THE PROCESS
The EcoMod is developed with an Urban Living Lab approach. This term refers to local experimental projects of a participatory nature. The aim is to develop, try out, and test innovative urban solutions in a real-life context. In this case, the focus is on Biobased Construction and how these practices can become more widely integrated into the conventional construction industry. Through interviews and co-creation, the insights of the many stakeholders are integrated into the final design of the EcoMod.
The different activities shown in the timeline below indicate the steps taken to form the final product, the EcoMod and the business plan that supports the integration of the EcoMod into the conventional construction industry.
THE ACTIVITIES
THE INTERVIEWS
The image below shows the amount of interviews conducted and their timeline. Beneath that are the main conclusions from the initial interviews.
Knowledge Gap
The industry grapples with an 80-90% awareness gap on biobased materials, hindered by certification rejections, high testing costs, and limited collaboration with universities.
Costs
Despite being competitively priced, biobased materials face challenges such as higher certification expenses, client-side risk aversion, and concerns about increased costs impacting usable floor space.
Policies and Testing
Varied policies across countries, lobbying challenges, and the over-prioritization of conventional tests hinder biobased adoption, while incentives like MIA tax reduction and supportive legislation aim to facilitate change.
Perception
Despite positive environmental perceptions, uncertainties and negative views persist, particularly concerning safety, with industry efforts focused on pushing toward timber and gaining regulatory support.
Future and Goals
The industry is exploring environmental cost calculation, Life Cycle Assessment, open material design, and agricultural partnerships, aiming to scale up through collaborations, tax incentives, and market expansion into areas like high-rise construction.
Synergies and Collaborations
The industry collectively pursues innovation with a focus on prefab and modularity, addressing challenges like lead times through collaborative research efforts, emphasizing a shared commitment to advancing environmental sustainability.
Technical
Key technical challenges involve insulation quality, post-production flexibility, and comprehensive testing for fire safety, strength, degradation, and moisture behavior, with design for disassembly identified as a potential solution.
THE CO-CREATION
Two co-creation sessions were hosted. The first one to identify the obstacles in the transition towards the adoption of more bio-based materials in the construction industry. The second one was to validate our initial module and the business plan behind it.
BUILDING THE MODULE
