Adaptive Projects

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND: 'Adaptive Projects' is a research collaboration between Leanne Zilka and Simon Whibley that explores the possibilities for creating wet areas (kitchen, bathroom and laundires) in prefabricated containers. The projects contribute to a dynamic international discourse around container prefabricated building items, including the Victorian State Government's VicUrban affordable housing research conducted by practitioners such as Graham Crist, Nigel Bertram, Shane Murray and Diego Ramirez. RESEARCH CONTRIBTION: Adaptive Projects exhibited two entries in design competitions. One, a six-story high rise comprised of standard steel shipping containers fitted out with wet areas, was created for Sydney Container Vacation House (2013), an international competition. The other was a container house created for post-earthquake Christchurch, a structure that had to comply with stringent building restrictions. Both pieces - exhibited as drawings and models - demonstrated creative design solutions that use prefabricated elements (the container) in design for mutlistorey housing and detached dwellings. The research investigated how containers could be "wrapped" in spaces and so provide a response to site, brief and environmental concerns. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) invited 14 women architects and designers to exhibit their work at the Melbourne gallery, 45 Downstairs. Daniella Casamento was the curator. The DIA is the peak professional membership national body for designers and design practices. This exhibition was an official Satellite Event of the National Gallery of Victoria's Melbourne NOW show (22 Nov-23 Mar 2014). Press coverage included: Laura Held, 'Women in Design' Architecture Australia (1 April 2014); Sonia Sarangi, 'Make it big so the boys can see', Parlour 18 March 2014 (the 'Parlour' blog is part of an Australian Research Council-funded research project).