UNIPOD prefab bathroom DESIGN
WELHAUS / PREFAB NZ - CHRISTCHURCH
Pynenburg & Collins Architects, in collaboration with the Christchurch development company Welhaus, was awarded runner-up in the 2016 PrefabNZ UniPod Design Competition.
The UniPod is an open-source, universally accessible bathroom pod designed specifically for multi-unit residential applications, such as social housing, retirement villages and apartment buildings.
The UniPod provides an exciting glimpse into the future of medium-density housing where kit-set materials and online instructions allow assembling by manufacturers anywhere in New Zealand. Pre-nailed wall frames and roof trusses started like this, and today these systems are commonplace building components for almost all new-build housing.
The open-source UniPod concept is the brainchild of PrefabNZ, the hub for prebuilt construction in New Zealand. PrefabNZ is working with BRANZ funding to increase uptake of prefabrication through the Levers for Prefab programme.
“We are pleased that judges recognised the way architect
Simon Blencowe from Pynenburg & Collins Architects incorporated Lifemark accessibility with design features and
New Zealand timber surfaces.”
