AUAR’s first permanent unit includes a group of musicians
after Many experiments with temporary structures, design and technology company AUAR has now completed its first permanent housing unit that will be used as a home Office. headquarters. center And a rehearsal studio for a couple Bristolresident musicians. 10 square meters (107 square feet) The Plane Built using company units the woods The system, which integrates robotics and automation to provide high-quality, beautifully designed, sustainable and affordable housing. In particular, the project demonstrates the potential of the AUAR system to support personalization and community participation in the construction process.
AUAR uses robotics and automation to complete a customizable housing unit in Bristol
All photos by Naru
A system that creates adaptive and customizable environments
The modular system by AUAR (find more here) consists of timber building blocks that are machined and assembled into housing units. The production chain begins when a robot assembles planks into individual building blocks, then stacks the blocks into easily transportable units. These units are delivered locally to a designated location and assembled by local craftsmen and in-house builders.
This first permanent residential unit will be used primarily as a rehearsal studio by a cellist and double guitarist. Clients chose this building system because the resulting structures can be easily customized for site and function, providing a unique environment. They also have thermal and acoustic insulation, which can be achieved while retaining a space filled with light, as well as renewable properties and a low carbon footprint.
AUAR uses robotics and automation to complete a customizable housing unit in Bristol
Responding to the personal needs of each passenger
Using the company’s automation process, units can be easily customized based on site characteristics, as well as the occupant’s lifestyle and aesthetic preferences. This provides an absolute alternative to existing modular housing approaches that are repetitive and difficult to adapt to local contexts. Furthermore, the wooden building blocks can be disassembled and reassembled for other uses, thus reducing material waste and conforming to circular design principles.
In the case of this permanent unit, AUAR has produced multiple designs in response to the southeast facing construction site and an understanding of customer needs. With the same number of blocks, the design team discussed different and customized options. Some designs were more introverted, other block groups were more open to the garden, while others explored design possibilities for porthole space, with or without ceiling lighting, etc., AUAR CEO Molly Claypool explains. From there, customers chose the features they liked, and a final version was created. And most importantly, the exact cost was known at all times, because it is directly related to the number of blocks used.
AUAR uses robotics and automation to complete a customizable housing unit in Bristol
Fits seamlessly into the surroundings
The wood components are manufactured locally, in Bristol, in the citizen-led manufacturing center KWMC Factory. The prefabrication of the blocks took two weeks and the housing unit itself was constructed in seven days by a group of local contractors and community residents experienced working with auar’s modular building system and hired to work alongside the AUAR team.
The resulting unit fits seamlessly into the client’s backyard. Despite the small area of 10 sq m (107 sq ft), the large floor-to-ceiling window/door provides a visual and physical connection to the client’s garden, giving an impression of spaciousness. A skylight above the desk enhances the natural light that floods the unit. Besides wood blocks and wood cladding, all additional building materials were selected for their sustainable, low-carbon properties. These include non-toxic, recyclable epdm surfaces, rubber flooring, and cellulose paper insulation.
AUAR uses robotics and automation to complete a customizable housing unit in Bristol
