Common-Staircase Prefabricated Housing Estates for Flexible Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing housing and settlement construction methods, such as single-family homes, semi-detached houses, and multi-story apartment buildings, are inflexible and costly, failing to adapt to changing societal needs and environmental demands, and often lack barrier-free access to upper floors.

Innovation Solution

A prefabricated housing estate comprising standard houses connected via a common staircase, allowing for flexible arrangement and combination into various ensembles, with standardized components for efficient manufacturing and adaptable layouts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If standardized housing units are used, then manufacturing efficiency and cost-effectiveness are improved, but flexibility and adaptability to changing needs deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing ensemble is segmented into independent standardized modules (houses 20) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled in various configurations. Each module contains complete functional units (living spaces, bathrooms, kitchens) that can be independently produced and combined, enabling both efficient standardized manufacturing and flexible arrangement to meet different spatial and functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic reconfiguration of the housing ensemble by allowing standardized modules to be connected in different patterns (linear, radial, clustered) around common staircases. The modular design permits future expansion, modification, or reconfiguration of the ensemble to adapt to changing demographic and social needs while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual buildings are designed separately, then design freedom is improved, but construction costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign freedomVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A universal standardized house module design serves multiple functions and can be used in various positions and configurations within the ensemble. The same basic module type can accommodate different household sizes and requirements through internal layout variations, while the external structure and connection interfaces remain standardized, reducing construction complexity through repetition and modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of designing each building individually, the system uses replicated copies of standardized house modules. These copies can be efficiently produced through prefabrication and assembly processes, reducing design time and construction complexity while maintaining design freedom through the selection and arrangement of different module types and configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional housing typologies are used, then structural stability is improved, but barrier-free access and sustainability are deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidbarrier-free access
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from single-story traditional housing to multi-story modular ensembles with common staircases serving multiple levels. This vertical dimensionality allows barrier-free access solutions (elevators, ramps) to be integrated at the ensemble level rather than requiring individual modifications to each house, while maintaining structural stability through standardized foundation and connection systems designed for multi-story configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4628678A1Ensemble in the form of a type house estate and type house estate complex
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 ROPEE PARTMBB SUSANNE WEILAND ARCHITEKTIN ROLF BERNINGER ARCHITEKT
  • EP4628678A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4628678A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4628678A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The invention relates to an ensemble (10) in the form of a prefabricated housing estate (10) comprising at least two prefabricated houses (20), in particular prefabricated residential houses, wherein at least two to a maximum of four prefabricated houses (20), in particular on each non-ground-level floor, are connected to one another via a common prefabricated staircase (30) in order to form a prefabricated house basic unit, and to a prefabricated housing estate complex (70) comprising at least two such prefabricated housing estates (10).