WO2008102152A2

WO2008102152A2 - Buildings

Info

Publication number: WO2008102152A2
Application number: PCT/GB2008/000610
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Harper; Alistair Downie
Original assignee: HARPER_DOWNIE Ltd
Current assignee: HARPER_DOWNIE Ltd
Priority date: 2007-02-23
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2008-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-23
Also published as: GB0703632D0; WO2008102152A3

Abstract

A building comprises at least two vertical columns of modules wherein in each column the modules are substantially identical to one another, the columns cooperating with each other to define a vertically extending void having a light source at one end, the modules in at least one of the columns having a light admitting section adjacent said void for admitting light from said light source into the corresponding module. The light well produced thereby allows more light into the rooms. The same principle can be applied to conventionally constructed buildings.

Description

Buildings

This invention relates to buildings such as hotels, particularly but not exclusively those constructed of prefabricated modules.

It is known to construct buildings from prefabricated modules. The benefits of such construction for certain types of building are well understood. They include the ability to mass-produce identical modules which gives a significant cost saving over traditional construction methods; they allow rapid onsite construction; and they allow many aspects of the build quality of the final building to be controlled centrally without relying on having to source local skilled labour. The latter consideration is particularly significant where buildings such as hotels are being constructed in many different countries for an international brand.

Whilst modular construction techniques may be attractive to hotel developers, the Applicant believes that their failure to catch on more significantly has been due, in part, to their relative lack of appeal to users such as hotel customers.

The Applicant aims to enhance several aspects of the appeal of modularly constructed buildings. When viewed from a first aspect the present invention provides a building comprising at least two vertical columns of modules wherein in each column the modules are substantially identical to one another, the columns cooperating with each other to define a vertically extending void having a light source at one end, the modules in at least one of the columns having a light admitting section adjacent said void for admitting light from said light source into the corresponding module.

The invention extends to a prefabricated module for a modular building, said module having a floor plan shape including a cutaway portion such that when placed in a vertical column of identical modules the corresponding cutaway portions together form a vertically extending void, the module further comprising a light-admitting section in a wall of the module facing onto said void in use.

The invention also extends to a kit of parts for fabricating a module as set out above.

Thus in accordance with the invention the modules of a modular building can be provided with light, preferably natural light, even if the module is not located at the edge of the building so as to be able to benefit from having an ordinary window. This counteracts one of the shortcomings of modular buildings from a user's point of view which was that they could be relatively dark and therefore have to rely on artificial lighting.

The light source could be a sufficiently powerful artificial light, perhaps spectrally adjusted in order to make it as close as possible to natural light. This could still be beneficial from a user's point of view when compared with the alternative of having relatively inexpensive artificial lighting sources in each module; and from the developer's point of view in reducing the cost of each module. Preferably however the light source comprises a source of natural light. This could be a simple plain skylight although preferably the top of the vertically extending void is closed by a light diffuser such as a prismatic diffuser for extending the effective angle of incidence over which light can enter the void. It is also envisaged that other reflective or refractive means could be provided at the mouth of the void for gathering a greater amount of light.

Similarly, in some preferred embodiments a light reflective lining is provided in the vertically extending void. Conveniently this is achieved by providing a light reflective surface on the at least part of the wall of each module which serves to define the vertically extending void. The light admitting portion would not normally be expected to have such a lining as this would cut down on the amount of light admitted, although this is not excluded from the invention in its broadest terms.

The vertically extending void could be defined essentially by one of the two specified columns with the modules of the other column simply providing a planar wall for the void. Alternatively, the modules in both columns could be shaped to provide part of the void. For example, in preferred embodiments the modules in the two columns are essentially mirror images of each other, at least in floor plan. Of course, the invention is not limited to having only two columns defining the void, further columns of modules could define walls of the void. For example, in some presently preferred embodiments the vertically extending void is defined at the centre of a rectangular array of four columns.

In the most preferred embodiments the modules have a floor plan which includes a cutaway portion at one corner for defining the vertically extending void.

The light admitting portion could simply be a clear window although it is preferably diffuse. It could be made of any suitably transmissive material such as glass or plastics.

