Have you heard of modular construction before? We are sure you have encountered it. Modular constructions are structures built in a factory environment before being transported to the site for assembly. So, there is pre-production here. Although traditional construction methods continue in many countries, modular construction, a long-standing method, is increasingly used in a wide variety of construction projects, from offices to residences, cultural buildings, and more. Modular constructions are produced in sections away from the construction site, delivered to the desired location, and assembled into the final building design. The majority of work is produced as a complete structure or as small submodules in a factory-controlled environment. This, of course, occurs in parallel with the design decisions made during the project process. Modular constructions are produced in separate sections on the construction site, delivered to the desired location, and assembled into the building. The produced modules can be arranged in various ways by placing them end to end.
Learning the difference between prefabrication and modular construction
First of all, I would like to tell you about a subject that I think you often confuse. Are prefabrication and modular construction different things? Although the terms prefabricated and modular seem quite similar, they do not mean the same thing. Therefore they should not be used interchangeably. Modular construction is a type of prefabricated structure. Prefabrication is any construction process that does not occur on site; Modular construction, on the other hand, is a construction method that is custom-built in a factory and then assembled on site. In other words, modular constructions are produced using prefabrication techniques. (It’s not an AI sentence.) Just like our body consists of cells, we can say that modular construction is an interesting technique consisting of modules.
Have modular constructions revolutionised the construction industry?
Of course, there will be different answers to this question. However, modular construction aimed to create a revolution in the construction industry, and although it could not create the desired effect, it pioneered positive developments in many issues. Modular construction is much faster than traditional methods because most building construction work can be carried out along with site preparation. This can significantly reduce project timelines. With reduced construction time, there are fewer labour costs and less risk of project delays, resulting in overall cost savings. Additionally, the controlled factory environment often leads to less material waste. Compared to traditional methods, modular constructions can be constructed with less waste and lower energy consumption. Because many aspects of construction, from manufacturing to assembly of components, are performed under controlled conditions in a factory environment, the safety risks associated with off-site construction are fewer than with on-site construction.
Modular construction’s ascendancy in the Middle East
It is worth noting once again that modular construction is increasingly preferred and vital throughout the world. Modular construction is becoming an increasingly preferred method around the world, particularly in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council region, largely thanks to the way it works, which involves manufacturing building components in a factory-regulated environment away from the construction site. As I mentioned before, modules manufactured off-site also allow for production during site preparation, reducing the overall time spent building something. This is now common in high-growth regions such as the Middle East region, where megaprojects such as the 2030 Vision initiative Saudi Arabia and Expo 2020 Dubai are underway. With this explanation, it can be concluded that this method is quite popular in the Middle East.
Furthermore, modular construction has advantages in saving costs through lessening labour costs as well as reducing materials wastage. In addition, when components are produced under controlled conditions, their consumption is optimised resulting in decreased wastage and cost predictability. And this particular aspect makes it particularly attractive in areas with scarce resources where there are usual differences between costs and time estimates for major constructions. The appeal of modular construction increases thanks to sustainability; It is one of the main driving forces, especially in regions that want to add ecological value to themselves, such as the Middle East. The modular construction, which supports the reduction of waste products and energy saving through the use of smart materials, brings us closer to achieving sustainable region targets in the application area. Additionally, this approach helps to be more responsible when dealing with cities by improving the creation of smarter, greener built spaces.
The argument for the acceptance of modular construction is also greatly strengthened by technological progress. During the construction process, digital design tools, advanced manufacturing techniques, and prefabrication technologies contribute to increasing precision, efficiency, and innovation opportunities. This fits well with the region’s desire for a digital revolution and transformation into the centre of technology-driven industries and knowledge-based economies. An innovative solution that can be used to achieve the dynamic construction needs and development objectives of the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council region is module-based construction which displays efficiency, cost-effectiveness, sustainability advantages, and adaptability to technological advancements and hence constitutes a viable choice compared with the conventional methods of building. As the region continues to invest in ambitious projects and prioritise sustainable development, modular construction is poised to play a key role in shaping the built environment and supporting economic growth.
Images:
- 01_This modular residential tower, named My Micro_©www.dezeen.com
- 02_Student Housing Campus Eindhoven University of Technology Office Winhov + Office haratori + BDG Architecten_©www.archdaily.com
- 03_Expo 2020_©Marc Goodwin
Sources:
- ArchDaily. (2024). Building the Future: The Rise of Modular Construction in the Middle East. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1016213/building-the-future-the-rise-of-modular-construction-in-the-middle-east?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab&ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all [Accessed 7 May 2024].
- Bertram, N., Fuchs, S., Mischke, J., Palter, R., Strube, G. and Woetzel, J. (2019). Modular construction: From projects to products | McKinsey. [online] www.mckinsey.com. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/modular-construction-from-projects-to-products.
- Erlich, M. (2023). Why Modular Building Hasn’t Revolutionised Construction. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2023/12/why-modular-building-hasnt-revolutionized-construction.
- ArchDaily. (2020). Why Choose Modular Construction? [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/949219/why-choose-modular-construction.
