Presented at the recent edition of the Feria del Diseño 2019 in Medellín, Iku Hábitat is a modular architectural construction system developed in Colombia that aims to streamline construction processes using designed and prefabricated components assembled with screws.
Based on an analysis of the traditional Colombian house, the spatial layout of the dwellings is structured around a perimeter circulation that connects all interior spaces with the landscape. According to the designers, this circulation, functioning as an interstitial space between the interior and exterior, is essential to understanding the relationship with the territory, especially given the tropical geographical location of the department of Antioquia.
The archetypal elements that make up a home —columns, beams, windows, partitions, roofs— are designed as individual components and used according to the spatial needs of the clients and the site of their project. This catalog of elements is complemented by climate adaptation strategies, so that, depending on the project's location, certain material specifications can change, or passive bioclimatic design strategies —cross ventilation, ceiling height variations, air cavities— are applied to maintain the home's thermal comfort year-round.
