GB2587069A

GB2587069A - Affordable housing and a method of construction therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2587069A
Application number: GB2008882.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Beynon-Thomas Gruffydd
Original assignee: Sustainable Living Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Sustainable Living Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-11
Filing date: 2020-06-11
Publication date: 2021-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-11
Also published as: GB201908312D0; GB202008882D0; GB2587069B

Abstract

The method, particularly for providing low-cost housing, comprises constructing a building off-site, including a ground floor 14, with external horizontal dimensions H1 not exceeding 5 meters, connected to a first floor 16, installing plumbing connections for a toilet 26 in the ground floor only, lying the building on its side on a vehicle, transporting the building to a building site and erecting the building onto its base at the building site. A kitchen 32 is preferably installed on the first floor and a toilet installed on the ground floor prior to transportation. The building may be connected to other buildings. Also claimed is an off-site constructed building. Also claimed is a further method of constructing a building, and an associated building, comprising constructing first and second ground floor portions, at least one of which has plumbing for a toilet, and a third first floor portion which are connected together once transported to site.

Description

Affordable Housing and a Method of Construction Therefor The present invention relates to an offsite constructed building and to a method of constructing and erecting such a 5 building and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to the construction of affordable domestic properties.

Affordable or low-cost housing is becoming an important part of part of the construction industry with an allocation of affordable housing being a requirement of many large-scale planning applications. Affordable housing is housing which is deemed affordable to those with a median household income or below as rated by the national government or a local government by a recognized housing affordability index.

However, the high cost of land make it increasingly difficult to build domestic properties at the lowest cost end of the market. Common solutions such as high-density building, for example building blocks of flats, are often not suitable for the location where land is available. Prefabricated or offsite constructed buildings are commonly used to reduce building costs, that is buildings where the majority of the construction takes place in a factory, typically to a standard specification, and final placement and construction takes places on site. However, where the land cost is sufficiently high even current offsite construction techniques cannot create domestic properties that fit within the affordable housing bracket.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages of the prior art, in particular, reducing the cost of construction of domestic properties.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a building, comprising the steps: -2 -constructing a building off-site, including a ground floor with external horizontal dimension of said building does not exceed 5m connected to a first floor; installing plumbing connections for a toilet in said ground 5 floor only; lying the building on its side on a vehicle; transporting said building to a building site; and erecting said building onto its base at the building site.

By constructing a building offsite with the ground floor and first floor already formed together, keeping the horizontal dimensions below 5m and installing plumbing connections for toilet on the ground floor only, the advantage is provided that a small single bedroom single person occupancy building can be created at minimal cost. By creating a two-storey building as single occupancy and having the toilet connection downstairs allows a layout where an open plan kitchen and living space is provided upstairs with bedroom, bathroom and entrance hallway, downstairs. These can be created comfortably within a 5m x 5m space, allowing the offsite constructed building to be transported easily on a lorry to the construction site. As a result, the whole single occupancy building can be delivered ready for the erection stage, followed by the collection of the utilities, namely the electricity, water supply and sewage removal. By having the toilet plumbing connection on the ground floor, the plumbing connection for the toilet is straightforward and the plumbing for the toilet does not take up any internal space within the building. This method of construction therefore maximises space and minimises cost, thereby allowing a building constructed in this manner, to be used to create affordable housing and the maximum number of locations, even when land prices are very high. -3 -

The method may further comprise, prior to transporting, installing a kitchen on said first floor.

Pre-installing the kitchen on the first floor further reduces the on-site construction costs.

The method may also further comprise, prior to transporting, installing a toilet on said ground floor.

Installation of the toilet on the ground floor before delivery of the building further reduces the on-site construction cost.

The method may preferably further comprise connecting said building to other buildings.

Attaching the building to other similar buildings, for example, using for such buildings in a block together allows one side of the building to be hidden, once erected, where it joins to the other buildings. This hidden side is therefore be the side that was weight bearing and therefore in contact with the lorry during transportation meaning that it is not a problem if some slight aesthetic damage has occurred in transit to the building site. Furthermore, the building can be mixed with other similar offsite constructed buildings, allowing great flexibility and a variety of aesthetically interesting building constructions to be used in an affordable housing setting, reducing the risk of such housing appearing uniform and undesirable.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an off-site constructed building, comprising: a ground floor connected to a first floor and together created off-site; and plumbing connections for a toilet in said ground floor only, 30 wherein external dimensions of said building do not exceed 5m. -4 -

The building may further comprise a kitchen located on said first floor.