A further advantage of the vertically extending void described herein is that it is a convenient way in which services such as water, waste water and soil disposal, electricity, data or ventilation can be provided to individual pods without the need to run pipes or cables between modules either horizontally or vertically. In preferred embodiments a bathroom is provided at the rear of the module with an external wall thereof adjacent the void. This allows wet services to be provided directly where they are required, thereby obviating the need for pipes running across the module.

A further shortcoming of existing proposals for modular buildings that has been identified by the Applicant is that they have tended to comprise two or three-dimensional arrays of adjoining modules which the Applicant has appreciated has the effect of making the rooms densely packed. Again the developer might see this as an advantage but it can deny an occupant a sense of space.

When viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a building comprising a plurality of columns within a common outer skin, each of said columns comprising a vertically arranged series of prefabricated modules stacked directly onto each other to form a self-supporting structure.

Thus it may be seen that in accordance with this aspect of the invention a building is essentially made up of two or more towers which are structurally independent of one another but which form part of the same externally closed unit. This has the advantage of giving greater flexibility to the design of the overall building in terms of the shape and spacing of the individual towers. The towers may be connected to each other e.g. by corridors but these will not be required to provide any lateral support between them.

Preferably the towers each comprise a set or plurality of subsets of substantially identical modules arranged in a vertical column.

The outer skin (typically walls and a roof) could envelope the towers or could just extend between them so that the faces of the towers form part of the external facade of the building. Again, since the skin is not required to provide any structural support to the towers, there is a relatively large degree of design freedom associated with it.

In preferred embodiments at least one of the towers comprises a stair or lift well formed from modules, preferably identical, stacked directly on top of each other to form a self-supporting structure.

The various aspects of the invention set out herein are of particular applicability to the construction of low cost hotels and thus in preferred embodiments of all aspects of the invention the modules comprise a bed and preferably further comprise a bathroom. Buildings in accordance with the invention are all intended to be suitable for human habitation and in general they are expected to be at least three stories high, although of course this is not always essential and the modules and principles described herein could be applied to single or double-storey buildings.

In order to achieve as much economic benefit from the invention as possible it is generally important to seek to standardise as many aspects of the modules as possible and to perform as much construction, assembly and appointing of the modules as is practical off-site so that time and labour required on-site is as low as possible. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the modules comprise complete hotel rooms as previously discussed. For example it is preferred that the modules are provided with a bed since this avoids the need to install the beds after construction. Indeed, the dimensions of the modules or the completed building may preclude this.

In view of the goal expressed above of maximum standardisation, it is desirable for any hotel room module to be suitable for single, double or twin occupancy. In accordance with a preferred set of embodiment the modules are provided with two beds and means allowing relative movement between the two beds wherein said movement is constrained to be in a direction of mutual approach or separation of the beds. Preferably the means allowing relative movement is provided by the mounting of one or both beds to the module.

Such an arrangement is believed to be novel and inventive in its own right and thus when viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a prefabricated module for a modular building and two beds mounted to the module so as to be movable relative to each in a direction towards and away from each other.

Thus it will be seen that in accordance with the aspect of the invention set out above the two beds can either be put together to form a double bed or separated to form twin beds. However, by mounting them to the module itself in such a way as to give such movement, a simple but effective integrated arrangement is achieved. The integration makes it easy to prevent movement of the beds during transport of the module to side which might damage the module whilst equally allowing the flexibility of converting the room quickly to twin or double occupancy.

Of course one of the beds could be fixed or both might be movable. The latter might be advantageous to facilitate cleaning. The beds might comprise means to lock them together when they are placed adjacent to each other or the means coupling them to the module could be configured to allow locking into position. Alternatively the static friction of the coupling might be sufficient to prevent unwanted movement. Although there are many other possibilities, a simple horizontal sliding mechanism is preferred. The beds could be coupled to the floor or wall of the module or both. Conceivably, a coupling to a ceiling could be provided.

In accordance with another preferred feature of the invention, horizontally adjacent modules of the building are provided with mutually aligned doorways so as to allow access between the respective pair of modules, at least one of said modules comprising a door for closing said doorway.

