Ikea style flatpacked prefabs still seems like a vastly better option to me.
Ikea style flatpacked prefabs still seems like a vastly better option to me.
This article mentions 100 and 200 square feet buildings, so I don't think there's gonna be much in the way of internal structure. I could see an inflatable structure with 'tubes' at certain places for wiring and plumbing to pass through, which would save cutting holes later.
But like everyone else says, there's easier ways to get the frame up faster. What makes construction slow is coordination between the many different trades that need to work in the same area. With many parts in sequence, and each trade having high utilization, scheduling is difficult --- either you plan with large gaps between trades, or you blow up everyone's schedule when one trade falls behind for whatever reason.
Why not 3d print homes at that point? At least you can get the rebar and other forms in place ahead of the print, and you get more flexibility in the final design of the structure.
The work around internal plumbing and wiring is messy, though. A lot of abrasive brick dust is generated. I wouldn't want to be the guy doing this stuff. In a 3D printed home, nice empty spaces could be left in the wall while printing for all the necessary networks.
Most of the time, every connection coming from the exterior are coming through the floor in a little room that we can use for storage and from there, everything is dispatched through inner walls which are basically empty (except around bedrooms if you want acoustic isolation). This allows to maintain everything from the inside.
I wouldn't call it a mess but I'll acknowledge I'm talking about modern constructions.
None of the walls were empty, all were solid brick with no empty space.
It was quite a mess, though the guys doing the job were very professional and handled the dust disposal very well.
I've never seen something like this in France.
Granted, it is a small set, N < 10.
This might be one of the reasons why Czech construction costs are so high. Expensive material everywhere.