The building may also further comprise a toilet located on said ground floor.

In a preferred embodiment an internal horizontal dimension of said building is the same as a width of a flooring material supplied on a roll and used therein.

In a further preferred embodiment the width is 4m.

By utilising an internal dimension the same as a flooring 10 material supplied in rolled form, the advantage is provided that installation costs are minimised and likelihood of repair is reduced by removing flooring join.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided method of constructing a building, comprising 15 the steps: constructing a building off-site, including a first building portion for use as a ground floor of a building and having a first floor surface area; a second building portion for use as a ground floor of said 20 building and having a second floor surface area substantially half that of said first floor surface area; a third building portion for use as a first floor of said building and having a third floor surface area substantially equivalent to said first floor surface area; and plumbing connections for a toilet in at least one of said first and second building portions, wherein one external horizontal dimension of said building portions does not exceed 5m; transporting said building portions to a building site; locating said first and second building portions on the ground 30 and connecting them together; -5 -attaching said third building portion on top of one or both of said first and second building portions.

By constructing a building in three portions, all with an external dimension below 5m and with plumbing provided on the 5 ground floor, the advantage is provided that a three-bedroom five person occupancy building can be created at very low cost. A building so constructed utilises downstairs bedrooms and bathroom, whilst providing a large enough kitchen, dining and living area on the first floor with the additional space of a 10 balcony located above the second portion (or alternatively above half of the first building portion). This arrangement is very efficient in its use of space, both internal space of the building, thereby minimising construction costs, and land use space. The inclusion of an outdoor area creates a desirable space without excessive land use and allows multiple units to be constructed together in an interesting and aesthetically pleasing manner without simply appearing to be blocks of identical properties.

The method may further comprise, prior to transporting, 20 installing a kitchen in said third building portion.

The method may also further comprise, prior to transporting, installing a toilet in at least one of said first 25 and second building portions.

The method may preferably further comprise connecting said 30 building to other buildings.

Attaching the building to other similar buildings allows the building to be mixed with other similar offsite constructed -6 -buildings, creating great flexibility and a variety of aesthetically interesting building constructions to be used in an affordable housing setting, reducing the risk of such housing appearing uniform and undesirable.

The step of constructing a building off-site may further comprise constructing a fourth building portion for use as a ground floor and having a fourth floor surface area substantially the same as the second floor surface area, and a fifth building portion for use as a first floor and having a fifth floor surface area substantially the same as the first and second floor surface areas, and locating said fourth building portion adjacent said first and second building portions and connecting them and locating said fifth building portion adjacent said second, third and fourth building portions and connecting them.

By constructing a building with separate occupancy portions from first to fifth building portions in the arrangements set out above, the advantage is provided that a wide variety of floor spaces and occupancy arrangements can be created whilst maintaining the benefits set out above.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an off-site constructed building, comprising: a first building portion for use as a ground floor of a building and having a first floor surface area; a second building portion for use as a ground floor of said building and having a second floor surface area substantially half that of said first floor surface area; a third building portion for use as a first floor of said building and having a third floor surface area substantially equivalent to said first floor surface area; and plumbing connections for a toilet in at least one of said first 5 and second building portions, wherein one external horizontal dimension of said building portions does not exceed 5m.

The building may further comprise a kitchen located in said third building portion.

The building may also further comprise a toilet located in 10 at least one of said first and second building portions.

In another preferred embodiment the width is 4m.

By utilising an internal dimension the same as a flooring material supplied in rolled form, the advantage is provided that installation costs are minimised and likelihood of repair is reduced by removing flooring join.

