Modularity as an innovative driver at BDS
At Boonen Design Studio (BDS), modularity stands as a powerful principle in our design process. It enables us to provide flexible, efficient, and sustainable solutions that meet the evolving needs of the market and users. A striking example of our modular design solutions is Gardeos, a project in which we developed a revolutionary garden pavilion system. “Can you design a garden house?” That was the initial question Thijs Dewindt and Bartel Rutten of the young construction company Gardeos brought to us.
Gardeos: a practical example of modularity
The pandemic taught us the importance of home comfort and even increased the dream of having a personal garden house or home office pavilion for many. You could either build something yourself and see it warp after the first frost, or opt for a traditional construction project with heavier administrative, structural, and financial foundations. But a high-quality outbuilding that is quick, functional, and long-lasting? That was unattainable for many. Until Gardeos approached BDS.
While developing modular principles may be complex, the ultimate added value is enormous.
It quickly became clear that a completely different approach could lead to a more ingenious system: a modular technology based on the click-and-play principle, largely standardized but adaptable to the personal tastes and desires of the customer. Gardeos provides patented click-and-ready modules for facades, including an insulated roof panel. No screws, nails, or bolts are needed. While the development process to achieve this modular principle may be complex, the ultimate added value is enormous.
High-quality outbuildings and garden pavilions from Gardeos can be installed in just two days. This innovative and modular product significantly reduces labor costs and installation time, directly reflecting the efficiency and flexibility that modularity offers.
Climbing the R-ladder
The concept of modularity in industrial design is certainly not new. In the book Design Rules: The Power of Modularity, Carliss Y. Baldwin and Kim B. Clark elaborate on the advantages and point to a significantly increased rate of innovation and improved product development in companies. They even prescribe it as an essential way to respond more quickly to market changes and work more efficiently through the use of interchangeable components.
We often talk to our clients about legolization, a metaphorical nod to LEGO bricks that can be easily clicked together and adjusted. The large number of standardized modules or building blocks that quickly and easily connect allows for an almost unlimited variety of combinations and implementations. This naturally affects product architecture with variables and subsequently on assembly and logistics, but the adaptability is much higher.
We often talk to our clients about legolization, a metaphorical nod to LEGO bricks that can be easily clicked together and adjusted with an unlimited variety of combinations and implementations.
Modularity greatly impacts efficiency and sustainability. In The Power of Modularity Today: 20 Years of Design Rules, Stefano Brusoni points to Design for Assembly (DfA) and Design for Manufacturing (DfM). These principles help simplify the assembly process and improve manufacturability by using common components and processes. They are, in our view, fundamental rungs of the R-ladder of circular strategies that we closely monitor at BDS.
Therefore, modularity is always a starting point in our design processes, whether we are making a shared buggy, a trash can, or a charging station. Boonen Design Studio is committed to creating modular systems and solutions that are ready for the challenges of the future. Our shared future.
