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Flat-Pack Mobile Architecture: This Building Will Self-Construct in 8 Minutes

11 Jul

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]

Requiring a single tool and very little power, these self-deploying structures are ready for use in minutes, expanding themselves to multiple times their compact travel size.

Based in the United Kingdom, Ten Fold Engineering’s structures can be packed onto ordinary trucks, conforming to road-worthy dimensions for maximum flexibility.

The company boasts myriad possible uses, from medical clinics and mobile hotels to on-demand offices and private retreats — the sale pitch in the video above is a bit blandly corporate, but the mechanics of the thing unfolding are gorgeous.

Their custom pin-jointed linkages help them open and close easily with minimal energy requirements and using just a single (presumably sonic) screwdriver. They are modular and can be customized with various arrangements of floors, doors, windows and dividers — they can even be shipped with furniture inside.

The company is also experimenting with designs for multi-story structures as well as stackable variants, opening up a whole world of possibilities.

Even the designs show an appealing variety of aesthetic possibilities, including dynamic modern looks and spacious expanding ceilings that go a step beyond typical prefab home possibilities.

Thanks to their variable footings, the units can be put up on uneven or sloped ground, stabilizing to sit flat from the perspective of the occupant.

The buildings can go off the grid but also feature optional attachments for solar panels and batteries, presenting an array of potential power possibilities.

At around 700 square feet and $ 130,000 the base models aren’t cheap, but for someone with the urge to roam they make a pretty stylish and comfortable option for a semi-mobile home.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]

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Flat-Pack Life Support: NASA’s Inflatable Hydroponic Space Greenhouse

15 May

[ By WebUrbanist in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

A key development in the quest to create sustainable ecosystems in space, this expandable greenhouse prototype aims to generate essential food and oxygen for long-term astronaut travel.

Recently, Peggy Whitson broke the record for longest stay in space (534 days) and astronauts have started growing their own vegetables on the International Space Station. This collapsible growing unit aims to take things to the next level, enabling longer-term settlements on places including the moon and Mars.

Developed by NASA and agricultural researchers at the University of Arizona, the test unit spans 7 by 18 feet. Its primary functions: convert carbon dioxide from crew, support plant photosynthesis. This bio-regenerative approach to life support is an essential system for recycling scarce resources off-planet.

It also takes its queues directly from our own world: “We’re mimicking what the plants would have if they were on Earth, and using of these processes for life support. The entire system of the lunar greenhouse does represent, in a small way, the biological systems that are here on earth.”

But a big trick to the design is simply its portability: materials take up space, so engineering minimal frameworks that will work when the system is expanded is critical to getting space greenhouses into (and out of) orbit in the first place.

Meanwhile, on the ISS, astronauts continue to grow (and consume) plants outside of Earth’s normal gravity, paving the way for a better understanding of how agriculture will really work off-planet in the future.

[ By WebUrbanist in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

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Flat-Pack Bicycle Helmet: Portable Paper Head Protection for Cyclists

01 Jan

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

paper-bike-helmets

As urban cycling continues to increase in popularity, bike commuters still face the same challenge: carrying a clunky helmet with them wherever they go. For part-time, on-demand cyclists in places with bike share programs the problem is even more pronounced: hopping a ride is simply not a safe option unless they happen to have headgear handy.

paper-helmet

Hence the EcoHelmet by Isis Shiffer, a graduate of the Pratt Institute of Design in New York. Her collapsible helmet is designed to be low-cost (around $ 5) and easy to pack into vending machines paired with bike sharing stations.

safe-bike-paper

Recycled paper is woven into a folding honeycomb structure that is light, durable and portable, forming a protective cover in moments. A waterproof coating also protects the helmet from rainfall. Paper sounds like an implausible material, but the design has passed European safety reviews and is looking for approval in the United States. Still skeptical? The video below features some impressive impact tests — sure, the helmet may need to be replaced after an accident, but if it does the job in the moment that is what really matter.

collapsing-helmet-design

The low price tag presumably makes these cheap enough that riders won’t balk at buying one even for a single ride (though hopefully they would save and store them for future trips given how compact they are when folded up.

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

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Flat-Pack Wall Furniture Folds into its Own Isometric Projection

02 Jun

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

3d wall flat pack

This furniture series not only folks up to pack flat for shipping or storage, but also hangs on the wall, each piece in the shape of a two-dimensional isometric drawing of itself.

De-Dimension by Jongha Choi uses a set of hinges and locking pins to fold out and lock into position, providing support when the pieces are used as seats and tables. Like other flat-pack furniture designs, this set boasts reduced weight and space requirements, though arguably at the expense of long-term durability and stability (depending in part on hidden bracing and the quality of components used).

3d furniture designs

The set is in part a commentary on representation versus reality, two-dimensional forms versus three-dimensional figures. From the designer: “Even the advent of 3D printing skills shake our fundamental notion of the image. Unlike the past, we are not only seeing the image as a means of reproducing objects, but also giving essential identity to the image itself. In other words, though the image still shows its visual effect on a flat plane, it is not just an expression of representation, but a making real an experience.

