Serial construction – beacon of hope or off-the-peg architecture?

Serial construction – what does it stand for?

Serial construction refers to a construction method in which building components and modules are prefabricated in series and then assembled on site. In contrast to traditional customised production, this method enables efficient and more cost-effective production of residential buildings. The idea behind this is to speed up the construction process through standardised building elements, reduce construction costs and at the same time guarantee high quality. This construction method could meet the growing challenges in housing construction and represent an innovative solution to the housing shortage.

What are the advantages of serial construction?

Rising interest rates and material prices in recent years have made construction considerably more expensive. On average, around 3,200 euros is invested for one square metre of living space. According to Tim-Oliver Müller, Managing Director of the Federation of the German Construction Industry, tenants have to pay 18.40 euros per square metre to make the construction project worthwhile. The “Serial and modular construction 2.0” concept of the GdW, the umbrella organisation of the housing industry, aims to reduce construction costs through standardised production and efficiency. According to Müller, it could therefore “revolutionise” construction and reduce rents to around 14 euros per square metre. The reduction in building and rental prices promises relief where it is needed most.

The advantages lie not only in the cost efficiency, but also in the quality and efficiency of the construction process. The framework agreement “Serial and modular construction 2.0” provides for the industrial prefabrication of components and complete modules in large quantities. This leads to consistent quality, avoids construction errors and significantly shortens construction times on site. The regional production of components also promotes the local economy and creates jobs. Transport routes are shortened, which can lead to a reduction in the ecological footprint. This local focus in serial construction thus combines economic efficiency with ecological responsibility, which is particularly important in times of increasing environmental awareness and local economic development. Finally, there is also a not insignificant advantage for the neighbours in the prefabrication of the components; there is significantly less construction noise, as they are not manufactured on site at the construction project, but in a production hall.

What are the arguments against it?

Serial construction requires more space than conventional construction methods. Especially in large cities with limited space, it is difficult to build large-scale housing estates. However, it is not only the demand for space itself that poses a potential problem, but also the social challenges that go hand in hand with it. Particularly in villages with a small population, large housing estates could double the number of residents from one day to the next, which can lead to social tensions. Another potential disadvantage is the limited flexibility of the architecture. As serial construction is based on standardised components, the variety and individuality of architectural design is limited. This could lead to a homogenised appearance that does not correspond to the different aesthetic preferences and cultural requirements of our society.

What stands in the way of serial construction?

As is so often the case, bureaucracy slows down the (construction) process and stands in the way of the rapid implementation of an innovative idea. At the moment, each federal state has different regulations, which complicates the realisation of construction projects. And even within the federal states, especially in Berlin, the bureaucratic processes slow down construction projects enormously. Even if the construction process itself can be completed much faster thanks to serial production, it is often the bureaucratic hurdles that slow the process down. In the past, in Berlin, it often took up to ten years from the purchase of a plot of land to the construction of a property. Although the Faster Construction Act is intended to provide a remedy, the effects will not be felt immediately. In view of the housing shortage, this is a substantial hurdle that must be overcome. Greater flexibility in construction and optimised floor plans can help to reduce costs. Fewer specifications and simpler standards are important points for the sustainable implementation of serial construction on a larger scale.

Sustainability is the keyword: how sustainable is serial construction?

The discussion about environmental concerns should not be ignored here either. Intelligent combinations of sustainable building materials and innovative component solutions can even save costs in new builds. Müller emphasises that it is crucial not to increase energy requirements any further and calls for investment in the expansion of renewable energies in particular.

The fear of soulless prefabricated buildings

The concerns regarding aesthetics are understandable – especially against the background of the large, monotonous buildings, colloquially known as “Plattenbauten”, which were built in large numbers, especially in the former GDR. Due to their simple construction and imposing size, they often evoke a dreary feeling in many people and create a desert-like atmosphere in prefabricated housing estates. However, it is important to emphasise that historic buildings, including GDR buildings, often have their own architectural and cultural significance. A look at their stability, durability and lived history can serve as a valuable perspective in the discussion about serial construction. In addition, today’s technological developments offer more far-reaching possibilities. It might now be easier to successfully combine a positive atmosphere and pleasant aesthetics with practical aspects.

What does serial construction look like in practice?

The foundation stone for Germany’s largest modular construction project to date was laid on Landsberger Allee in the Berlin-Lichtenberg district in January 2023. Once completed, Gewobag’s new neighbourhood will comprise around 1,500 residential properties and consist of over 3,000 modules. The project is seen by many as a signpost for the building of the future. Germany’s capital currently has a shortfall of over 50,000 homes. Modern modular construction can help to counteract the permanent crisis on the housing market. The neighbourhood being created on Landsberger Allee is by no means to be compared with dreary prefabricated buildings. Both visually and functionally, the residential buildings are of a high standard. Thorsten Schulte, Managing Director of Gewobag Entwicklungs- und Baubetreuungsgesellschaft mbH, sees the advantages in a combination of shorter construction times and higher quality: “Before construction starts, everything has to be planned down to the last screw, but on the construction site – and therefore overall – we are four or five months faster.” At the same time, the construction of the modules can already be monitored in the production hall, minimising the need to rectify defects on the construction site, which would otherwise take months. The more efficient use of raw materials means that serial construction also scores highly in terms of sustainability goals. Although there is still no clear cost advantage to be seen, it can be assumed that significant economies of scale can be achieved in the future thanks to the emergence of standardised processes and fixed infrastructures. Schulte gives a confident forecast for the future: “We will see a high degree of modular construction. This is the method of choice in the residential construction segment in which we want to produce many affordable residential properties.” The modular construction method only starts to run into limitations when it comes to external factors. State-specific building regulations, certain characteristics of properties and the agreement of preferred floor layouts and standardised modular plans can detract from the advantages of modular construction.

Conclusion

In the discussion about serial construction, it is clear that this approach is not a universal solution to all challenges posed by the housing shortage. Particularly in large cities with limited space, the space required for mass-produced buildings can pose a problem, while social tensions cannot be ruled out in rural regions in the event of rapid population growth. Despite these challenges, however, serial construction offers significant advantages. The cost efficiency of standardised production can help to reduce construction costs and thus also make rental prices more affordable. Quality assurance through industrial prefabrication minimises construction errors and significantly shortens construction times.

In addition, serial construction shows that sustainability does not necessarily have to be expensive. Many costs can be saved through intelligent combinations of sustainable building materials and innovative component solutions. This shows that serial construction may not be a panacea, but it is certainly a sensible option. However, a decisive prerequisite for success is a simplified and standardised approach to building law at federal level in order to counteract the bureaucratic hurdles. Overall, it can be said that serially built houses can be not only economically but also ecologically sustainable if they are intelligently planned and implemented.

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