Living within the boundaries

RESEARCH QUESTION: In the context of a suburban environment, can innovative modular housing effectively help to alleviate housing issues in Auckland? ABSTRACT: Human housing is a matter of mass demand. Just as it no longer occurs to 90 percent of the population to have shoes made to measure but rather buy ready-made products that satisfy most individual requirements thanks to refined manufacturing methods, in the future the individual will be able to order from the warehouse the housing that is right for him. It is possible that present-day technology would already be capable of this, but the present-day building industry is still almost completely dependent on traditional, craftsmanly construction methods. - Walter Gropius, “Wohnhaus-Industrie,” 1924 Prefabrication has been around for many years, as early as the 1800's. Famous architects like Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier both created prefabrication systems to simplify the process of building a home. As Gropius stated in an essay published in 1924, he predicts that people don't buy shoes made to fit, but instead buy shoes from a catalogue, and that people could do the same for housing. The aim of this project will be about creating infill housing throughout an urban context like Auckland City. Allowing people, the dream of owning their own home. The main aim of this investigation will be, if modular and prefabricated housing can enhance and solve housing issues for young adults within the suburban environment? Through the review and analysis of literature in the field of prefabrication will outline the benefits of modular housing. According to Auckland Council, Auckland is one of the world's least affordable cities in the world. The price of housing has increased significantly over the past 10 years, which means that many people cannot afford to buy their own house and are usually forced to rent or even worse, to be homeless. The development of a modular prefabricated system to allow for a wide range of applications and to meet social housing standards and will provide the essential requirements and constraints to be designed to. The project would help alleviate some of the troubles that people have when looking to buy their first house, by creating housing in 'left-over' underutilised suburban space that will be eco-friendly and sustainable. The use of digital technology will drive the design to ensure efficiency, cost effectiveness, and aesthetics of these homes that are representative of the context and are durable enough to withstand the elements. The use of automated machines, such as CNC routers and 3D printers can enable these homes to be customised to fit in a variety of unique left-over space within the urban context. SITE: Albany, Auckland, New Zealan