Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa January/February 2014 | Page 46

Save Time & Money with
Pods from Inside Group
Modular building structures are being adopted more widely in South Africa,
having become a preferred practice internationally

T

he concept that sees units completed in a factory and
delivered to building sites for fast and easy installation,
offers a cost-effective solution to many construction projects
where time is of an essence.
According to Warwick McCance-Price, founder and managing
director of Inside Group, a Cape Town headquartered business
that provides bespoke interior and modular building solutions,
there has been a continued uptake in prefabricated modules in the
construction industry as the benefits of modular building are being
realised locally.
Modular bathroom pods as well as stackable structural units
have been on the international scene for decades.
“Pods are commonly used for delivering construction solutions
in the hotel industry,” says McCance-Price, who has taken the
concept and adapted it for the local market.
Pods offer a complete stackable building solution that is
engineered to exceed quality expectations while shortening the
timeline of a project. Simply put, pods save time and money.
“The pod – due to it being made off-site on a production line
– has some very real advantages, the biggest of which is that it
significantly reduces the risk of building delays, which ultimately
saves money.”
Built under strict factory conditions, the prefabricated modular
rooms are delivered in a completed format on site where they are
easily handled by crane or forklift and installed within a matter of
hours, depending on the complexity of the build. Multi-room pod
installations take less than a day from start to completion.
“Another major advantage is that the system can be customised
to a specific project,” explains McCance-Price. “Whether it
is delivering one room or an entire apartment, the concept is
definitely gaining ground in South Africa as more people realise
the benefits.”
“The application of pods”, he says, “is endless. We have
already stacked the structural room modules up to four storeys,
and bathroom modules are going into 14 storey buildings. Each
unit is custom-designed for residential accommodation or the
hospitality market.
“Pods are still in their infancy in South Africa. It requires a
definite mind shift away from brick and mortar construction that
we are used to.”
The unmistakable advantages of the modular construction
concept, as well as the successfully completed projects to
date, have resulted in a firm foundation for this concept to be
incorporated in current and future developments.

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Inside Group