Presentation given in 5th Annual Symposium of Architectural Research: Architecture and resilience. (August 28-30, 2013 in Tampere, Finland) Modular building – a resident-centric and multiform housing construction model? The premise of this study is a hypothesis of modular construction that enables the development of resident-centric and multiform residential buildings and apartments. The study is related to research projects where the possibilities inherent in modular multi-storey construction are clarified. These possibilities enable the adding of versatility to the current residential construction typology. The development potential of modular construction lies in the possibility it presents to shorten construction time and increase quality. According to popular misconception, modular construction is said to impose limitations on architectural design, leading to monotonous or 'traditional-only' residential buildings. Another alleged challenge to modular construction is the belief that it can poorly address the specifications of commissioning parties or users. The study examines the potential included in the industrial serial production of modules. Serial-customized modules may be used to create diverse apartments on the smaller scale and varying building types according to the surrounding environment on the larger scale. The subject is approached by means of theoretical study and established architectural design. The aspects of resident-centric and multiform residential construction are handled for example from the viewpoint of apartments that are flexible in space arrangement and size. Different combinations of modules, terracing and the crossing of openings with modules enable rarely used mass solutions and apartment-specific outdoor areas in multi-story construction. Also, a porous relationship between private, semi-public and public spaces are examined on both building and city scales. Achieving highlighted goals is a prerequisite to modular construction's ability to meet the challenges of sustainable construction at ecological, economic, and social levels.

1. PROJECT MANAGER
SINI KOTILAINEN
sini.kotilainen(at)tut.fi
MODULARBUILDING
A RESIDENT-CENTRIC AND MULTIFORM
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION MODEL
?

2. CONCEL L S
NEAPO OY ARCHITECTS HEDMAN & MATOMÄKI OY
RAMBOLL FINLAND OY
SUUNNITTELULINJA FINLAND OY
RESPONSABLE LEADER:
PROFESSOR MARKKU HEDMAN
RESEARCHER, PROJECT MANAGER:
SINI KOTILAINEN
TUT/ DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
MODULAR BUILDINGSTEEL CORE PANEL STRUCTURE:

3. THE STEEL CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE, UK
TECNALIA, SPAIN
HTA ARCHITECTS, UK
NEAPO OY
AST, SPAIN
CONCEL L SMOD CONS
TUT/ DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
MODULAR BUILDINGSTEEL CORE PANEL STRUCTURE:
RESPONSABLE LEADER:
PROFESSOR MARKKU HEDMAN
RESEARCHER, PROJECT MANAGER:
SINI KOTILAINEN

4. MOD CONSMODULAKEA
LAKEA OY
MODULAR BUILDING
CONCEL L S
CLT WOOD STRUCTURE:
RESPONSABLE LEADER:
PROFESSOR MARKKU HEDMAN
RESEARCHER, PROJECT MANAGER:
SINI KOTILAINEN

5. MODULARBUILDING
A RESIDENT-CENTRIC AND MULTIFORM
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION MODEL
?

6. IN COUNTRIES WHERE ON-SITE BUILDING IS MORE COMMON,
EVEN ELEMENT-BASED BUILDING IS SOMETIMES CALLED
”MODULAR CONSTRUCTION”
NAMING IS INTERNATIONALLY VARIANT
VOLUMETRIC
MODULES
MODULAR
BUILDING

7. PICTURE: NEAPO Oy
NOWADAYS, CONSTRUCTION WORK IS USUALLY BASED ON JOINING
TOGETHER PRE-MANUFACTURED COMPONENTS

8. PICTURE: NEAPO Oy
MODULAR BUILDING TAKES THE PRE-PREPARATION LEVEL FURTHER

9. PICTURE: NEAPO Oy
ANDMAKESITPOSSIBLETOJOINTOGETHERENTIREREADY-MADE
APARTMENTSOR PARTS OF APARTMENTS ON THE BUILDIG SITE

10. THEREVIEWSSHOWEVIDENCEOFDRIVERSTOWARDSANDAGAINSTMODULARBUILDING
SUSTAINABILITY?

11. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RESIDENTS?

