build to rebuild

Build to Rebuild is a circular self-build kit, designed specifically for creating rooms within double-height spaces. The concept reintroduces the double height space as a central design element, highlighting its importance in terms of proportion, scale, and light distribution—all of which greatly influence how a space is perceived. Scientifically, it has been proven that double-height spaces have a positive psychological impact on occupants. Despite these benefits, this typology has fallen out of favour in recent decades due to the focus on cost-efficient construction and maximizing usable floor area.

To bring back the living quality of double height spaces while addressing concerns about affordable housing, Build to Rebuild was developed. This circular self-build kit serves as a design tool for architects and designers aiming to promote affordable, flexible, and sustainable housing in both new construction and renovation projects. The kit consists of standardized elements that are easy to assemble and disassemble, enabling designers to create various configurations within double-height spaces. Residents can then assemble these configurations at moment in life that suits them, allowing for customizable, dynamic living spaces without the need for demolition or waste. By emphasizing a ‘structure-as-finish approach’ for the double-height spaces, we reduce the need for extensive finishing work, making this type of housing more affordable and accessible.

The results of our research have been summarized in a detailed manual. This manual outlines all the steps and principles needed to assemble the various components of the kit. Finally, prototypes of the wall, floor, and construction elements were produced to allow for real-world testing of the scale, manipulability, and strength of the building system.