In a preferred embodiment the first, second and third 20 building portions together form a first occupancy portion and said building further comprises a second occupancy portion comprising a fourth building portion for use as a ground floor and having a fourth floor surface area substantially the same as the second floor surface area, said fourth building portion located adjacent and engaging said first and second building portions; and a fifth building portion for use as a first floor and having a fifth floor surface area substantially the same as the first and 30 second floor surface areas, said fifth building portion located adjacent and engaging said second, third and fourth building portions.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative 5 sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is an isometric view of four buildings according to an aspect of the present invention arranged together; Figure 2 and 3 are plan views of the inside of a building of figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are side views of a building of the present invention similar to that shown in figure 1; Figure 6 is an isometric view of a pair of buildings according to another aspect of the present invention; Figures 7 and 8 are floor plan views of a building having a 15 configuration similar to the buildings of figure 6; Figures 9 and 10 are alternative floor plan views to those shown in figures 7 and 8; Figures 11, 12 and 13 are front and side views of an alternative version of the building shown in figure 6; Figures 14 and 15 are plan views of buildings related to those of the present invention and used in conjunction with those buildings; Figure 16 is an isometric view of a series of buildings incorporating the first and second aspects of the present 25 invention; Figures 17 and 18 are plan views of the buildings shown in figure 16; Figure 19 is an isometric view showing a series of buildings in different configurations, including the first and second aspects 30 of the present invention; _ 9 _ Figure 20 is a series of plan views of buildings incorporating first and second aspects of the present invention; Figure 21 is a schematic representation of the building of figure 1; Figure 22 is a schematic representation of the building of figures 14 and 15; Figure 23 is a schematic representation of the building of figure 6; and Figure 24 is a schematic representation of a building according 10 to the aspect of the present invention shown in figure 6 and used in conjunction with the building shown therein.

Referring initially to figures 1 to 3, a group 10 of buildings 12 are shown in figure 1. Each building has a ground floor 14 and a first floor 16 with a flight of stairs 18 connecting therebetween. The ground floor 14 has an external door 20, a bedroom 22 and a bathroom 24. A toilet 26 is contained within the bathroom 24, together with a sink 28 and a shower cubical 30. The first floor 16 includes a kitchen area 32 which has a sink and cooker (neither of which are shown in figure 3).

The external horizontal dimensions, H1 and H2, of the building, 12 do not exceed 5m. In particular, the distance between opposing external walls of each building 12 do not exceed 3m. As a result, the building 12 can be transported from an off-site construction location to the building site for erection. This transportation can take place on a lorry, requiring only standard levels of permission in the UK. That is, transportation is possible without seeking permission to transport from the Secretary of State for Transport.

An internal horizontal dimension H3 of both the first and 30 second floors 14 and 16 is 4m, which is the same distance as the width of a role of standard flooring, for example carpet or a vinyl floor covering. This allows either or both the ground -10 -floor and the first floor to have the flooring material put down in a single piece, thereby removing the need for joints. For the simplest method of construction, the flooring can be put down first and the internal features, including partition walls, can be added afterwards.

The construction of the building 12 uses standard prefabricated building techniques and materials utilising wood or steel frames or a combination of the two together. The two or more, external exposed sides of the building are clad using standard cladding materials including, but not limited to natural and artificial wood, render, brick slip and rain screen.

The off-site construction of the building includes at least the plumbing of a connection for the toilet 26 and more preferably includes the installation of the toilet. Likewise, the kitchen area is most preferably installed during the off-site construction phase including the plumbing for the kitchen sink as well as electrical (or gas) connections for a cooker.

After construction, the building 12 is placed onto a lorry by lying the building on its side. The construction of the building is such that the structure is not at risk when laying on its side for transportation. Furthermore, by laying the building on a side which will be placed against the side of another building in the grouping 10 shown in figure 1, any slight aesthetic damage which occurs to the weight-bearing side during transportation will be hidden when connected to another building.

When the building arrives on site it is connected to a crane and lifted into place, rotating it about its corners so as to direct it into the correct position. The plumbing connection for the toilet 26 is connected along with the other utilities connections of mains water and electricity (and gas if required).

Where the building 12 is being grouped together with other buildings, as shown in figure 1, these connections are made using dowels in the corners, thereby fixing buildings together into a group 10.

A second aspect of the present invention is illustrated in figures 6 to 13. It should be noted that neither of the floor plan arrangements shown in figures 7 and 8 or 9 and 10 matches with the illustration in figure 6 as each of these is provided merely as an example of an arrangement that would work in this aspect of the present invention. A group 40 of buildings 42 are constructed off-site from three building portions 44, 46 and 48 which are connected together when delivered onto the building site. The first building portion 44 is used as part of the ground floor of the building and has a floor surface area defined by the external horizontal dimensions H4 and H5. The second building portion 46 is also used as a ground floor of building 12 and has a floor surface area defined by the external horizontal dimensions H6 and H7. The floor surface area of the second building portion 46 is approximately or substantially half that of the floor surface area of the first building portion 44 because the horizontal external dimension H6 is approximately half that of H4, while the dimensions H5 and H7 are substantially the same.