3d wall furniture

“In our current situation, in which modern society experiences the image, in relation to advertising, image circulation and the internet, why do we not question an images’ confinement to a flat surface. Why don’t we try to get more stereoscopic and attempt for direct experience with the image. My question started with this point and I tried several experiments in order to realize this idea from a personal point of view.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

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Sladda: IKEA to Sell New Flat-Pack Bicycle for Urban Cyclists

23 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

ikea bike trailer

IKEA has announced a new lightweight bicycle with a rust-resistant chain, aluminum frame and low-maintenance construction all aimed to make it easier for more casual bicyclists to hop on and enjoy the ride.

sladda bike

A joint project by Oskar Juhlin, Jan Puranen and Kristian Eke from Swedish studio Veryday Design, the easy-upkeep bike comes in a few basic models with a series of adjustable features.

ikea trailer attachment

It is simple and unassuming at a glance, but aimed to be a go-to, easy-to-use object just like IKEA’s furniture and furnishing lines (just presumably more robust than some). For many would-be bikers, the prospect of maintaining the bicycle itself is a barrier to entry that IKEA hopes to eliminate as a concern.

ikea new bike model

Bike racks, bags and a two-wheeled trailer can all be added via click-to-attach mechanisms to allow for easy adjustments. At $ 750 it won’t be the cheapest model on the market, but affordable for its quality.

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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IKEA to Produce & Ship 10,000 Flat-Pack Emergency Shelters

12 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

ikea shanty village

With 40 test units created and deployed since 2013, IKEA is now ready to begin mass-producing its $ 1,000-per-unit temporary flat-pack house to destinations in need around the world. Much like IKEA’s everyday products, these shelters are ready to use right out of the box – some assembly required but all assembly tools included.

ikea flat pack home

ikea emergency housing

Recognizing the need for more robust shelters in refugee camps and disaster areas, where temporary housing often has to hold up to severe weather and longer-than-expected durations, IKEA developed Better Shelter as a low-cost alternative to conventional equivalents.

ikea modular solution

Supplied to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) by the Ikea Foundation, these new units will find homes in places they are currently used (like Ethiopia and Iraq) as well as other destinations.

ikea emergency shelter design

ikea house interior

At close to 200 square feet per unit, these are perhaps not spacious but some standards but are much larger than most emergency housing solutions. Panels, pipes, connectors, wires as well as solar power panels for the roof are all packed flat in boxes for easy shipping. While standardized, the modules are also designed to be adapted to regional climate conditions.

ikea house parts

ikea flat pack house

Shaun Scales, UNHCR’s chief of shelter and settlement, said in a statement: “The refugee housing unit (RHU) is an exciting new development in humanitarian shelter and represents a much needed addition to the palette of sheltering options mobilised to assist those in need. Its deployment will ensure dramatic improvement to the lives of many people affected by crises.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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Details & Diagrams: $1,000 IKEA Flat-Pack Refugee Shelter

28 Oct

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

ikea shelter diagrams

Emergency shelters are designed to be short-term solutions, and many cannot withstand rain, wind and sun for more than six months. Yet the average stay in refugee camp is over twenty times that duration.

flat pack emergency shelter

The IKEA Foundation, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has developed a longer-term solution to this problem, turning their experience with flat-pack furniture and language-free instruction manuals toward disaster relief efforts in and around war-torn places like Syria (they are already testing in Lebanon and Iraq). Sticklers for detail should scroll carefully below for a step-by-step deconstruction of what goes into this remarkable dwelling.

flat pack shelter diagram

The problem, in part, is building the most universal unit possible in a world where emergencies happen globally, spanning regions both hot and cold and with vastly different cultural norms. Their solution is much like an ordinary IKEA product: flexible, adaptable, modular and packed into cardboard boxes of components. Naturally, they require no tools that are not included.

flat pack ikea shelter

While the structures themselves are still only expected to last a few years, they are made to be modified, enhanced and expanded in various ways. For instance, earthen walls and corrugated metal roofs can be pushed up against, fastened to and ultimately help reinforce the core buildings, or even eventually replace the need for underlying framework entirely, rendering it redundant.

ikea shelter finished

The shelters are constructed primarily from polymer panels that clip into a wire frame. On top sits an aluminum-mesh roofing sheet that is designed to reflect sunlight by day and retain heat by night. Solar energy charges a USB outlet for electrical needs. The target price range for mass production is under $ 1000, making it affordable in bulk to international organizations. Images and diagram via The Telegraph, IKEA Foundation and Graphic News.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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Flat-Pack Emergency Shelters Slot Together Like Puzzles

