‘MIMA,’ Prefabricated House by Mima Architect
‘IMA,’ Prefabricated house designed by Portuguese Architect Mima consists of a square post-and-beam structure completely glazed on all sides, subdivided by modular 1,5mx3m wooden frames. MIMA houses come with additional plywood panels which can be placed on the inside and the outside of the building, for a replacement of any window by a wall in a matter of seconds.
The inside is defined by a regular grid of 1,5m, whose intermediate lines leave gaps for internal walls to be added when needed. Again, in a matter of seconds, a subdivided space can be replaced by an open space or vice versa. Moreover, each side of internal and external walls can have a different color/finishing, which allows a dramatic change through a simple wall rotation.
MIMA’s concept is fundamentally inspired by the traditional Japanese house, the perfect paradigm for lightness, flexibility, comfort and pleasing lines. The restrained order of its standardized building parts appealed to MIMA architects as the hallmark of a deeply rooted culture, confirmed over centuries and easily adaptable to any new development.
MIMA uses prefabricated construction methods, the secret for its quick production and low price. Likewise, traditional Japanese residential post-and-beam construction could be considered inherently a system of prefabrication: it was based on regularized column spacing known as the ken, the infill elements of shoji screens, fusuma panels and tatami mats, prefabricated by individual craftsmen in various locations of Japan could be precisely put together almost like pieces of a puzzle.
5 Responses to “‘MIMA,’ Prefabricated House by Mima Architect”
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December 27th, 2011 at 6:30 am
[...] So much thought and care went into the actual design and planning behind the user that the floor has got great design integrated to allow the expansion of more or less walls to create an open floor plan, or more intimate spaces for its dwellers– and all based on Eastern cultures who have been living in smaller footprints for centuries. “Japanese residential post-and-beam construction could be considered inherently a system of prefabrication: it was based on regularized column spacing known as the ken, the infill elements of shoji screens, fusuma panels and tatami mats, prefabricated by individual craftsmen in various locations of Japan could be precisely put together almost like pieces of a puzzle.” [CM] [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
[...] the Mima is both affordable and extraordinarily easy and quick to install. Our friends over at CubeMe point out that the home resembles the Japanese ken, which mixes and matches screens, panels, and [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
[...] the Mima is both affordable and extraordinarily easy and quick to install. Our friends over at CubeMe point out that the home resembles the Japanese ken, which mixes and matches screens, panels, and [...]
March 5th, 2012 at 5:43 am
[...] So much thought and care went into the actual design and planning behind the user that the floor has got great design integrated to allow the expansion of more or less walls to create an open floor plan, or more intimate spaces for its dwellers– and all based on Eastern cultures who have been living in smaller footprints for centuries. “Japanese residential post-and-beam construction could be considered inherently a system of prefabrication: it was based on regularized column spacing known as the ken, the infill elements of shoji screens, fusuma panels and tatami mats, prefabricated by individual craftsmen in various locations of Japan could be precisely put together almost like pieces of a puzzle.” [CM] [...]
April 19th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
[...] So much thought and care went into the actual design and planning behind the user that the floor has got great design integrated to allow the expansion of more or less walls to create an open floor plan, or more intimate spaces for its dwellers– and all based on Eastern cultures who have been living in smaller footprints for centuries. “Japanese residential post-and-beam construction could be considered inherently a system of prefabrication: it was based on regularized column spacing known as the ken, the infill elements of shoji screens, fusuma panels and tatami mats, prefabricated by individual craftsmen in various locations of Japan could be precisely put together almost like pieces of a puzzle.” [CM] [...]