12. RANNISTO (2013) TUT/ DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
INTERVIEW RESEARCH
THELIMITEDPOSSIBILITIESANDTHEMONOTONYOFARCHITECTURAL
DESIGNISSEENASTHEONEWEAKNESSOFMODULARCONSTRUCTION

13. WESHOULDALREADYDURINGTHEEARLYPHASEOFMODULARBUILDING
CONSIDERHOWTHEPOSSIBILITIESOFMODULARBUILDINGCANBEUSEDTO
MEETTHENEEDSOFRESIDENTSANDFUTUREPROSPECTSOFHOUSING

14. 8.0 m
Room
13.0 m
Room
THE HYPOTHESIS
IS MODULAR CONSTRUCTION THAT ENABLES THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RESIDENT-CENTRIC AND MULTIFORM MULTI-STOREY BUILDING

15. PHASE 1METHOD: LITERATURE REVIEW
A
THE ADVANTAGES, CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
THE CONCEPTS OF MODULARITY AND MODULE FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
CONNECTING MODULARITY TO THE CONTEXT OF INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION

16. PHASE 1METHOD: LITERATURE REVIEW
AN ANALYSIS FOCUSING ON THE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT TRENDS OF DWELLING
EXPLORING THE MEGA-TRENDS THAT WILL CHANGE THE FINNISH HOUSING
REVIEW OF CHANGES IN, AND THE FUTURE OF, HOUSING
B

17. PHASE 2
INVESTIGATIONS USING ONE
EXAMPLE MODULAR SYSTEM
METHOD:”RESEARCH BY DESIGN”
HOW MODULAR BUILDING CAN
MEET THE FUTURE NEEDS OF HOUSING?
( (

18. K
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APUM
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APUM
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UULI
2
x
APUM
O
D
UULI
LARGEPRODUCTIONOFSIMILARSIZEDMODULESCANPOSSIBLYCREATECOST
SAVINGSFOREXAMPLE INDIVERSEHOUSINGDEVELOPMENT
EXAMPLE MODULAR SYSTEM

19. OPENINGS
ENTRANCE
54,3 m2
SERVICED PART AREA
BUILDING SERVICES
IN STAIRWELL
SERIAL PRODUCTION - SERIAL CUSTOMIZATION
SERIALPRODUCTIONCANALSOBEIMPLEMENTEDASSERIALCUSTOMIZATION:
SOMEPROPERTIESSTAYTHESAME...

20. O H
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VAR.
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VAR.
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ALK.
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AUKOTUS MÄÄRITELTY
SISÄÄNTULOALUE
54,3 m2
... BUTSOMEOFTHEPROPERTIESDIFFERFROMONEMODULETOTHENEXT

21. STEEL CORE PANELS STEEL CORE PANEL MODULES
MODULAR
BUILDING
MODULARSYSTEMWASGENERATEDINCONCELLS-PROJECTFORSTEEL
COREPANELMODULESANDFORFINNISHRESIDENTIALMARKET

22. MODULAR SYSTEM4,5 m x 6,5 m
26,3 m2

23. 4,5 m x 8,275 m
36,9 m2 MODULAR SYSTEM

24. 6,5 m x 6,5 m
38,8 m2 MODULAR SYSTEM

25. 6,5 m x 9 m
54,3 m2
MODULAR SYSTEM

26. APUMODUULI
AM
AM
inner width 1500 mm MODULAR SYSTEM

27. CHALLENGE OF CHANGING LIFESTYLES, DAILY MOBILITY,
THE SIZE OF HOUSEHOLDS, FAMILYS, POPULATION STRUCTURE,
TIME MANAGEMENT, TYPES OF LIVING...
MANYCHANGESINOURSOCIETYHIGHLIGHTSTHEIMPORTANCEOF FLEXIBLE
APARTMENTSANDTHEADAPTABILITYOFSPACES

28. FLEXIBILITY AND
INDIVIDUALIZATION OF
THE APARTMENTS
TECHNICAL CONVERTIBILITY
MODIFIABILITY
MULTIPURPOSE SPACES
“NEUTRAL ROOMS”
LOFT SOLUTIONS: LARGER
HEIGHT OF A MODULE
WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED?

29. INFILLSUPPORT
(BASE BUILDING)
URBAN
TISSUE
CITY
STRUCTURE
OPENBUILDINGAIMSTHATRESIDENTSCANDETERMINEANDMODIFYTHEIROWN
APARTMENTWITHOUTAFFECTINGTHEBIGGERSCALE,THEFRAMEOFTHEBUILDING

30. S
V H/
VAR.
K PH
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Y HDE N
A V OIMEN
TILAN
RATKAISU
S
V H/
VAR.
K PH
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ETÄTY Ö
TSTO.
SPATIAL ARCHETYPE: DIVISIBLE SPACE
ASTHEMODULESARESELF-SUPPORTING, NONEEDFORLOAD-BEARING
PARTITIONWALLSINSIDEMODULES-RESIDENTCANBELEFTINCHARGE

31. INSPIRATION
Töölöläisasunnon konsepti
Arkkitehtuuri- ja muotoilutoimisto Talli
SPATIAL ARCHETYPE: THE SPACE STRUCTURE BASED ON ROOM CELLS
FAMILYAPARTMENTSUSUALLYHAVESTIFFMODULEFRAMESASPARTITION
WALLSWITHINTHEM-RESIDENTSCANNOTCHANGETHEMODULEFRAMES

32. 5m
T PK
EK PH
PA RV IMA HDOL L ISUUS
ALK./
VAR
säilytys-
kalusteet
INCREASING THE HEIGHT OF A ROOM WOULD ALLOW MANY FLEXIBLE
AND MULTI USABLE SPACE SOLUTIONS IN APARTMENTS

33. PA RV IMA HDOL L ISUUS
O H
K PH
E
K
2 MH/
M H
PA RV IMA HDOL L ISUUS
5m
INCREASING THE HEIGHT OF A ROOM WOULD ALLOW MANY FLEXIBLE
AND MULTI USABLE SPACE SOLUTIONS IN APARTMENTS

34. Vainio ym. 2012, 22.
1960
0
500 000
1 000 000
1 500 000
2 000 000
2 500 000
3 000 000
1980 20001970 1990 2010 20251965 1985 2005 20201975 1995 2015 2030
LIVING ALONE
2 ADULT FAMILIES
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
IN FUTURE, HOUSING STOCK WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE LARGELY VIA THE
DIFFERENTIATING HOUSEHOLD-DWELLING UNITS

35. WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED?

36. EK PH
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M HO H
SIV UA S/
M H
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VAR.
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37. Commuters share (%) of
employed by municipality
8,4-21,5
21,6-30,2
30,3-40,6
40,7-57,2
57,23-90,0
Employment Statistics 2009
THE REALIZATION OF CONTRADICTING HOUSING WISHES:COMMUTING HAS ITS
PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY
Placement for housing pro
duction 2012-2030
< 1
1,0-2,5
2,5-4,5
> 4,5
VTT 2012

38. FUNCTIONAL POSSIBILITIES?
A SENSE OF BELONGING BETWEEN
THE PLACE AND THE RESIDENT?
THE POSSIBILITY TO
PERSONALIZE SPACE? RESTORATIVE
ENVIRONMENTS?
HOW HOUSING EXTERIORS
INFLUENCE THE QUALITY OF HOME?
USABILITY?
TERRITORIES?
THE APPEAL OF URBAN LIVING PLAYS A MAJOR PART IN COMPACTNESS OF THE
URBAN STRUCTURE AND REDUCING THE EMISSIONS OF TRAFFIC

39. MODUULI
MODUULI
THE APARTMENT-SPECIFIC
OUTDOOR AREA AS AN
ADDED PART OR ZONE
DEEP RELIEF-LIKE
STRUCTURE:
HORIZONTAL AND/OR
VERTICAL POCKES OF
MODULES
TERRACING THE
BUILDING MASS
COMBINATIONS OF A POCKET
BETWEEN MODULES AND
YARD STAIRS
SHARED TERRACES
WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED?