The third building portion 48 is used as a first floor and 25 is accessible from the first building portion via flight of stairs 50. The external horizontal dimensions of the third building portion are substantially the same as those of the first building portion and therefore its surface area is also substantially the same.

One of the external horizontal dimensions of each of the building portions 44, 46 and 48 is less than 5m. In this illustration, the dimensions 1-15 and H7 are less than Sm. The dimension HS and H7 is between 4m and Sm because the internal -12 -horizontal dimensions H8 are selected at 4m, this being the width of a standard role of flooring material. The horizontal dimensions H5 and H7 are therefore 4m plus the thickness of the walls. The external height of the building portions is around 3m meaning that when the building portions are placed on a lorry neither the width or the height exceeds 5m.

Contained within the first building portion 44 are first and second bedrooms 52 and 54 and a first bathroom 56 containing a toilet 58 with an associated plumbing connection together with a sink 60 and bath 62. The second building portion 46 contains a third bedroom 64 and a second bathroom 66 also having a toilet 68 with associated connections, a sink 70 and shower 72. The second building portion 48 contains a kitchen area 74 which includes a sink 76 and cooker (not shown).

The illustrations in figures V and 8 and figures 9 and 10 show different configurations of the internal layout of the building, 42. Figures 7 and 9 show internal configurations of the first and second building portions 44 and 46, thereby forming the ground floor of the building, 42. Figures 8 and 10 show the third building portion 48, but also show the roof surface 78 of the second building portion 46 which acts as a terrace which is accessible via external doors 80 which lead from the third building portion 48.

The construction of the building 42 uses standard 25 prefabricated building techniques and materials utilising wood or steel frames or a combination of the two together. The external exposed sides of the building are clad using standard cladding materials including, but not limited to natural and artificial wood, render, brick slip and rain screen.

The three building portions are built and:_ransported separately from an off-site construction factory. For transportation, the building portions are lifted onto a suitably sized lorry with their bases facing downwards, that is in the -13 -orientation in which they will eventually be used. On arrival at the construction site, the first and second building portions are located onto a foundation base and joined together by any suitable connection technique, including, but not limited to, the use of connecting dowels. The third building portion 48 is located on top of the first building portion 44 and the staircase 50 connected.

Turning to figures 14 and 15, these are floor plans of a building which is used in conjunction with the two buildings of the two aspects of the present invention. This building is closely related to that shown in figures 6 to 13 and features have been identified with like reference numerals increased by 100. These buildings are designed as three-person, two bedroom buildings and therefore do not include the third building portion.

Referring to figures 16 to 18, an alternative grouping of buildings of aspects of the present invention are shown combined together with the ground floors shown in figure 18 and the first floors shown in figure 17. The arrangement includes three buildings 12 with one bedroom for single occupancy, one building 142 for three person occupancy with two bedrooms and one building 42 for five person occupancy with three bedrooms. Various other building group configurations are shown in figures 19 and 20.

Referring to figures 21 to 24, figures 21, 22 and 23 are representations of the buildings 12, 142 and 42 described above. Figure 24 shows a building 242 for use in conjunction with the building 42. When constructed together the buildings 42 and 242 form separate first and second occupancy portions of a combined building. The building 242 comprises a ground floor fourth building portion which has a fourth floor surface area that is substantially the same as the floor surface area of the surface area of the second building portion 46. When the first and second occupancy portions 42 and 242 are constructed and -14 -connected together the fourth building portion 246 sits in the space between the first and second building portions 44 and 46. A fifth building portion is then provided which is used as a first floor and has a fifth floor surface area which is substantially the same as the floor surface areas of the first and third building portions 44 and 48. The fifth building portion is located on top of the second and fourth building portions 46 and 246 and adjacent the third building portion 48. When constructed together in this form the first and second occupancy portions (formed of the first to fifth building portions) create a cuboid. The roof surface 78 of the second building portion 46 is no longer available as a terrace but the occupancy density has increased and a greater variety of building types and occupancy levels is available. The following table shows data relating to the building configurations shown in figures 21 to 24.

