Networking Event

Rethinking Housing and constructibility: 3SWUF, VOLA & KOPA

Presented by Tone Wheeler
Monday 26th October

Attend in person (Roseville Golf Club) or join us online via Zoom.

 

ABOUT THIS EVENT

A presentation by Tone Wheeler

How can architects respond to the housing crisis through better design, smarter construction and more sustainable urban living?

Join SPUN Architects Network for an engaging presentation by Tone Wheeler, exploring two important questions shaping the future of housing: how we can increase density while preserving the character of suburbia, and how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can contribute to more efficient housing delivery.

Part 1: 3SWUF – The Architectural Answer to the Housing Crisis?

 

Three-storey walk-up flats (3SWUF) offer a compelling alternative to the traditional suburban house and high-rise apartment block. By introducing modest increases in density, they have the potential to improve neighbourhood amenity, encourage social interaction, enhance environmental performance and strengthen the financial viability of housing development.

With more than 80% of our cities shaped by suburban living, could this building type help preserve the qualities Australians love about their suburbs while addressing the limitations of low-density development and car dependency?

Tone Wheeler will explore the long-standing Australian tradition of walk-up flats, reveal the remarkable diversity of their architectural possibilities, and examine the planning and regulatory barriers that have led to their exclusion from many urban areas.

Part 2: VOLA versus KOPA – Which Modern Method of Construction Works Best?

 

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are attracting growing attention as the housing sector searches for faster, more efficient ways to deliver homes. But what approaches work best, and what opportunities do they offer architects?

Tone Wheeler will compare two distinct models:

• VOLA – Volume Assembly: Whole buildings or substantial building components are manufactured in a factory, then transported to site and assembled using cranes and other installation methods.
• KOPA – Kit of Parts Assembly: Homes are created from carefully designed, engineered and factory-manufactured components, delivered as a flat pack and assembled on site.

Through an exploration of their history, design potential and future applications, Tone will consider the advantages and challenges of each approach, and how they might be applied in architectural practice.

Join the Conversation

From rethinking the scale and form of suburban housing to reconsidering how homes are designed and constructed, this presentation invites architects and built-environment professionals to look beyond conventional approaches and explore practical alternatives to the housing challenge.

Discover how thoughtful architecture and innovative construction methods could help shape a more liveable, adaptable and sustainable housing future.

 

Reserve your Place