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Design in Modular Construction

Mark Lawson author Ray Ogden author Chris Goodier author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:12th Dec '19

Should be back in stock very soon

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Design in Modular Construction cover

Modular construction can dramatically improve efficiency in construction, through factory production of pre-engineered building units and their delivery to the site either as entire buildings or as substantial elements. The required technology and application are developing rapidly, but design is still in its infancy. Good design requires a knowledge of modular production, installation and interface issues and also an understanding of the economics and client-related benefits which influence design decisions.

Looking at eight recent projects, along with background information, this guide gives you coverage of:



  • generic types of module and their application




  • vertical loading, stability and robustness




  • dimensional and spacial planning




  • hybrid construction




  • cladding, services and building physics




  • fire safety and thermal and acoustic performance




  • logistical aspects – such as transport, tolerances and safe installation.


A valuable guide for professionals and a thorough introduction for advanced students.

"The authors bring together expertise in modular design, light steel structural design and concrete structural design to create a comprehensive reference book for modular construction… With over 40 case studies… the authors demonstrate the perhaps surprising capacity for modular construction to be used to create diverse, flexible and adaptable designs that can respond sensitively to both site and function. Modular design and construction intensifies the normal relationship between architectural design, structural design, building physics, manufacturing processes, transportation requirements and installation strategies. Design in Modular Construction reflects this multidisciplinary design requirement by bringing together all these aspects in an accessible and holistic manner."
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers

"… a key reference for anyone involved in the design of homes and buildings using modular construction and for undergraduate and post-graduate education."
Civil Engineering Journal, October 2015

"This should be reference reading for all students of sustainable construction. It demonstrates the benefits in terms of fewer deliveries to site, the speed of construction and the lower amounts of embodied energy in modular construction, all of which are increasingly important in today’s resource stressed world. …This book fills a gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive overview for students and those designers new to the idea of building with modules, and provides sufficient examples and case studies for designers to start using the technology immediately in their work. …I recommend this book to every university that teaches structural design and architecture as required reading for students, and I recommend it to every architects practice as an introduction to the technology."
––Rory Bergin, HTA Design LLP

"This book provides an exciting panorama of design in modular construction, with excellent elaborations of the technical, economic and sustainability aspects of a series of steel, concrete and timber modular systems. The provision of the wide-ranging case examples of building projects using modular construction makes the book an ideal source of information for both researchers and practitioners."
––Dr Wei Pan, the University of Hong Kong

"I think this book is vital for every graduate and master’s student studying Building or Civil Engineering as it covers all aspects of modular construction from historic data to state of the art techniques."
—Vasileios Vernikos, CH2M HILL

"The authors bring together expertise in modular design, light steel structural design and concrete structural design to create a comprehensive reference book for modular construction, which focuses primarily on the design of volumetric units."
—Rachel Cruise, Structures and Buildings

ISBN: 9780367865351

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 640g

280 pages