be fully
integrated or independent of the overall module arrangement to simplify
construction and reduce cost.
Avanti Architects’ house design won the 2008 British Homes Awards
‘Tomorrow’s Lifestyle Home’ competition and is a model for 21st century
living. The house is based on a 6.2m width divided into master and
servant zones. At the heart of the house an open light well acts as a ‘lung’
distributing air, light and energy into the interior. At the perimeter the
relationship between interior and outside is flexible and immediate. The
design also offers:

 Adaptability for successive generations as needs change,

including full access for people with disabilities
 Spatially varied interior, comfortable to live and work in
 Flexiroom – a space which can be adapted to a variety of
uses including home office, study or accessible bedroom
 Sustainable passive means of saving energy and resources

This adaptable way of living allows homes to accommodate several

generations of a family, splitting or opening up living space to create the
ideal formulation for a growing and changing family’s needs.
The technical performance of the homes is largely guaranteed by the
benefits that offsite construction bring to meeting stringent airtightness
targets, detailed resolution of insulation and ventilation needs together
with sustainable use of materials with low wastage. Standardisation
ensures consistency of quality, reduced cost and speed of delivery without
undermining flexibility or choice for the developer or occupier.
Volumetric modular building allows a highly flexible system to
accommodating a range of different scenarios. There are designs for
microflats to suit first time buyers with restricted budgets, students and
the elderly who wish to downsize from their existing homes, a range of
modularised 1, 2, 3 and 4 bed apartments that are capable of being
coupled in a range of configurations to meet different local settings, and
two and three storey house solutions which satisfy new lifestyles and are
adaptable to occupiers’ changing circumstances.

A variety of scenarios is possible using these modules, ranging from small

10-15 unit developments configured as single apartment blocks or terrace
of houses, 50+ unit schemes which combine houses and apartments,
through to larger 100+ unit regeneration projects. The system also allows
modules to be omitted at higher levels to provide large outdoor terraces
for family units.

Terrapin offers a range of different systems for offsite construction. Our

light gauge steel frame based system offers major advantages wherever
there is a need for high volume replicated units. Using high technology
factory production, modules can be built and fully fitted offsite, sealed,
then delivered for fast efficient construction, easy connection of services
and flexible finishing.

Terrapin and Avanti’s Unique Offer includes:

 Variety of systems — post and panel, volumetric or

combination thereof
 Flexibility of service — turnkey through to manufacturer
 Value added services — design, building control, CDM,
BREEAM, planning, project management, site supervision
 Working with restrictive sites — we can do the difficult
projects that no-one else can do!
 Solution Provider — finance, facilities management
All designs are based on the highest required standards: New space
standards as defined by the Mayor of London and HCA; Design & Quality
Standards; Minimum Level 4 Code for Sustainable Homes; Lifetime
Homes; Building for Life; and HQIs.

Our technology is creating more affordable homes, modern key-worker

accommodation, hotels, hospitals and universities.

Terrapin offers a full range of offsite options: volumetric, panelised, and

steel-framed design and build, all manufactured in-house at their Milton
Keynes facility. Over the last 60 years, Terrapin has pioneered
innovations in modular design and energy efficiency; their radical
volumetric construction system with a rigid light steel frame is at the
leading edge of today’s building industry. www.terrapin-ltd.co.uk

Avanti Architects is an award winning design consultancy formed in

1981 and based in central London. The practice has been involved in the
delivery of a wide range of housing solutions throughout this period and
has been at the forefront of many of the debates around mass housing.
Their approach is based around creative and clear conceptual thinking,
combined with innovation and sustainability. www.avantiarchitects.co.uk

If the concepts and proposals illustrated here are of interest to you please
contact us and we will be happy to respond to your queries. +44 (0)84
4848 9269