Innovation is recognized in architecture as a vital characteristic to challenge immediate obsolescence and short life expectancy responding to an increasingly pliant society and economics. Technology, and more specific, steel has made possible some of the most recent architecture and infrastructure achievements like the fluidity of space, programmatic interchangeability, efficient building erection, upgradeable technology, and so on.

These properties are applied frequently to productive spaces like office buildings, airports, factories, while being less successful in housing project implementation. This is partially because of the shadow of what was considered monotonous housing blocks with dry open plans and no context schemes. On the other hand experimentation with new platforms for single-family housing is constant and successful in fields that range from alternative building technologies, electronic controls, alternative energy options, to provoking spaces that are finally enjoyed by its users.

Within this context, there is the need to reflect on one urgent and undeniable challenge: the production of sustainable housing in light of a housing shortage for a continuously growing urban population (10.5% in London region since 1981). The pressure of this shortage requires an overall view in which steel technology is able to bridge environmental needs with social and economic ones. One key point within the proposed sustainable agenda for this competition is flexibility defined as the ability to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions.

A simple addition or subtraction can be easily done to offer not less than five possible apartment configurations.

In the FUSe proposal for the United Kingdom, Icesa S.A. responds to this context with three types of flexible approaches to respond to specific goals: 1) the capacity to configure different unit options that allow developers to offer a wide variety of products that could fit different interest groups and different densities; 2) allow the habitant to adapt the space to different needs according with life cycles that could occur in days, months and years; and 3) one is a system to adapt to different sites, more specifically different orientations.

Based on a basic floor plan configuration formed by 65m² modules and one "wild card" space between them, a simple addition or subtraction can be easily done to offer not less than five possible apartment configurations with areas that vary from 30m² (a simple studio), 54m², 65, 85 and 130 with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms, respectively. No modifications to the service areas (bathrooms, WC, kitchens, elevations, etc.) need to be performed in this process. As well, effective construction, based on an open web steel system, provides flexibility in the number of stories possible. The height can be decided in advance between three and seven stories high with different combinations and shapes.

The flexibility of the dwelling is not only key to making it work for a variety of users but also is important for the well being of the "family" members. A larger amount of variable household activities can be solved because of the programmatic spaces--the possibility to shift between the private and the social-- with connections that do not affect the remaining private parts. The diagram below shows the 65m² module with some of the combinations private-social achieve with two design strategies:

1. Allow most of the spaces to have two possible accesses that can be regulated with doors or moving walls.
2. The access position should allow the connection of 2 different areas to the "exterior". The service core serves as division, structure and organizer of the space.

In this example, social activities refer to those that include persons outside the "nuclear family" like friends, clients, business partners and so on; family activities like watching TV, study, cooking or just talking can be partially intruded by others. Private activities refer to the actions that need special "permission" to be reached by others even with temporal character like a guest sleeping in the living area. The number inside the space points out simultaneity of of the same type actions.

The building is designed to be located with an optimum orientation (building's axis with an east-west direction), with its main elevations and glazed surfaces working to the north and south, getting the most out of the latter as a heat source in winter. The objective is to minimize direct sunlight in the hottest months and allow sunlight to penetrate the units in the coldest months. Nonetheless, following on the flexibility concept that has directed the design, three 60 cm modulated types of panels were designed as the main elements to construct the elevations:

1. Solid Panel: A closed insulated piece, working to express steel as the building's main material.
2. Window Panel: A modulated steel frame, containing an operable doubled glazed window, specified to achieve the required air tightness without compromising the need of ventilation as desired.
3. Louvered Window Panel: The same as the window panel, with the addition of a louvered system designed as a shading device, with its orientation and position optimized for summer and winter heating conditions.

The use of the panels allows each elevation to be individually configured, following on different aesthetic, cultural or climatic conditions. This feature of the FUSe building strengthens its repeatability. Elevations on diverse orientations can be designed through different panel arrangements, responding to site-specific conditions of future developments.

Density is one of the main factors in order to achieve urban sustainability. The FUSe building proposal includes a minimum of 17. FUSe numbers equal 68 units per hectare, close to the recommendations made by Britain's Urban Task Force.

Alternative energy sources were explored and included. Solar panels above the seventh floor roof and vertical wind turbines (QR5 by Quiet Revolution) on the fourth floor, will account for 36,375 kWh per year. These systems are connected to the local electrical network. This means that during the day, the electricity generated by the alternative energy systems can either be used immediately, or can be sold to one of the electric supply companies (which is more common for domestic systems where the occupier may be out during the day). In the evening, when the system is unable to provide the electricity required, power can be bought back from the network. In effect, the grid is acting as an energy storage system, which means the system does not need to include battery storage. The UK Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme provides funding for up to 50% of the PV system.

