Adelaide firm Studio Nine Architects has designed a series of five modular, prefabricated buildings ideal for remote retreats or backyard work-from-home hideaways.
The designs for prefab building company Assembly Three have been conceived for a world in the grips of a pandemic, “where travel has become restricted to within our own state and a need for additional space within our own homes, for work or retreat, has arisen.”
Ranging from a compact 22-square-metre studio to a 82-sqaure-metre suite, the architectural spaces are designed to dissolve into the landscape, with a striking steel exterior encasing restrained interiors.
The buildings are constructed using XFrame, a light-weight flat-pack timber framing system designed in New Zealand and supported by Adelaide research commercialization firm Innovyz. Assembly Three says the system uses 30 percent less material than standard timber wall framing, is carbon negative, rapidly recoverable and makes for designs that are more transportable.
Assembly Studio by Studio Nine Architects.
“Many similar transportable products (think shipping container design) require transportation via a truck to site before being craned into place,” Assembly Three said in a statement. “By utilising XFrame, Assembly Three products are not constrained by logistics … opening up hard to reach, off-grid locations that traditionally haven’t been suitable for development.”
Studio Nine’s design framework builds off the base footprint of the XFrame, adding or subtracting volumes and floor space to adapt to different briefs.
The 22-sqaure-metre Assembly Studio is designed for a cosy retreat or simple work-from-home set-up. Moving up in size, the 27-square-metre Assembly Office is a flexible one-to-two-person working environment with a standalone kitchenette and breakout space.
Then there are the three tourism accommodation designs — the Assembly Cabin, Assembly Suite and Assembly Suite +. Each sleep two, with a kitchenette, ensuite, fireplace and undercover deck area.
The 45-square-metre Assembly Cabin is conceived of as an “entry level Airbnb, caravan park offering or a small footprint granny flat design.”
The XFrame system.
The 68-sqaure-metre Assembly Suite is a double-height volume that includes a dedicated lounge and dining area. And the largest option, the 82-suare-metre Assembly Suite+ features a mezzanine-level bedroom.
“Striking a balance between feeling warm and cosy in winter and connected to the outside in summer, the spaces are adaptable to their setting,” said Assembly Three.
Studio Nine has aimed for consistent design language across all five buildings , with typical finishes including timber wall panelling, neutral grey tone flooring and matt black joinery.
“All designs are fully self-contained with integrated services and enclosures screened from view, eliminating a rear-elevation and allowing the products to be viewed from 360 degrees.
“With no reliance on typical timber framing or use of steel in the structure, impacts of current supply shortages and weekly price escalation issues have no effect on the build time or cost.”
A prototype of the framing has been constructed at Adelaide’s Tonsley Innovation District.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
