Modular grows up

Australia often looks to Europe for design trends and affordable, purpose-specific housing is a good example of this. In Germany, Italy and Sweden, it is common for student accommodation, miners' dwellings, holiday homes and suburban houses to be built elsewhere, then driven onto site and craned into place. The benefits are great for the developer and for the occupants.

Hutchinson Builders is the largest privately owned construction company in Queensland, and has major projects under way throughout the country. Established in 1912, the company is driven by principles of integrity, efficiency and an ongoing dedication to taking up construction innovations as they occur. For this reason, Hutchinson has its own specialised Modular Construction division, offering a variety of educational, residential, holiday home and mining camp accommodation solutions, says corporate services manager Alan Tayt.

"Put simply times have changed in this corner of the industry. Modular housing is now intelligently designed in terms of aesthetics and efficiency. The result is several design pluses for mine owners, public or private developers and education boards," says Tayt. "In the case of single-person accommodation solutions delivered en masse to mining camps, these advantages can cover all kinds of aspects, from productivity to health and safety.

"Our single person accommodation solutions are not dissimilar to a hotel room. Whereas in days gone by, modular accommodation may have conjured images of the ubiquitous donga with bunk beds and a shared latrine block, the Hutchinson Builders design can provide comfortable double bed or better, ensuite bathroom, kitchenette, a reading or study area, sound proofing, air exchange units and blackout blinds."

Darkness and quiet have appeal for shift workers and mine owners alike, as an alert worker means improved productivity and safety.

"Living in these modular units really does give the workers a sense of having their own place, even though they may be hundreds of miles from home. In an industry that can have difficulty attracting employees, these comfortable personal domiciles present an important part of the incentive," Tayt says.

While the single dwellings for miners have curvaceous roof forms, units built by Hutchinson for student accommodation often have flat roofing so they can be stacked one on top of the other.

"Campuses frequently have limited footprints, so being able to bring in these ready-to-go units has benefits for students and tertiary planning boards," says Tayt. "Each of these units is self contained, with its own kitchenette another attraction for impoverished students who still demand a high standard of accommodation."

The scale of dwelling created by Hutchinson is not limited by the need for portability and modular design efficiency. Three- and four-bedroom houses are built on the company premises, then compartmentalised for the journey to the new development or infill housing anywhere where attractive, responsive residential housing is required.

"The modular design also helps with town planning the designs are intelligently laid out and access to services is simple and easy," says Tayt.

Another area of the marketplace to benefit from Hutchinson's modular housing solutions is the holiday home sector. The company's holiday homes are designed specifically to open up to their surroundings. These houses are trucked to remote settings, or even sent by barge to outlying islands.

"Build efficiency, reliable time frames, a high standard of product and finish and well thought-out, modern design make these modular options a powerful housing solution for people in many walks of life," says Tayt. "In Europe, modular constructors supply instant motels for applications such as aged care facilities and the armed forces. Hutchinson has kept ahead of these changes south of the equator and intends to lead the Australian market in this."

For more details, contact Hutchinson Builders, 584 Milton Rd, Toowong, Queensland 4066, phone (07) 3335 5000. Email: atayt@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au. Alternatively, visit the company website: www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas