What is open building?
Open building is a way of building in which the interior of a building can be adapted easily, so that the building lasts longer. To make that possible, the building is deliberately split into two parts: the support and the infill.
The Dutch architect John Habraken set out this principle in 1961. His starting point: a building consists of layers with very different lifespans, and those should not be woven into one another. A structure lasts a century, a kitchen fifteen years, an office layout sometimes only five. Build them inseparably together and every change means demolition.
Support and infill
The support — the fixed, long-life parts:
– primary structure, façade and roof
– communal spaces, stair cores and risers
– main runs for water, drainage and electricity
– determined by the owner, the architect and the structural engineer
The infill — the variable, short-life parts:
– internal partitions, kitchen, bathroom and WC
– finishes and the services within the dwelling
– built to be demountable and adaptable
– determined by the user or occupant
What it delivers
- Adaptability — a dwelling can grow with a household, or an office floor can become housing, without touching the structure.
- Lower cost of change — you replace only the layer that has aged.
- Say for the occupant — the user decides the layout within the given support.
- Less demolition waste — demountable components can be reused, which connects directly to circular building.
What the design has to provide
- An open plan: load-bearing walls pushed towards the façade or into a core, so the interior can be laid out freely.
- Enough clear floor-to-ceiling height to reroute services in the floor or ceiling.
- Generously sized and accessible risers and service zones.
- Dry, demountable connections instead of fixing everything in concrete and adhesive.
Related terms
- Adaptable building
- Timber frame construction
- Circular building
- Thickening a dwelling
- Build-up of a building element
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