Modular construction of homes has become a popular and efficient way to build houses quickly. Architect Tone Wheeler emphasized the importance of keeping modules skinny yet long enough to fit on a truck, allowing for easy transportation. The Blok Belongil modular home is a prime example of this concept, with the main entertaining areas and bedroom located upstairs and accessible from outdoors to allow for privacy for the parents. The home is also designed to meet local council rules for demountable buildings in areas affected by coastal erosion, where homeowners may need to relocate quickly in case of emergencies.
The Blok Belongil modular home is built to be flexible and can easily transition into a boutique hotel if needed. The architecture of the home allows for the family’s young adults and their friends to come and go without disturbing the parents upstairs, as the downstairs living space and bedrooms are separate and accessible from outside. In case of a natural disaster, such as a massive storm washing away nearby beaches, the modular home can be disassembled and loaded back onto trucks as quickly as it was originally built, meeting the need for quick relocation in case of emergencies.
Modular construction has long been seen as a solution to the housing crisis, offering faster construction, better quality, and greener building practices. Despite its many benefits, modular homes have often been associated with hot and ugly school demountables, making them unpopular in the housing market. However, the Blok Belongil modular home and other similar projects, such as Stafford Heights, have begun to change this perception with their clever and restrained design producing low-cost, award-winning homes. The efficiency of construction in a factory setting allows for more control and certainty over costs, with no delays due to weather conditions, as seen on traditional building sites like in Sydney.
The federal minister for science, Ed Husic, has praised modular construction as a potential solution to the housing crisis, emphasizing its ability to build more homes faster. Architect Tone Wheeler mentioned that modular construction is not only faster but also more environmentally friendly, with less waste and transport needed. The Blok Belongil modular home and other similar projects have proven that modular construction can produce high-quality, innovative homes that challenge the traditional perception of prefabricated buildings as unattractive or temporary structures.
The success of the Blok Belongil modular home and other award-winning modular projects demonstrates the potential of this construction method in the housing industry. The efficient and cost-effective nature of modular construction allows for quick and controlled building processes, reducing waste and transport. The innovative design of the Blok Belongil home, with its flexible space and ability to transition into a boutique hotel, showcases the versatility and practicality of modular homes in meeting the evolving needs of homeowners. As modular construction continues to gain recognition and popularity, it may become a key solution to addressing the housing crisis and meeting the demands of the modern housing market.
