IDEAhaus

IDEAhaus is a climate resilient, mass customisable housing construction system. It makes a
house which is Industrialised, Delightful, Efficient and Adaptable; an IDEAhaus.
This project responds to two glaring problems facing UK housing construction:
1. There is a great need for mass affordable housing production in the UK and greater
industrialisation could bring better quality, speed and predictability. However, factory made
housing has not provided the variety and flexibility necessary for different site context and
programme requirements.
2. There is little recognition of the speed of climate change with flooding and overheating
projected to increase massively in the UK. Much new timber frame housing is already
suffering overheating and is susceptible to flood damage. Our analysis shows cooling could
overtake heating energy demand by 2040.
The IDEAhaus system is based around a limited number of components which can be
assembled to provide different sized homes. The construction is considered as: Core
construction, Additive components, Adaptable services.
The INDUSTRIALISATION of the construction allows for standardisation of core
components, enhanced manufacturing quality, predictable cost and delivery and economies of
scale
It is made DELIGHTFUL with light and airy spaces, individualised room layouts, windows &
cladding, excellent thermal comfort and high quality products with finishing options
In order to be EFFICIENT it uses passive thermal design, renewable energy systems, low
impact materials with minimal waste. It has predictable design times and a quick to erect
watertight shell.
It is made ADAPTABLE by allowing for a flexible layout (to Lifetime Homes), incorporating
flood and overheating resistant construction with additive exo-structural options and
replaceable cladding, solar panels and services.
IDEAhaus illustrates how spatial flexibility, customiseable facades, thermal improvements
and future adaptability could revolutionise UK housing!