Making a Case for Modularity

Abstract

What we design and how it is made are intimately connected. The need to make modular components is a consequence of construction methodology and disposition in production and manufacturing. With the prevalence of digital modelling, designers and architects use modularity not only as design strategy but also to explore new aesthetics. This article examines design and architectural projects that prioritise geometrical and dimensional constraints at different scales, to highlight modular systems as essential areas of research. Here, Material Architecture Lab put together a series of speculative designs that investigate modular components and spatial configurations to accompany the written component. This article scans through a selection of discourses around modularity in architecture to contextualise, question and challenge the innovative potential of modular systems. By engaging with modular design of various types and materials, our aim is to articulate the value attached to a bottom-up design research, from digital modelling to fabrication processes.