FUTURE-PROOF HOSPITALS: INVESTIGATING THE APPLICABILITY OF MASS CUSTOMIZED MODULAR DESIGN IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

As society progresses, the pains with rigid infrastructure that just cannot keep up with our ever-changing demands, also grew. Buildings often become functionally obsolete and demolished even long before their constituent materials have served their full physical cycle. This is especially true for hospitals. With the humanistic nature of the hospital, healthcare environments change with accordance to society needs. Even more with the rapid advancement of technology, once hailed as the state of the art, medical equipment is replaced more frequently than before. For many years, architects have looked into modular design solutions to address the shortage and cost of housing. And with mass customization, exploration into modular construction became easier and more affordable. Expandable and reconfigurable spaces are no longer new in the realm of housing. However, the modular solution is still in its adolescence in hospital architecture. Therefore, this paper aims to be a guide that provides insights on the nature of hospitals and to investigate the applicability of modular design in implementing flexibility to hospital infrastructures so as to prepare for unpredictable spatial changes required in the future.