Instant Skyscraper

[StashinIt]

http://www.wired.com/design/2012/09/broad-sustainable-building-instant-skyscraper/all/

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/11/20/china-plans-to-build-the-worlds-largest-skyscraper-in-just-90-days/?hpt=hp_c2

Saw this in the new today. I like the modular design ideas. More and more buildings are moving in that direction. I'm watching stuff being built and I can see larger and larger 'pieces' being delivered.

Still I can't help but think of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_2lGkEU4Xs

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,1
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

[tooqk4u22]

Modular buildings are very good overall but not widely used.  The pros are that they are essentially factory built so quality control and efficiency is high, they are environmentally friendly because of the factory build efficiencies and reduced shipping of materials to the sites, and they are cost effective.

Although they require far less people to build (i.e. significantly less jobs needed) so in urban unionized areas the unions hate them.