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Modular Construction: Design Considerations and Opportunities

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Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate (CRIOCM 2020)

Abstract

The realization of Modular Construction (MC) is impeded by several barriers, e.g., initial investment, logistics constraints, and negative perception. Design, a profoundly creative process to alleviate difficulties in the built environment, is prospected to enhance this construction method. Under this circumstance, many guidelines, recommendations, and avoidances have been proposed to design. However, every coin has two sides. This research, therefore, argues that MC also provides new design opportunities, which have not been yet extensively investigated. It does so by comprehensive literature review and detailed archival study of successful case studies. The result unveils that although MC, by nature, may impose several design limitations, e.g., design simplification, standardization, and limited dimension, it can also serve demands and construct an outstanding architectural design by, for example, a composition of three-dimensional unit, mass customization, and product prototype. This research creates a balanced view of MC in a design process, and highlights the new approach for further design and research development in this discipline.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Vikrom Laovisutthichai, Weisheng Lu & Fan Xue

Authors
  1. Vikrom Laovisutthichai
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  2. Weisheng Lu
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  3. Fan Xue
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vikrom Laovisutthichai .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China

    Xinhai Lu

  2. Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China

    Zuo Zhang

  3. University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Weisheng Lu

  4. Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China

    Yi Peng

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Laovisutthichai, V., Lu, W., Xue, F. (2021). Modular Construction: Design Considerations and Opportunities. In: Lu, X., Zhang, Z., Lu, W., Peng, Y. (eds) Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate. CRIOCM 2020. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3587-8_92

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