This is also believed to be novel and inventive in its own right and thus when viewed from a further aspect of the invention there is provided a building constructed from a plurality of prefabricated modules comprising a plurality of first modules and a plurality of second modules, said first and second modules being provided with mutually aligned doorways so as to allow access between respective pairs of modules and at least one of said modules comprising a door for closing said doorway.

The invention extends to a module per se of such a building and a kit of parts therefor.

Thus it will be seen that in accordance with this aspect of the invention convenient access between modules can be provided. In preferred embodiments where the modules comprise hotel rooms, this provides a convenient mechanism for letting a larger space, e.g. as a family room. It is preferred that both modules are provided with a door for closing the doorway, although this is not essential.

In accordance with an earlier aspect of the invention, a building comprises a plurality of towers, each of one or more vertical columns of modules within a common outer skin. One of the advantages of this is that a non-structural skin can be provided which opens the way for a flexible but low-cost solution. Non-structural skins or cladding are also appropriate to many other embodiments of the various aspects of the invention set out herein. In at least some preferred embodiments of all aspects of the invention, the building is provided with an outer cladding which comprises a plurality of inflatable pockets. Although such cladding is known per se, the Applicant has recognised that it is particularly suited to the design principles behind the present invention and complements the low cost, rapid construction which the invention permits at least in its preferred embodiments.

Indeed, the Applicant has gone further and devised a particularly advantageous method of providing such a cladding on the outside of a building and thus when viewed from a yet further aspect the invention provides a method of applying cladding to a building comprising using hoisting means mounted at the top of the building to hoist an elongate cladding element comprising a plurality of inflatable pockets vertically so as to cover part of a face of the building, translating said hoisting means laterally, using the hoisting means to hoist a further elongate cladding element to cover a further part of the face of the building, securing said cladding elements to the building, introducing a pressurised gas into at least some of the pockets of said cladding elements to inflate them and sealing said gas in said pockets.

Thus it will be seen that in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the cladding is applied in vertical strips using a hoist which can be moved along the building. This is rapid to perform onsite and permits the cladding elements to be folded or rolled for transportation taking up very little space.

The order in which the above steps are taken is not essential. For example each strip could be secured and/or inflated before the next is hoisted, or all strips could be inflated at the end. There are of course other possibilities.

In accordance with the preferred cladding method set out above, the cladding might be at least partially transparent or translucent. The Applicant has recognised that this gives rise to the possibility of a further potentially advantageous feature. In accordance with this feature, one or more of the modules is provided with exterior illuminating means for providing external illumination - e.g. through the cladding. This allows great flexibility in visually appealing lighting of the building which is easily controllable and does not require external lights.

This is novel and inventive in its own right and thus when viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a building constructed from a plurality of prefabricated modules, each having external illuminating means operable independently of any interior illumination of the module so as to be visible from outside the building.

The Applicant has further devised a novel and advantageous use of such illumination to indicate the extent of availability of rooms in a hotel. In one simple application of this principle, the exterior light of a given module could be illuminated if that particular room is available for booking. However, this is not the only possibility. Indeed it might be considered that for security reasons the occupancy of individual rooms is not displayed but rather an overall indication of the level of availability of rooms in the hotel could be provided by means of the exterior light to each module. For example, the modules could be illuminated in rows or columns to indicate extent of occupancy (e.g. in the manner of a horizontal or vertical bar chart) or indeed the modules could each act as pixels in a crude display to indicate a number, words or indeed any other graphical representation of the level of availability. Of course, this concept need not be limited to indicating the availability of rooms in the hotel and could be employed more broadly to display information e.g. a logo or advertising. Thus when viewed from a further broad aspect the invention provides a method of displaying information on a building constructed from a plurality of prefabricated modules, the method comprising selectively illuminating one or more illuminating means on an exterior facing surface of at least some of said modules such that when viewed from the exterior of the building a composite image may be viewed. In preferred embodiments though the image gives an indication of the extent of availability of rooms in the hotel.

