A high-profile development in the construction sector has been introduced: the latest version of the modular, wooden building system WikiHouse. “An innovation that offers plenty of opportunities for the entire construction industry in the Netherlands,” says Nick Gevers of Hendriks Bouw en Ontwikkeling. Hendriks is now extensively investigating the possibilities of this open source construction system, together with Avans University of Applied Sciences (Den Bosch/Tilburg) and other partners. The first tangible result of this research is a student-designed demonstration home, which can be seen in the lobby of Dome-X in Oss until December.
IKEA construction kit, but larger
With WikiHouse you design your own building using building elements that you choose from a public online library. A CNC machine mills the elements from plywood, after which you assemble them. The connections and connections are designed simply, so no construction experience is necessary. “Think of it as an IKEA construction kit for an ecologically responsible, affordable and quickly constructed building,” says Nick Gevers. On behalf of Hendriks, he delves into the further development of the original English system.
The latest version of WikiHouse is still in a testing phase, but is ideal for large-scale prefabrication. “This means there is potential for serial project construction and we also see opportunities for CPO collaborations. The system provides an answer to various developments in the sector, such as the staff shortage, the ambition to build demountable and circular, and the increasing demand for the use of bio-based materials. The first results in our project are promising.”
Interaction between education and business
Together with 17 third-year Avans students, Hendriks is investigating the opportunities of the latest version of WikiHouse for the Dutch construction market. This also makes an important contribution to the training of a new generation of builders. “We introduce young people to the construction methods of the future. In this way they develop skills and knowledge that are essential for their future careers. At the same time, the students come up with interesting ideas. A real win-win situation,” emphasizes Nick Gevers.
The students delve into all disciplines, from finance to construction, and immediately put this knowledge into practice by building a full-scale demo home. They receive extensive guidance from Hendriks. SPARK Campus, MNEXT and Dome-X are also closely involved, as are the WikihouseNL Foundation and Boerboom Hout Group. “This project is a great interaction between education and business”
First results and follow-up
The demo house has just been completed. Nick Gevers: “We reached the highest point within a few days, which immediately makes WikiHouse's potential clear. The plywood elements are mounted without screws and nails, allowing you to build very quickly and error-free.” Of course there are also learning points. “The preparation must be complete on all fronts to avoid bottlenecks in implementation. I really see Hendriks' added value in this; the free thinking within such an innovative open source system, together with the engineering and implementation qualities of an experienced builder, forms a golden combination.”
The demo house can be seen in Dome-X until December, after which it will move to Living Greenlab in Den Bosch. “By taking the house apart and rebuilding it, we immediately test its detachability. New research is also taking place, for example into acoustics and fire resistance. With these insights we can then determine whether WikiHouse fits within our range of concepts.”
For more information, see www.hendriks-wikihouse.nl.