40. K PH
S
K PH
M H O H
M H
W C
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V H
V H
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K PH
M H
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M H
W C
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V H
M H
M H
O H
K
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K PH
K PH
T PK
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V H
K
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M H
PA
RILLIN
EN
KRS
?
+
TE

41. M H
K
O H
K PH
E
LIITERI
T PK
E
K PHLIITERI
O H
E
A UL A
K
M H
HM
AM
AM

42. HM
AM
AM
M H
K
O H
K PH
E
LIITERI
SIV UA S./
M H
E
K PHLIITERI
O H
E
A UL A
K
M H
AN APARTMENT-SPECIFIC OUTDOOR AREA
CONNECTING THE DIFFERENT WINGS/SIDES
OF THE APARTMENT

43. HM
AM
AM
O H
E
A UL A
K
M H
M H
K PH ELIITERI
SIV UA S./
M H
M H
K
O H
K PH
E
LIITERI
AN APARTMENT-SPECIFIC OUTDOOR AREA
CONNECTING THE DIFFERENT WINGS/SIDES
OF THE APARTMENT

44. K PH
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T PK
T PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
T PK
E
K PH
T PK
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K PH
T PK
E
K PH
AUKI YLÖS JA ALAS
TE
TE
TE

45. WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED?
INTERESTING OPPORTUNITIES
IN URBAN CITY-SCALE

46. MASS SOLUTIONS FOR MODULAR
BUILDING MASS IN A VERTICAL
AND HORISONTAL SECTION
LARGE OPENINGS UNDERNEATH THE
BUILDING MASS
VARYING ROOFTOP LEVELS
LARGE OPENINGS IN THE BUILDING
MASS
ATRIUM BUILDINGS, LIGHT SHAFTS
COURTYARDS
YARDS PARTIALLY SURROUNDED BY
THE BUILDING
WEAVE -LIKE BLOCKS
WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED?

47. O H
K PHK
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M H
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LIITERI
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LIITERI
LIITERI
LIITERI
K PH
K
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M H
K HH/
VAR/
V H
K
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M H
K HH/
VAR/
V H
O H O H
K PHK PH
M HM H
K PHK PH
M HM H
saareke
K
saareke
saareke
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saareke
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V H/
VAR/
ALK./
T Y Ö
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V H
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V H
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ALK./
T Y Ö
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K E
K PHE
T PK
K KT PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
K PH
V H/
VAR
M H
T PK
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48. V H/
VAR/
ALK./
T Y Ö
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V H/
VAR/
ALK./
T Y Ö
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V H/
VAR/
ALK./
T Y Ö
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VAR/
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VAR/
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VAR/
ALK./
T Y Ö
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A UL A
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M H
M H
M H
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M H
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VAR/
V H
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A UL A
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M HM H M H O H
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M H
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VAR/
V H
1- 2
M H
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1- 2
M H
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K
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1- 2
M H
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1- 2
M H
K PH
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K
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1- 2
M H
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K
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K PH
K
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KAHDEN ASUNNON
JAKAMA AULA
KAHDEN ASUNNON
JAKAMA AULA
T PK
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T PK
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O H
K
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K
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K PH
A L K
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49. K PH
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T PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
T PK
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K PH
AUKI YLÖS JA ALAS
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T PK
K PH
K PH
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K
V H/
K HH
SOPPI
SOPPI
K PHE
K PH E
K PH EK PHE
T ST O
T ST O
T ST O
T ST O
K PH
K saareke
K PH
M H
M H
V H/
VAR
V H/
VAR
M H
M H
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K HH
K HH
K
saareke
K PH
M H
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VAR
M H
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M H O H
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V H
M H
M H
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K
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K PH
K PH
T PK
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V H
K
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M H

50. TRANSDISCIPLINARY
DISCIPLINARY
SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH
CREATIVE
PRACTICE
Adapted from Dunin-Woyseth and Nilsson 2008.
STUDIESMOVESINTHEAREAWHERECREATIVEPRACTICEANDTRANSDISCIPLINARITY
OVERLAP:METHODCREATESOPPORTUNITIESANDISABIGCHALLENGE

51. THERESEARCHRESULTS?
“INFORMATION” TO STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING STUDIES
AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ARCHITECTURAL POINT OF VIEW IN
MODULAR CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

52. PROJECT MANAGER
SINI KOTILAINEN
sini.kotilainen(at)tut.fi
040 849 0427
MODULARBUILDING
A RESIDENT-CENTRIC AND MULTIFORM
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION MODEL
?