The Applicant has further appreciated that the internal void for admitting light is beneficial in buildings of other types - not just modular buildings. Thus when viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a building comprising a plurality of floors, each floor comprising a plurality of rooms wherein at least some of said rooms on vertically adjacent floors are shaped to define therebetween, in conjunction with suitable apertures in the floors, a vertically extending void having a light source at one end, wherein at least some of said rooms have a light admitting section adjacent said void for admitting light from said light source into the corresponding room.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prefabricated module in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a module similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but having a mirror image layout;

Figs. 3a to 3g are schematic plan views showing how the modules are connected together to form a storey of a tower which will form part of a building;

Figs. 4a to 4e are detailed partial sections showing the connections of horizontally and vertically adjacent modules; Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the addition of a services riser section to a module in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a frame for a staircase module; Fig. 7 shows the addition of the surface members to the frame of Fig. 6; Fig. 8a is a perspective view showing stacking of staircase modules to form a staircase tower;

Fig. 8b shows how a staircase section can be stowed for transit; Fig. 9 is a plan view of an exemplary floor layout for a hotel; Figs. 10 and 1 1 are respectively a schematic perspective and a sectional view through a corridor connecting module towers;

Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective illustration of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a partial schematic view of a cladding support structure; Figs. 14a to 14c show progressive stages of the application of a cladding in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view through a building cladded in accordance with the method of Figs. 14a to 14c;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a building in accordance with the invention illuminated to indicate occupancy; and

Figs. 17a and 17b are respectively side and perspective views of an arrangement allowing beds to remove relative to one another.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a hotel room module in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a view of a mirror image module from above. The same reference numerals are used for the same features in both figures. As may be seen, the module is generally rectangular in shape except for a rectangular cut-away section at one of the rear corners which extends approximately half way across the width of the module. The module 2 includes a floor 4 and vertical walls 6a to 6f around its edges. The module is also provided with a ceiling so that it is fully enclosed although this is omitted from the figures. The module may be constructed as a tubular steel frame with the walls provided by corrugated sheet steel and the floor by sheets of man-made board such as a ply board. This construction can be seen more clearly in Fig. 2. However, it should be understood that the details of constructions and materials mentioned are merely examples and that there are many ways in which the fabric of the module can be constructed.

In the front wall of the module there is provided an access door 8 which when the module is in situ would normally open out onto a corridor or vestibule. Also in the front wall of the module is a window 10 which can be covered by an opaque sliding screen 12.

The interior of the module is divided by an internal partition wall 14 of vertically graded transparency which, with a perpendicular wall 16 and sliding door 18, defines a bathroom area 20. Inside this a shower screen 22 defines a shower area 24 and the rest of the bathroom area 20 is provided with a toilet 26 and a wash/hand basin 28. It may be observed that the shower 24, basin 26 and toilet 28, i.e. facilities requiring wet services, are all provided along one of the back walls 6d of the module which backs onto the cutaway portion of the floorplan.

On the other side of the bathroom area partition 14 is a bed area which includes two beds 30 which can be slid together or apart as will be described later on with reference to Figs 17a and 17b.

A monolithic wall panel 32 is provided against the longest wall of the module and defines a number of apertures. A first aperture 34 houses a television screen, a second aperture 36 provides access to hanging storage and a third aperture 38 at the rear of the module houses a folding desk 40 which can be folded upright for storage. However it should be noted that this is not provided in the module in Fig. 2. In the Fig. 1 module there is a seat 41 opposite the desk 40. In Fig. 2 the desk 40 is provided on the opposite wall 6e and the seat against the very back wall of the module 6f. The fourth aperture in the wall panel 32 is a doorway 42 in which there is provided an inwardly opening door 44 that can allow access to an adjacent mirror image module if both doors 44 are opened. The door is shown ghosted in its open configuration in Fig. 2.

A particularly important feature of the module 2 is found at the rear of the module in the shorter rear wall 6e facing onto the cut-away corner portion of the module. In this wall 6e there is provided a window 46 of diffuse glass (although of course plastics could be used instead), above the seat 41 in Fig. 1 and above the desk 40 in Fig. 2.

