Understanding the Anyplace Revolution — Building Beyond Waste
Two terms underpin the entire Anyplace philosophy: Design for Industrialization, and Design for Disassembly.
We understand that the way Anyplace is transforming construction might not be immediately obvious, so let's break it down. Two key terms underpin our entire philosophy:
- DfIND – Design for Industrialization: This is our core methodology for creating a construction system optimized for efficient, large-scale industrial production.
- DfD – Design for Disassembly: This principle guides how every component is designed to be easily taken apart, reused, repurposed, or ultimately recycled.
The very foundation of Anyplace's development was driven by a critical need to address the systemic issues plaguing traditional construction: excessive waste, a linear "take-make-dispose" economy, material limitations (like rot and pests), and the high level of specialized skill required for on-site building. We believe we've found the "holy grail" – a truly sustainable and adaptable building solution.
Adaptable Structures has engineered and produced a groundbreaking 50-part DfIND construction system . Think of it as creating incredibly versatile, structural building blocks – modules. Imagine a #6 Lego brick, but with a game-changing difference: the walls between adjacent Anyplace modules are designed to be easily removed, instantly creating larger, unified spaces.
The backbone of these 50 standardized parts is predominantly extruded aluminum , specifically low-carbon remelt material , chosen over energy-intensive virgin resources. This intelligent material selection inherently eliminates problems like rot, rust, insect infestation, allergens, and even facilitates easy decontamination. Pssst. It also recycles.
These core components are precision-manufactured using industry-standard CNC machining, achieving a remarkable repeatability of less than 1mm. Crucially, 100% of the aluminum waste generated during machining is recycled , establishing a true zero-waste process for the structural framework of our buildings. We've further confirmed that the entire weathertight envelope of an Anyplace structure can also be produced zero waste.
Our DfIND principles mandated minimizing the number of unique parts to enable efficient industrial-scale sub-assembly. Once these 50 parts are machined and coated to the customer's preference, the primary assembly involves simply installing fasteners – a process that can also be automated. Remarkably, the walls and cladding are the only major sub-assemblies that require human labor outside of quality assurance and shipping . The wall assembly process is designed for a manageable factory footprint of around 500 square meters, utilizing just one specialized tool.
Beyond our core 50 parts, the beauty of Anyplace is its integration with readily available, off-the-shelf construction materials for elements like windows, doors, and insulation.
The efficiency of our DfIND system translates to rapid deployment. Once sub-assemblies are complete, the entire system is ready for shipment in hours, not the typical days or months associated with traditional construction. There's also no waiting for drying times or curing processes.
The DfD philosophy is central to Anyplace's adaptability. Structures are designed to evolve. Need an extra room? Simply add a module. No longer require it? It can be easily detached and even resold. This fundamental shift has the potential to revolutionize the housing economy, creating a more dynamic and less wasteful market. Even in the event of a disaster, Anyplace components are salvageable and replaceable, and in the worst case, they are fully recyclable.
Our commitment to DfD has naturally extended to other critical areas of building design, prompting research into interior fit-outs. Why do we routinely demolish kitchens? Why are interior materials not designed for salvage? Why can't room functions change without generating significant waste? We've been diligently answering these questions, and we're excited to soon reveal our innovative solutions in these areas.
Ultimately, the overarching vision driving our research is a fundamental question: Why are we designing trash? The vast majority of what we build today is destined for landfill, with resource recovery being economically unviable. Anyplace changes this paradigm. We've created a system where waste becomes a valuable resource .
In a circular economy, the materials in an Anyplace structure retain their value, creating a scenario where, at the end of a building's current use, people will pay for the resource it contains.