Energy efficiency appliances and lighting systems should be included to reduce the building's consumption. Regarding water issues, the systems will deal with this resource as follows:

• Low consumption toilets, faucets and accessories are implemented in the building to reduce water consumption.
• Rain and surface run off water is collected on site, and filtered for a non-potable water use
• The building's grey water system will be cleaned through a treatment plant, whose outflow can be used for landscape maintenance, reflection pond, and other non-potable uses within the apartments (laundry, toilets, etc.).
• Green vegetative roofs are incorporated in all levels except the seventh floor's roof (solar panels), to reduce the heat island effect and slow rain water drainage.

Regarding the origin and certificates of the building materials and products, all efforts should be made in order for the steel used in the structure and the façade systems to be from a 10% recycled content (post-consumer + ¹ pre-consumer). In addition, a minimum of 10% (based on cost) of the building materials and products must be extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured within 500 miles of the project's site. All wooden flooring, doors. cabinets and accessories will use a minimum 50% of its materials and products that are certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) Principles and Criteria. Regarding the Building's environmental performance, A LEED Pre- Certification Estimate resulted in 44 points from a maximum of 69, granting the project a LEED Gold Status. For this purpose, all criteria concerning administration surveys, equipment and construction methods was established as optimum, as would be the real specifications and objectives if the building were to be constructed.

Urban Relationships

The FUSe building proposal relates to the urban scale in many forms, motivating social contact within the project and between its inhabitants and the surrounding events and community. The building's front setback is increased in order to locate a public plaza. By an overshadowing analysis, it was determined that this area will take advantage of sunlight during the coldest months, increasing the possibilities if its use throughout the year. On the ground floor, different strategies were included: 1) Strategic location of structural elements and services in order to free space for possible commercial activities and to increase permeability between the site's back garden and the front plaza; 2) The ground floor is recessed in order to soften the building-to-ground relationship; 3) Green roofs are incorporated to increase social areas within the project. They are located on the second and third floors, shortening the separation between the tower inhabitants and a common area; 4) Balconies and terraces are included in the apartments, in order to increase the possibility of events occurring in transitional spaces, which may help activate urban conections; 5) Parking spaces are located at the back of the building, so their influence in the project's image is minimized. 6) All units overlook public areas in order to increase security in these areas.

The FUSe building proposal relates to the urban scale in many forms, motivating social contact within the project and between its inhabitants and the surrounding events and community. The building's front setback is increased in order to locate a public plaza. By an overshadowing analysis, it was determined that this area will take advantage of sunlight during the coldest months, increasing the possibilities if its use throughout the year. On the ground floor, different strategies were included: 1) Strategic location of structural elements and services in order to free space for possible commercial activities and to increase permeability between the site's back garden and the front plaza; 2) The ground floor is recessed in order to soften the building-to-ground relationship; 3) Green roofs are incorporated to increase social areas within the project. They are located on the second and third floors, shortening the separation between the tower inhabitants and a common area; 4) Balconies and terraces are included in the apartments, in order to increase the possibility of events occurring in transitional spaces, which may help activate urban conections; 5) Parking spaces are located at the back of the building, so their influence in the project's image is minimized. 6) All units overlook public areas in order to increase security in these areas.

The basis for the FUSe building construction is a simple structural kit and a modular approac. Four basic steel elements, all prefabricated by off site manufacturers in order to optimize quality, speed of construction and efficiency, constitute the building's skeleton. A structural service module is made up of lightweight 10cm steel framing. The stackable service modules constitute the basic columns for the building. A simple and easy to build truss element connects the service modules and the load bearing panels. A cantilevered solid web beam constitutes the supporting structure for the prefabricated floor cassettes, helping to achieve a lighter look on the elevations. A Load bearing panel made of light weight steel framing acts as bearing wall or vierendel beam.

The construction process can be read in its opposite order as a deconstruction or disassemble procedure. The process required to assemble each floor's structure is repeated for the remaining levels. On the ground floor, different strategies were included:

1. Location of the structural service modules.
2. Trusses are added, supported on the services modules and additional load bearing panels.
3. Cantilivered solid web beams are added, as structure for floor panes.
4. The process is repeated for the second floor.

Additional beams are added to close the structural frames and to mount facade panels.

View FUSe Floor Plans