When the module 2 is placed in a vertical stack of identical modules, it will be appreciated that the cut-out sections at the rear of each module will align with one another to form a vertically extending void. By placing a suitable skylight above this void in the roof of the building, daylight will enter the void and therefore each of the modules that form it through the respective windows 46. This gives a significantly advantageous feature to the module whereby natural light can be let into it with the attendant advantages that it has regardless of where in the building the module is located. Of course, daylight could be supplemented or replaced by a suitably powerful artificial light. However, the admission of natural light into the module can transform its acceptability to users.

Another advantage which the void can provide is that it allows easy direct access to the rear of the module for the provision of services, particularly the provision of wet services to the facilities of the bathroom section which are located immediately behind the module wall 6d. Fig. 2 shows a service riser 66 adjacent this wall 6d. This is described in more detail later with reference to Fig. 5.

Construction of a building using modules 2 like those shown in Figures 1 and 2 will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 11. Figures 3a to 3g show the construction sequence for parts of a floor of a building in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3a shows a first module 2.1 which it may be seen has the layout shown in Figure 1 although for the purposes of clarity is shown in these Figures only schematically. The module 2.1 is fixed to the corresponding module in the floor below (the floor below is omitted from these Figures, again for clarity) at six fixing points indicated by arrows. This connection is described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to Figures 4a to 4c.

A second module 2.2 is then added which is a mirror image of the first module 2.1. This is also fixed to the floor below at the six points indicated by the arrows. Where the two modules 2. I₅ 2.2 are adjacent to one another, they are attached to the floor below by a common connector plate and therefore are connected to each other. This may be seen in Figure 4d.

Figure 3c shows a third module 2.3 being attached. Again, there are six fixing points with two of these being common to the previous module 2.2. The third module 2.3 has the same layout as the first 2.1 although is rotated through 180°.

Figure 4 shows the addition of a fourth module 2.4 which has the same layout as the second module 2.2 but rotated through 180°. In this stage of the sequence four of the six mounted connections are common to the previously fitted modules 2.1 and 2.3. It will be seen from Figure 3d that the cut-out sections from the four modules together define a central vertically extending void 48 which acts as a light well and which can also permit access for services although this is not shown. As will be appreciated by reference to Figures 1 and 2, each of the modules 2.1 to 2.4 will have a window 46 facing into the void 48.

Figure 3e shows the addition of a fifth module 2.5 to the block which has the same layout and orientation as the first module 2.1 and is fitted adjacent to the fourth module 2.4. The fifth module 2.5 can only be secured at five points indicated by the arrows since one of the points at which it would have been secured is now inaccessible. With reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the side connecting doors of modules 2.4 and 2.5 are aligned with each other thereby allowing direct access between them.

Figure 3f shows the addition of a sixth module 2.6 and indicates that the connection can only be secured at four points due to the inaccessibility of two of the connection points. The situation at the intersection of the corners of the four modules 2.3 to 2.6 is shown in Figure 4e.

Figure 3g shows the addition of a seventh module 2.7 which is identical in layout and orientation to the third module 2.3. This can again be attached at six points as indicated by the arrows. As will be seen by comparing Figures 3c and 3g construction can thereafter continue by repeating the earlier steps. As each block of four modules is added, a further void 48 is created.

Connection of modules to each other is shown in Figures 4a to 4e. Figure 4a shows the top corners of four modules 2 of a completed lower layer. This can be seen for example from earlier Figures 3f to 3g where modules 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 all come together. As can be seen in the scrap section of Figure 4a, the modules comprise a square section tubular frame 50 spanned by corrugated steel walls 52. In the top corner of each of the module frames 50 is a recessed flange 54 at the centre of which is a threaded bore 56. To enable the modules to be hoisted into position once on site, the threaded bores 56 initially receive lifting eyes (not shown). However, for construction into a building the lifting eyes are removed and replaced by threaded studs 58 which are screwed into the respective bores 56 to their mid points. A square levelling shim plate 60 is placed over each of the threaded studs 58 and a linking plate 62 is then placed over the four studs 58. This is shown in Figure 4b. The link plate therefore provides lateral connection between the four adjoining modules in the storeys above and below it.

