The Future of Architecture: Adaptability, AI & Gen Z | Randy Deutsch

and joined Bryden Wood in 2015.. Andrew has over 15 years’ experience working in the building services industry and has built up a varied project portfolio from complex Ministry of Defence sites, hospitals and research laboratories to simpler residential and commercial schemes.

As it dries it changes geometry losing original accuracy.This is a problem as connections cannot be relied on geometrically and presents a challenge particularly for DfMA solutions and other situations where small tolerances are required.. Our response is to:.

- Transport and store timber in waterproofed flat stacks.. - Engage early with contractors to produce an on-site maintenance plan with special attention to timber elements.. - Enable sufficient drying periods within the project programme.. - Use preservative natural treatments to prevent woodboring and avoid the use of toxic chemicals such as chromium, chlorophenols or arsenic.. - Use preservative natural treatments on all sides to prevent water ingress.Oil based primers penetrate wood better than latex or water-based primers, providing greater resistance and are less likely to be scraped off during construction.. - Consider design details to prevent water ingress during construction and use.. Fire and insurance.Since the Grenfell tragedy, public policy has shifted towards a zero-combustibility approach in certain higher risk buildings, making the use of engineered timber more complicated.

This has increased insurance costs for mass timber construction.It is common practice to solve the problem by enclosing timber for increased fire protection.

Unfortunately, this generates additional carbon emissions and waste.. Another issue with glulam and CLT is the debonding of layers during a fire.

The glue can start evaporating at a relatively low temperature causing engineered timber to fall apart even before it burns.Unless modules are fabricated on a just-in time basis they also have to be stored which costs money, especially if that storage needs to be sheltered from the elements.

3D modules also occupy large amounts of factory floor space and therefore absorb a high proportion of factory overheads..If these additional modular construction costs can be offset by large improvements in construction site efficiency, for example by relocating wet trades or complex specialist trades away from the site, a 3D module might make sense.

But, with modular construction, it’s often the case that prefabricating comparatively simple parts of a building as 3D modules adds cost and complexity, especially if the required trades need to be present on-site anyway..The problems found in modular construction are only compounded by inefficient factory working.