05 Jun

[ By Delana in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

emergency shelters flatpack plywood

Times of emergency call for quick action to get victims into safe shelters. Plenty of easily-assembled emergency structures have been designed over the years, but Australian architecture firm BVN Donovan Hill has presented an interesting take on the topic. Their idea goes together like a 3D puzzle, each piece of plywood slotting together as easily as a flat-pack furniture kit.

flatpack emergency shelter

The shelter consists of pre-cut plywood boards that would be delivered to a disaster site flat-packed. Each piece has notches that fit into the next piece; assembling one of the shelters requires no tools other than the hands of one or two people. Once the wooden skeleton has been assembled, a waterproof skin is put on the outside to keep out the elements. The goal is for the structure to be able to be assembled in just one day.

easily assembled flat pack emergency shelter

The inside of the structure features contours that jut out to create shapes that could be used for sitting or sleeping. That’s according to the designers – to us, the thin plywood shapes don’t look comfortable enough to support a person without an extreme amount of padding between them and the human body.

modular pre-cut easy assemble emergency shelters

According to the designers, one of their main goals in this design was to create a space that is not simply utilitarian, but one that creates happiness in times of tragedy. The shelters are small – around 100 square feet – but very heavy at about half a ton each. This makes each one quite substantial and perhaps usable for long periods if necessary.

temporary emergency shelter flat pack

The structures can be grouped together to create a temporary community, with some buildings serving as meeting places instead of grouping all of the victims together in one very large space. The concept will require a significant amount of fleshing out before it becomes a viable option for disaster relief, but the idea of an easily (and quickly) assembled, private temporary home is one that will appeal to just about anyone who has ever been displaced by a natural disaster.

(images via: Inhabitat)

[ By Delana in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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Origami Shelter: Instant Flat-Pack Architecture on Demand

19 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

origamic architecture

Take a structure, strip away all of the non-essentials, and squeeze out every last unused bit of air space, and what do you get? Something a lot like a folded sheet of paper.

origami inspired instant architecture

This folding shelter designed by Doowon Suh is as elementary as it gets – a series of sheets that unfold like origami to form a robust but basic building.

origami example

Like nesting paper cranes, in its most compact form, each module can be stacked on its siblings, making it easy to pack and ship in containers or store until deployed.

origami flat pack buildings

The modules are bare bones for maximum adaptive capability – they can emergency homes or hospital pods, temporary stores or community rooms.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

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Boat to Go: Portable Flat-Pack Vessel Folds Up Like a Tent

16 Oct

[ By Delana in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

This folding boat from design student Thibault Penven is a surprisingly effective way to keep a water conveyance with you at all times. It is surprising, of course, because one would not expect a boat to fold up and still be water-worthy – but this one does it spectacularly and without much trouble.

The project is called Ar Vag, and it quickly goes from a folded up, easily transportable waterproof skin to a one-person rowboat. The yellow waterproof skin is reinforced with rigid boards sewn inside. After unfolding, poles are inserted into pockets in the rim of the boat – kind of like tent poles – to hold the boat open.

Finally, a board holds the sides apart under tension and acts as a seat. The unfolded boat is surprisingly watertight and looks much like a normal boat – with one difference: when you’re done paddling around for the day, this one fits in the hatchback of a compact car.

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360Photography

Posts Tagged ‘FlatPack’

Flat-Pack Mobile Architecture: This Building Will Self-Construct in 8 Minutes

Flat-Pack Life Support: NASA’s Inflatable Hydroponic Space Greenhouse

Flat-Pack Bicycle Helmet: Portable Paper Head Protection for Cyclists

Flat-Pack Wall Furniture Folds into its Own Isometric Projection

Sladda: IKEA to Sell New Flat-Pack Bicycle for Urban Cyclists

IKEA to Produce & Ship 10,000 Flat-Pack Emergency Shelters

Details & Diagrams: $1,000 IKEA Flat-Pack Refugee Shelter

Flat-Pack Emergency Shelters Slot Together Like Puzzles

(images via: Inhabitat)

Origami Shelter: Instant Flat-Pack Architecture on Demand

Boat to Go: Portable Flat-Pack Vessel Folds Up Like a Tent

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

15 (More!) Flat-Pack Furniture Designs & Ideas

Whatever Floats Your Boat: 29 Wild Watercraft

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Posts Tagged ‘FlatPack’

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

IKEA to Produce & Ship 10,000 Flat-Pack Emergency Shelters

Details & Diagrams: $ 1,000 IKEA Flat-Pack Refugee Shelter

Unstealable Bike: Theft-Proof Bicycle Frame Doubles as Lock

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Details & Diagrams: $ 1,000 IKEA Flat-Pack Refugee Shelter

Flat-Pack Emergency Shelters Slot Together Like Puzzles

16 Lifesaving Temporary Emergency & Disaster Shelters

(images via: Inhabitat)

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

15 (More!) Flat-Pack Furniture Designs & Ideas

Whatever Floats Your Boat: 29 Wild Watercraft