Figure 4c shows the first module 2 of the layer above which has an open box section 64 at the bottom corner of its frame 50 with a hole on the bottom face to allow the threaded stud 58 to pass through it. The open box section 64 allows access to fit and tighten a nut and thereby secure the connection.

Figure 4d shows the addition of two further modules 2 each having respective open box sections 64 to allow nuts to be tightened to the corresponding threaded studs 58. However, when the fourth module is added as shown in Figure 4e, as explained earlier the corresponding threaded stud 58 is not accessible and so this fixing point cannot be secured with a nut. However, the threaded stud 58 still provides secure lateral location.

Figure 5 shows somewhat schematically an embodiment of a further feature of the invention mentioned earlier. The view is a perspective one from the rear of two modules 2 stacked on top of one another. The corrugated profile of the steel sheet making up one of the walls 6d of the upper module is shown. Although sheets having a similar profile make up the other walls and ceiling of the modules, these are not shown. As can be deduced by reference to particularly Figure 2, the wall 60 is the outer wall of the bathroom area 20 of the module.

What is also shown in Figure 5 is a separate rectangular frame structure 66 which can be bolted on to the back of the modules against the outer bathroom walls 60. The frame 66 shown here has a vertical height corresponding to two modules but it could have the height of only one module or more than two modules. The frame 66 has permanently attached side filler panels 68 but removable rear panels 70. It will thus be seen that when the frame 66 is fixed to the rear walls 60 of the modules it forms a vertical shaft which is enclosed on all sides. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide services to the modules such as water, waste water and soil removal and possibly electricity and/or ventilation. The layout of the modules is clearly designed so that these services are provided through the back of the module directly to the bathroom area 20 were they are needed. It can thus be appreciated that the vertically extending void 48 (see e.g. Fig. 3d) as well as providing light to the modules also enables the convenient provision of services without having to run these between modules. The removable panels 70 allow access to the services for maintenance.

Figures 6 to 8 show stackable staircase modules. Figure 6 shows the tubular section frame structure 72 of the module with suitable cross members and diagonal struts 76 to support the stairway sections.

Figure 7 shows the addition of the steps 78 which are of folded steel plate, the main landing floor 80 which is raised from the level of the frame 72 and formed with the last riser 82 to the adjoining flight of stairs in the module below. The half landing 84 and walls 86 are also shown. Figure 8a shows a more accurate exploded view of the stacking of the staircase modules with outer cladding panels 88 and door frame 90. Adjacent to the staircase modules are lift shaft modules 92 in which the schematically shown lifts 94 operate. These are constructed using the same principles.

As shown in Figure 8b, one of the stair flight sections 78 of each module can be stowed upside down against the other one for transportation.

Figure 9 shows a possible floor layout for an entire building in accordance with the invention. At the centre can be seen two blocks of fourteen modules each which are laid out in the configuration described above with reference to Figures 3a to 3g. The benefit of the vertically extending voids 48 can now be fully appreciated since they allow light and/or services into these inner modules. The vertical voids 48' formed by the two innermost pairs of modules are not fully enclosed as the other ones are and in fact they benefit from the light provided by a large skylight which also serves the central corridor 96. The modules which line the two long sides of the building define vertical voids which face outwardly and so can therefore benefit from light from the side of the building as well as or instead of skylights in the roof.

A stair module may be seen in the top left hand corner of the layout and another in the bottom right corner next to two lift modules. Service riser modules 66 like those associated with individual modules in Figure 5 are here shown only adjacent to one of the lift modules 92 and the top left staircase module 72.

Aside from these staircases and lifts, the room modules shown in the layout in Figure 9 can be seen to form four discrete blocks of one off 14 x 1, two off 7 x 2 and one off 1 1 x 1. When this floor layout is repeated vertically, each of these blocks forms a self-supporting, structurally independent tower. As will be described below with reference to Figures 10 and 1 1₃ there are corridor floors between the four blocks as each storey level, but these are supported by the independent towers rather than transmitting any structural load between them. Although omitted from Figure 9 for clarity, the whole building is surrounded by a common skin or cladding.

