Studio Vijf, Stellenbosch  (2014)

62 stackable structural room modules

Brief

Design, manufacture, fit-out, deliver and stack 62 up-market student apartments. The 4 storey structure must be completed in under 6 months so that the accommodation is available at the start of an academic year for rental and sectional title sale.

 

Why was modular used?

The build programme could only be accomplished through the use of a structural apartment pod. Any other method that relied on slabs or even a structural steel frame with infill panels would not have enabled the building to be completed in time for the start of the academic year, which would have had a severe impact on the financial viability of the project. 

 

Key features

• 62 apartments craned into position in 22 crane days

• apartments were bolted together on site to create the structure

• superior acoustic and fire specification

• exposed structural steel galvanised and sprayed for superior quality

• exterior facade and balconies complete in factory prior to delivery, limiting the need for scaffolding on site 

• ground floor apartments included feet for connection to foundations

• third floor apartments included bolting connectors for roof elements

• in-house finishing brands were utilised to extend value in the finishings

• all cupboards, custom sprayed joinery and surinno worktops manufactured by Inside Group

• factory finish included: data and electrical reticulation, plumbing, waterproofing, porcelain tiling, solid timber doors, double glazed PVC balcony doors, bulkheads, shadowlines and custom joinery, wallpapered walls and painted feature walls 

 

Case study

Click here for a more detailed case study on the project.

 

 

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Civil Engineering      

December 2014