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Studio Moda Takes On Its First Offsite Construction Project

Studio MODA Ltd. Architects are delighted to see their first offsite construction project taking shape on a site near Ringwood, Dorset.  Offsite construction covers a range of construction techniques which move a greater proportion of construction from site to a production factory.

A scheme for 4 dwellings was designed to be fabricated with a timber SIPS panel system (Structural Insulated Panel System).  The SIP panels were fabricated and delivered by a local company.  This is a more refined method not to be confused with timber frame construction, although the main structural material is timber which is ethically and responsibly sourced.

Unlike timber frame, the SIPS panel system is rigidly robust and is not subject to the typical movement of timber frame studs.   It is a modern construction technique that relies on computer digital modelling and involves sandwiching rigid panels (made of foam or polystyrene insulation) between Oriented Strand Board (OSB) that fit together almost like Lego.

The SIPS panels on this project have been used for the walls, upper floors and roof with a brick outer skin finish to the walls and slate tiles to the roof, creating a traditional look on what is a technological building system.

Studio MODA Architects Ltd. opted for this construction method for the following reasons –

• Project delivery times for the Client – the use of SIPS reduce the overall construction phase of a project by up to 50%.  The reduced construction period leads to considerable economic benefits.
• Flexible design – appropriate for more complicated designs and not just modular “boxes”.
• Energy efficiency – super insulated panels create well insulated homes that require reduced heating.  The system creates air-tight construction which improves heat loss and allows better control of internal temperature, especially when combined with MVHR – Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery System.
• Structural integrity – despite the lightness of the panels, they are very strong – up to 7 times stronger than timber frame.
• High level of weather resistance – since much of the fabrication process is within a factory environment.
• Eco-friendly – While SIPs still require timber, the quantity is reduced compared to traditional timber frame. The exterior of the panels is made from oriented strand board, which is a material made from fast-growing, environmentally certified and eco-sourced trees. Due to the rapid growth of these trees, the environmental impact is minimised.

If you have a domestic construction project that is time critical, requires green credentials and built to the highest standards, you can rely on Studio MODA to provide high quality residential architectural services in Bournemouth and Poole.  Contact Studio MODA Architects Ltd. today for more information on the SIPS journey to a greener, more economic and efficient way to build.