Mikado - The Wooden Gate
In May 2022, my dear friend Timea Banki-Farkas and I submitted our vision to the Annual International Modular Home Competition organised by Architecture Competitions // Buildner (Bee Breeders), where we got shortlisted.
It was the first in many ways—the first time working with Tímea Bánki-Farkas, our very first modular design and many more. This project was a "love project" from the beginning; we could stay true to ourselves during the design process and align with our sustainability values. This project is an excellent example of what can be achieved with good time management and mutual respect. This competition was a perfect opportunity to prove that being in two different countries or having two children running around you will not be an obstacle.
Our three main threads in the design process were finding existing solutions for modularity, reducing the embodied carbon footprint as much as possible, and designing for disassembly.
We reached back to the traditional Japanese architectural principles, which concentrate on simplicity, and organic connection with nature and use the human body as the base unit in its scale.
In our view, the higher the transformation capacity is, the lower the negative environmental impact. Therefore, the catalyst of our design concept was the three “R”; “Design for reconfiguring”, “Design for reuse” and “Design for recycling”.
The timber frame determines the room sizes – sitting on the foundation - erected prior and regarding the clients’ requests about the number of Tatamis. The prefabricated CLT panels should be assembled after following with windows and doors and finishing with the cork insulation panels. Our screw connection with an unsymmetric structural overlapping solution provides easy reconfiguration. The structure can be easily assembled and disassembled, allowing the end user to adjust the living environment to their living dynamic. With this solution, the panels function as assets, the extra space can be detached, or room sizes can be easily changed. In addition, panels can be reused in other places and other functions when less space is needed.
At the end of the building’s lifetime, recycling shouldn’t be an issue due to our preference in material choices and the use of the dry connection between the different elements of the building.
Our structure is a standing-alone timber frame with Cross Laminated Timber Panels connected with a screw connection. Even though the building will work with a pile foundation or even a strip foundation, we would recommend using a traditional stone foundation that would also cut back the building's embodied carbon footprint and the actual footprint of the building after disassembly. In addition, the installation should be raised from the ground to allow ventilation under the structure.
The insulation is made from cork. It is a lightweight, purely plant-based material and also an excellent CO2 retainer since there is no harm to the tree when harvested. Besides the outstanding acoustic and thermal qualities, it can also be recycled because there is no resin used in the production. In addition, cork insulation boards are available in different thicknesses, so they can be easily upgraded if it is needed.
If there is no possibility of connecting to the national electricity grid, we suggest installing solar panels on the flat roof facing South with batteries installed in the building.
In areas with high flood risk, a rainwater harvesting system can be considered; tanks could be easily installed under the building with a filter system to provide water for the occupants.
It was a great learning experience; now we know we should step out of our comfort zone more often.
We want to congratulate all the participants and thank you for the opportunity.
You can see all shortlisted projects here:
https://architecturecompetitions.com/modularhome2/
