A breakthrough in sustainable architecture promises to extend building lifespans and reduce waste through an ingenious modular wooden high-rise system. Researchers at Graz University of Technology have developed a flexible building design that could help address the construction industry’s massive environmental impact, which currently accounts for 60% of global resource consumption and nearly half of global waste production.
Published in TU Graz Research News | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Research Findings
The MOHOHO project, developed by an interdisciplinary team from TU Graz’s Institute of Architectural Technology and Institute of Timber Engineering and Wood Technology, introduces a novel approach to sustainable building design. Working alongside corporate partners Kaufmann Bausysteme and KS Ingenieure, the researchers have created a patented system that combines modular and skeleton construction techniques.
As Christian Keuschnig from the Institute of Architectural Technology at TU Graz explains: “The construction industry is responsible for around 60% of global resource consumption and almost half of global waste production and global emissions of climate-damaging gases.” This stark reality drove the team to focus on circular R-strategies, including refurbishment, repair, and re-use, to develop their innovative building system.
The system’s uniqueness lies in its combination of prefabricated 3D timber modules with a flexible skeleton structure. The design incorporates a specially developed connection node that allows for quick and secure joining of modules while enabling load redistribution – a crucial safety feature that prevents building collapse if individual columns fail.
Perhaps most remarkably, the system includes an ingenious repair mechanism. When module replacement is needed, a lifting cylinder can be inserted between spacers to slightly elevate the support structure, creating space for the replacement process. This feature, combined with the high degree of prefabrication and shorter construction times, represents a significant advance in sustainable building design.
While the mathematical modeling suggests buildings could reach up to 24 stories, the researchers note that structures taller than six stories would require a concrete core, which would increase resource consumption and CO2 emissions. The team is already planning follow-up research to test these concepts in real-world applications.
Glossary
- Modular Construction
- A building method using prefabricated 3D units that can be stacked and connected to create larger structures.
- Skeleton Construction
- A building framework that provides a supporting structure allowing for flexible floor plans and adaptable spaces.
- Circular R-strategies
- Environmental approaches focused on refurbishment, repair, and re-use to extend product lifecycles and reduce waste.
Test Your Knowledge
What percentage of global resource consumption does the construction industry account for?
The construction industry is responsible for 60% of global resource consumption.
What is the maximum theoretical height for buildings using this system?
Mathematically, buildings can reach up to 24 stories, though buildings over six stories require a concrete core.
How does the system’s connection node contribute to building safety?
The connection node enables load redistribution, preventing total building collapse if individual columns fail, while also providing sound insulation between units.
Explain how the repair mechanism works in relation to the building’s modular structure.
The system uses a lifting cylinder inserted between spacers to elevate the support structure slightly, creating space for module replacement while redirecting forces through a shear plate after lowering.