Number of Bedrooms Number of People Approx. floor space Drawing Reference 1 1 38m3 12 1 2 57m3 142 2 3-4 76m3 42 5-6 95m3 242 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the protection which is defined by the appended claims. For example, there are variations of the arrangement of roof which can be used including, but are not limited to, the following.

Figure 1, 6, 14 and 19 show a roof arrangement with a parapet and a flat roof which has a very slight inclination to allow rainwater runoff. If desired, at additional expense, this roof can be supplemented with a roof truss to sit on the parapet to create a gable-ended roof.

-15 -A further alternative is to simply provide a 3° monopitch roof for each building 12 or each of the third building portion 48 of building 42. This version does not include the parapet and therefore less expensive but does not allow the addition of the roof truss.

Claims

-16 -Claims 1. A method of constructing a building, comprising the steps: constructing a building off-site, including a ground floor with external horizontal dimension of said building does not exceed 5 5m connected to a first floor; installing plumbing connections for a toilet in said ground floor only; lying the building on its side on a vehicle; transporting said building to a building site; and erecting said building onto its base at the building site.
2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising, prior to transporting, installing a kitchen on said first floor.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising, prior to transporting, installing a toilet on said ground floor.
4. A method according to any preceding claim further comprising connecting said building to other buildings.
5. An off-site constructed building, comprising: a ground floor connected to a first floor and together created off-site; and plumbing connections for a toilet in said ground floor only, wherein external dimensions of said building do not exceed 5m.
6. A building according to claim 5 further comprising a kitchen located on said first floor.
7. A building according to claim 5 or 6 further comprising a 25 toilet located on said ground floor.
8. A building according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein an internal horizontal dimension of said building is the same as a width of a flooring material supplied on a roll and used therein.
9. A building according to claim 8, wherein said width is 4m.
-17 - 10. A method of constructing a building, comprising the steps: constructing a building off-site, including a first building portion for use as a ground floor of a building and having a first floor surface area; a second building portion for use as a ground floor of said building and having a second floor surface area substantially half that of said first floor surface area; a third building portion for use as a first floor of said building and having a third floor surface area substantially 10 equivalent to said first floor surface area; and plumbing connections for a toilet in at least one of said first and second building portions, wherein one external horizontal dimension of said building portions does not exceed 5m; transporting said building portions to a building site; locating said first and second building portions on the ground and connecting them together; attaching said third building portion on top of one or both of said first and second building portions.
11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising, prior 20 to transporting, installing a kitchen in said third building portion.
12. A method according to claim 10 or 11 further comprising, prior to transporting, installing a toilet in at least one of said first and second building portions.
13. A method according to any of claims 10 to 12 further comprising connecting said building to other buildings.
14. A method according to any of claim 10 to 13, wherein said step of constructing a building off-site further comprises constructing -18 -a fourth building portion for use as a ground floor and having a fourth floor surface area substantially the same as the second floor surface area, and a fifth building portion for use as a first floor and having a 5 fifth floor surface area substantially the same as the first and second floor surface areas, and locating said fourth building portion adjacent said first and second building portions and connecting them and locating said fifth building portion adjacent said second, third 10 and fourth building portions and connecting them.
15. An off-site constructed building, comprising: a first building portion for use as a ground floor of a building and having a first floor surface area; a second building portion for use as a ground floor of said 15 building and having a second floor surface area substantially half that of said first floor surface area; a third building portion for use as a first floor of said building and having a third floor surface area substantially equivalent to said first floor surface area; and plumbing connections for a toilet in at least one of said first and second building portions, wherein one external horizontal dimension of said building portions does not exceed 5m.
16. A building according to claim 15 further comprising a kitchen located in said third building portion.
17. A building according to claim 16 further comprising a toilet located in at least one of said first and second building portions.
18. A building according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein an internal horizontal dimension of said building is the same as a 30 width of a flooring material supplied on a roll and used therein.
19. A building according to claim 18, wherein said width is 4m.-19 -
20. A building according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein said first, second and third building portions together form a first occupancy portion and said building further comprises a second occupancy portion comprising a fourth building portion for use as a ground floor and having a fourth floor surface area substantially the same as the second floor surface area, said fourth building portion located adjacent and engaging said first and second building portions; and a fifth building portion for use as a first floor and having a fifth floor surface area substantially the same as the first and second floor surface areas, said fifth building portion located adjacent and engaging said second, third and fourth building portions.