Protobuilding: Pioneering Sustainable and Innovative Timber Housing
Presented at The Wood Conference by Dr Schalk Grobbelaar from the GSTM.
What does the ideal sustainable house look like? How can we apply systems thinking to craft integrated and optimised housing solutions?
Traditional housing design often involves creating a prototype for each project, leaving little room for innovation. Compared to other product development processes, where every feature is seamlessly integrated and optimised, housing design tends to be disjointed. But why can't we approach housing design with the same level of integration and optimisation?
The Protobuilding programme is revolutionising this approach. We're breaking free from traditional constraints by developing a design thinking process for optimised housing solutions. Through the empathise, define, imagine, prototype, and test phases, we're fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation.
Our hands-on, task-oriented approach allows us to tackle questions like: Should solar panels be integrated into the roof? What's the optimal roof structure for rainwater harvesting? How can we design homes that are expandable and modifiable?
Join us on this journey as we pave the way for sustainable and valuable timber housing and modular structures. Let's build a brighter future together!
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