Prefabrication experiments - 73 - GSK «open» building systems in Japan

Industrialized building systems and prefabricated building experiments found their stride during the early 20th century. Their conceptual roots were meshed with those of mass manufacturing. Their early proprietary nature limited the streamlining of new building knowledge and furthermore confined their use. During the peak of worldwide housing shortages many building systems developed as closed and self-directed systems, as was the case for most mass-manufactured commodities.

Architecture and building culture in general progress through an open exchange of ideas. Moreover, buildings are by definition open systems requiring many retrofitting phases and strategies throughout their service lives. Closed, patented or highly specialized industrial productions have been proven less adaptable over time. Replacement parts, pieces or alterations are contingent to the closed system’s agility, continuous production and economic success. During the second half of the 20^th century, the required programmatic flexibility of buildings inspired a more open approach to building systems: coordinated sub-systems based on dimensionally standardized components, parts and products toward their straightforward assembly.

In Japan the «GSK» building systems for educational buildings typified the idea of dimensional and systemic coordination and explored an «open source» cross-pollination of building systems. Innovative and flexible teaching required more flexible schools.  Initiated by RIEF (The Research Institute for Educational Facilities) in 1971, the process was founded on similar experiments undertaken in Great Britain (CLASP) and the United States (SCSD) when those countries confronted their own demographic demands for educational resources.

The RIEF instituted performance based specifications for industrial proposals providing elements for eight building systems: structure, envelope, roof, interior walls, ceiling/lighting, finishes, mechanical and electrical. The specifications were technically sound in their requirements with quick, easy, and coordinated assembly highlighting their overall methodology. The specifications demanded a simple but rigorous planning grid of 900 x 900 x 900mm onto which room sizes, heights and systems could be organized. The grid increased efficiency. Modern systems of construction shared and still share this ideal of dimensional modularity. Each company’s proposal was cross- evaluated, recorded, categorized and became the basis for a pilot school project that combined specific submissions toward the GSK building system. The RIEF’s process for GSK exemplifies the search of an open source architectural language for variable and varying building types. 

Prefab concrete panel wall sub-assembly (example)