Architecture-Flower Power

A plug-and-play idea for a building, the concept being that a central core (like what is found in most buildings) is used as an anchor point for pre-assembled units to plug into. This allows the building as a whole to be quickly and cheaply upgraded or undergo a change of use.

The design here is for a student dormitory, each unit is made from a standard 20 or 40 foot shipping container. A single 40-foot container can be used as a two person, en-suite dorm room, as a student lounge or as a communal study room. The 20-foot containers get fitted out as laundry or utility rooms with the option of using them as retail or café spaces.

With the different units, custom floor layouts can be composed around the central core for each building level, creating a flower like pattern. With an option to include large outside balcony areas between some of the ‘petal’ room modules.

Take each floor layout stacked up, add some weather screens where required by site conditions, and voila, an interesting, quick, cheap, flexible and visually stimulating building.