The modular system explained

As a starting point, the concept distinguishes the use of primary and secondary mono-materials. A primary mono-material is pure and contains nothing else as the basic commodity, as it is found in nature, for example untreated wood, clay, etc. A secondary mono-material is a blended material of uniform structure, such as concrete and glass. Mono-materials can in principle circulate over and over again in technical circuits, without losing its resource value.

The central principle of the concept is the fact that each single element of the building system keeps its value via its ability to be dismantled. This is achieved via standardization of the single components and also via a special assembly technology. Here we use flexible mechanical connections (for example: tenons, bolts or screws, etc.). Thus, the single components of a house are – similar to the “Lego-principle” – reduced to single elements, which can be dismantled, needly sorted and re-used at any time. With that method, the building periods are reduced.

The flexibility of the concept offers in addition the big opportunity to involve the owner of the house, both in the building process as well as with later expansions, alterations or renovations. Thus, stage-wise build-ups are feasible or a later reduced demand for room after some decades - for example when the kids have moved out. The   general possibility to reduce the building in size has big resource advantages.

Also, later rehabilitation is made much easier. Layers in floors, walls and sealings are easily accessible for inspection or exchange of materials if worn down. Thus, the lifetime of the building is greatly improved. With conventional wooden buildings of lightweight construction, longevity is usually 30 to 50 years. The lifetime of a modular building will last in accordance to Norwegian experiences at least three times as long.

As an additional economic aspect, the material value of the single components remains intact at any time.

In principle, existing building materials, which are used in accordance to European standards can be adapted to the modular standard. The modular standard communicates with the usual European building standards somehow. Materials as plasterboard panels, roof tiles or similar can be easily adapted.

The construction is tailored for unusual heavy weather conditions as they appear in this age of climate change. The building is saved for earthquakes. The snow bearing capacity is adapted to extreme Norwegian standards and the construction is especially storm proof. Through its foundation technology, water and moisture cannot affect the wood constructions.

Under a not-insulated attic, the building comprises of independent 3.6m x 3.6m (11.8 inches x 11.8 inches) fully insulated modules. As a standard size, one fully insulated module has an inside space of 12 m2. In addition, not insulated side modules can be mounted, which serve as climate zones, in order to protect the insulated modules from wind, rain and snow,

 A hanging construction of side modules are mounted on the long side of the building. The side modules are meant for climate protection and provide functional possibilities as air trap, balcony conservatory or storage room. A hanging construction was chosen to avoid a direct connection to the ground. None of the wooden parts of the building have any ground contact, but are put on a concrete system of pillars. That is also the reason we chose hanging side modules.

The building is raised on a standardized foundation system of concrete pillars and beams, which are firmly connected to the main construction via steel bolts, which make the system storm proof. 

Wet rooms have their own brick-built foundation to eliminate a common problem in wooden houses: wet rooms and timber construction do not go well together and can be subject to water leakages, which can potentially harm or damage the wooden constructive parts. Wet rooms including foundation and walls are built as an independent section, which does not have direct contact to any wooden parts of the building. 

Since the half and full modules are made of standardized components, the frontages can be adapted to local taste. 

The roof has an angle of 30 degrees. 

Through a cooperation of a politically backed community project, initiated by Walter Kraus and driven (1994-1997) via his company Økologiske hus a.s. and in cooperation with the architectural firm Gaia Lista, the production of wood components was based on an entirely new environmental approach, which led to an increase of product quality and simultaneously to an optimization of production methods. 

Background for this cooperation was the discrepancy in durability between old and new wood buildings in Scandinavia. On one side, there are old Norwegian stave churches, which still exist in relatively good shape after 500 years and more. They kept their beauty and quality instead of strong influences from weather and climate. On the other hand, there are a huge amount of modern type wood buildings with an age of 30 to 50 years, which needed to be demolished entirely or substantially rehabilitated. On top of that, these types of wood buildings had a negative influence on the health of their residents. We asked the question: Why do old wooden buildings like stave churches after several hundreds of years still kept their core structure, without being fundamentally rehabilitated and without any poisonous chemical substances. The answer we found was in the choice and production method of the wooden materials.

Prior to the entry of industrial methods in wood production, the traditional Norwegian building methods with wood started in fact in the woods. In the old days, production of wooden materials started already years prior to their actual production. Selected were trees with the right growth, location, and quality, before  they were cut down at the right time. With cutting up the trunks, the right parts of the trunk were selected for the corresponding function in the construction. As an example, the heartwood was used mostly on the outside, where the forces of weather attacked mostly.  

Unfortunately, in modern buildings the old knowledge is not used anymore. Today, trees are partly cut in summer. Wood cut in summer has a considerably shorter life span. The only selection criteria in further production are mainly based on quantity, in very few cases on quality. The cutting of trees happens fully automated and computer driven, without any qualitative evaluation. This approach continues in the further building process. Wood is usually used independent from its qualitative aspects. In this way, qualitative disadvantages appeared, which had to be remedied via technological solutions, for example through the use of highly poisonous waterproofing compounds. Today, wooden materials are mostly adapted to the industrial production processes and procedures. With our modular system, we are able to reverse the modern practices towards a more sustainable use of lumber.

The fundamental difference of our approach is based in the organizational form of the driving company under development of the system. 

The company Økologiske hus represented a local network of many small single entities, in our case about 30 small forestry companies with small lumbermills on an area of about 100,000 acres. Included were small companies producing components,  doors and windows, plumbing, electrical installation and a company producing concrete components.

The connected wood producing companies did the further refinement and finishing of the single components. In this way we were able to implement  the old and proven selection criteria and techniques of wood handling and use them within the system.

For waterproofing we used wood tar, which has been produced in accordance to a recipe, hundreds of years old. The wood tar was produced through an old pyrolysis technique. Different paintings based on wood tar were developed. Other products were timber shingles, eavestrough from wood and production of heartwood.

Through this type of organizational structure, we controlled the entire value chain. Central questions of wood selection were: 

• Where was the tree located? 
• How was it cut and treated? 
• Which parts of the trunk were used? 
• For which purpose?
• And how? 

The answers to these questions were implemented into the evaluation of lumber.

 A module comprises of various components. The entire system comprises 80 different components, which are individually specified in construction drawings. Some components are made of one single part, others are assembled from different single parts. The main elements comprise of assembled pedestals and beams. 

All construction elements are calibrated to a 60 cm x 60 cm (23.6 inches) center/center distance. All wooden materials have a defined moisture content, degree of burden and quality. For the production of the single components and also in the assembly process, the polarity of the wood is defined. 

Constructive wood protection: 

The core part of the beam or plank is more resistant against influences of the weather.