CUBITO©: A modular, hybrid, and demountable architectural prototype

Read the original version in Portuguese here.

Published on October 03, 2019

AtelierVivo is a design-build collective resulting from a partnership between O Norte – Oficina de Criação and architects Michael Philips and Natan Nigro. Since 2014, the collective has developed various educational initiatives through urban interventions and courses taught by experienced professionals in architecture, design, fine arts, and construction. Our most recent challenge was the creation, documentation, and physical realization of an architectural prototype named Cubito©.

Cubito© is an experimental cubic prototype of modular, hybrid, and demountable architecture measuring 2.5 meters on each side. One of its core premises is flexibility; because it is modular, the project can be coupled and arranged into multiple modules based on the client's needs. Cubito© also offers social flexibility, as it is designed to meet the demand for high-quality space both for clients who would not typically have access to architectural services, as well as those who do. Initially conceived in wood, the basic 2.5m x 2.5m x 2.5m module is bolted together and can be developed with different types of materials for the structure, cladding, flooring, and roof. The prefabricated construction system, assembled through interlocking joints and bolts, allows for a clean, fast building process that can be easily mass-produced.

Its lightweight design, combined with cladding panels that create openings and ventilated sills, allows for constant air exchange, ensuring high-quality environmental performance.

AtelierVivo's Pedagogical Framework

Construction Site Pedagogy (or Pedagogy of Reality): Approaching real-world issues and challenges

Aiming to produce architecture by immersing people from different backgrounds in a construction site, the intervention materializes Cubito© through a pedagogy of the construction site, or a pedagogy of reality. This involves a sequence of hands-on actions on-site (building the prototype) followed by collective reflections on the consequences of those actions. The approach welcomes a diverse group of participants (students, professionals) and values their contributions to both generating ideas and bringing them to life. The design-build process empowers participants by letting them experience the entire chain of architectural production, from conceptual design to physical construction, and back to design after reflecting on how the project confronts reality.

Design: Simplicity to impact, transform, and communicate through straightforward actions and ideas

In AtelierVivo's pedagogical process, resource constraints for purchasing building materials define the core of the design, and responsible experimentation forms the foundation for creating high-quality architecture. In this process, design is inseparable from construction, and vice versa. Consequently, there is an ongoing search for impactful, innovative, durable, and adaptable solutions that connect with users, featuring good design and easy execution—since in design-build, construction is not outsourced. Furthermore, the handcrafted nature of Cubito© brings real life to a design born out of tight constraints in both time and budget.

Articulations: Repositioning the architect in relation to the collective

The initiative fostered intense interaction among participants, building bonds of friendship and trust, and resulting in a deeper understanding of both the material and immaterial context of a construction site. As a result, the intervention proved highly successful; interactivity was fundamental in achieving this level of accuracy and fostering a collective learning environment. The educational framework balanced practical learning with the construction milestones required by the Cubito© design.

Inclusion: Encouraging participation and empowering stakeholders

The workshop was designed to foster knowledge exchange among students, professionals, and enthusiasts in architecture, design, the arts, and other fields. The initiative respects participants' varying levels of experience, presenting challenges that encourage individual involvement and participation in the creative, planning, and construction processes, where design serves as the glue linking all stakeholders and stages of the project.

Project Credits

Executive Production and General Coordination: AtelierVivo | O Norte - Oficina de Criação
Collaboration: Diego Beja Inglez de Souza
Intern: Ivison Guedes
Participants: Ana Pedrosa, Bianca Oliveira, David Maciel, João Wanderley, Josias Ribeiro, Julia Lumack, Larissa Fonseca, Lucas Lucena, Matheus de Araújo, Rafael Rangel, Victoria Sampaio, Yuri Nascimento
Acknowledgments: Rodrigo Cândido (Photography), Pedro Sá and Hugo Bresani (Coletivo Chão), Lucas Izidório (Coletivo Massapê)

This article was written by Romullo Baratto. The translation is powered by AI.

Read the original version in Portuguese here.

Rate this translation

Thank you for your feedback.