Standardising building components
General description
Using standardised building components makes several processes in construction more efficient (sourcing, processing, planning, assembly). This practice is closely intertwined with a modular building approach where components repeat many times in the same design. Furthermore, there are also advantages for reusing these components because sizes are all the same and not only you know what to expect, but also parts become interchangable.
Examples
OBK 27
Paris, France
The architects deliberately selected massive, low-carbon, and durable materials for the project. By opting for monolithic stones, massive cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors, and prefabricated steel components, the final assembly process was highly efficient, resembling the quick assembly of large Lego blocks. In modern massive stone construction, each stone takes approximately 10 minutes to be laid. Furthermore, the stone walls were carefully planned to minimise the use of different stone dimensions, enhancing logistic efficiency and reducing production costs. This approach streamlined the construction process and facilitated smoother coordination of materials on-site. By utilising prefabricated elements and optimising the logistics of stone transportation and placement, the architects achieved a faster and more efficient assembly, contributing to overall project efficiency.