There are currently two ways to build a landed home. Each one, however, comes with some a set of drawbacks, says Warren Liu.
While the traditional method can be tedious, expensive, and time-consuming, the design-and-build method can result in “poorer design quality and uncertainty in built quality” if the design expertise is outsourced. Which, he adds, is usually the case.
The good news is a third option is being rolled out—one that solves the problems present in the first two. In 2019, Liu and an engineering partner co-founded design and construction tech company Inplex after they identified a gap in the landed home construction industry. Liu is also the managing director of architectural firm A D Lab.
“It addresses the market segment of landed homeowners looking for good-quality custom-designed houses that are more affordable and have a shorter waiting period.”
Warren Liu on changing the game
Inplex has developed a digital design-and- build platform known as the Monomer Building System. Aside from offering landed homeowners the opportunity to customise designs online, the platform also leverages on digital manufacturing technologies to produce prefabricated construction, essentially factory-made components that are assembled on-site.
Liu compares the process to LEGO, since the pieces are manufactured, shipped out, and then assembled elsewhere. “In a similar fashion, the lightweight prefabricated and prefinished modular building components can be flat-packed before being transported. The coordination and translation from building design to built form is totally seamless,” he illustrates.
And it sure revolutionises construction. Given that fewer materials are required, landed homeowners can put together their dream home at a lower cost. The time needed is also shorter thanks to artificial intelligence, building information modelling, digital manufacturing, and prefabricated technology. At present, Inplex can complete a landed home within 10 to 14 months, which is two-thirds the industry standard.
Furthermore, the Monomer Building System constructs houses in a more sustainable manner. Liu lets on that it not only reduces waste by 80 percent, but also uses 80 percent less building material compared to traditional forms of construction.
“Because of its light weight, less foundation is required, which means a reduction in earth works and impact to the environment. This translates to cost and time savings, and better quality for the consumer,” he explains.
Given the multitude of perks enabled by the platform, Inplex has been recognised for its innovative Design for Manufacturing and Assembly Principles and won the 2020 German Design Award.
But Liu is not resting on his laurels. If anything, he is already thinking of ways to keep up with up-and-coming housing design trends. “The pandemic changed our value system. There is greater appreciation for nature now,” he notes.
“I feel that there will be greater emphasis on designs that are sustainable and biophilic—a concept that increases occupant connectivity to the natural environment. Consumers are more willing to pay to free up their time for leisure.”
Style director: Chia Wei Choong
Art director: Ed Harland
Videographer: Isaku Lim and Zachary Chia
Photographer: Cher Him
Photographer’s assistant: May Chong
Hair & Makeup: Aung Apichai