The tubular box frame construction of the modules shown employs tubes which are of steel typically between 3mm and 10mm thick (depending upon location - e.g. anticipated seismic loading) and which are 100 mm square. These allow the modules to remain sufficiently structurally stable to meet all applicable regulations when stacked to at least 1 1 modules high.

Figures 10 and 11 show respectively a schematic exploded view and a sectional view through the corridor section provided between the blocks of modules. Thus at each storey level the gap between facing blocks is spanned by a modular corridor insert 98 supported on a pair of Z brackets, one flange of which forms the inter-module connector shown in Fig 4. A raised floor 100 is supported on top of the corridor insert and has a hollow interior section to carry data and electrical cables 102. Beneath the modular corridor insert 98 is a further void 104 which is defined to beneath by a fire and finishes lining 106. This void 104 carries corridor light in and the sprinkler system.

Figure 12 shows another possible embodiment of the invention which comprises only a single tower of modules with is eight wide by four high by one deep and which can be applied next to an existing structure such as a car park and on top of ground floor retail units. In this embodiment it may be possible to make use of existing floor and lift structures so that only the room modules 2 and a suitable external cladding 108 are required to provide a complete hotel.

Figures 13 to 16 demonstrate a method of cladding a building in accordance with the invention. Firstly the pods 2 are stacked and connected as previously described. Then as shown in Figure 13 a corner bracket 110 is fixed to the upper corner of the tower of modules and further support brackets 112 are fitted to the outwardly facing walls of the pods 2 and are connected together vertically by diagonally extending tie rods 114.

Turning now to Figures 14a to 14c, a method of cladding the building is there shown schematically. A winching motor 1 18 is installed at the top of the tower of pods having two winches 120 approximately aligned with two adjacent vertical cladding support frames 116 (which are the equivalent of the brackets and tie rods shown in Fig. 13). A cladding element 122 which is rolled up for transportation and storage is positioned between two support frames 116. The cladding element comprises two ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) plies which are sealed together at their edges where they are attached to extruded aluminium runners which run along suitable slots in the frames 116 in a similar manner to sail rigging. The cladding strips provide a vertical arrangement of inflatable pockets although there is gaseous communication between them. Other materials - e.g. PVC variants might be suitable for use instead.

The winches 120 hoist the end of the cladding strip 122, thus unrolling it and stretching it over the support frames 1 16 as can be seen in Figure 14a. Once one cladding strip 122 is fully hoisted and therefore unrolled, it is secured to the frames 116. The section of cladding 122 is then inflated by introducing pressurised air into the pockets and, once inflated, it is sealed. The motor and winch arrangement 118, 120 can then be moved along the top of the building to the next section which is to be cladded and a fresh cladding strip roll 122 placed at the bottom of the section as shown in Figure 14c. It will therefore be seen that the building can be cladded quickly and cost-effectively in stages.

Figure 15 shows a more detailed cross-section through the building once it has been cladded. From here the individual pockets 124 can be seen which correspond to the modules 2. The cladding is secured at 125 to each strut 1 12 projecting from the modules 2. Also visible in Figure 15 is an external light 126 on each of the modules 2 which can be illuminated so as to be visible through the translucent cladding.

The effect of this illumination can be seen in Figure 16. In this example only some of the modules are illuminated. This can be used to indicate the level of availability of rooms in the hotel for example by illuminating only those rooms which are available. This could be particularly advantageous in attracting customers passing the hotel on an adjacent road. Of course, the configuration of illuminated modules need not correspond physically to those which are available, any other pattern could be used. Equally, they might be used simply to display a logo or other information rather than occupancy levels.

Figures 17a and 17b show a further preferred feature of the invention. As mentioned earlier, the preferred embodiment of the invention is in the formation of hotel rooms and as will be seen in Figures 17a and 17b, the preferred embodiments have two beds 30. Each bed 30 is slidingly mounted to a wall portion 132 of the module by a suitable sliding bearing mechanism 134 shown schematically in the diagrams. At the foot end of the base of the bed are suitable low friction rounded pads 136 although of course a wheel or rollerball could equally be used. Although not shown, a groove could be provided in the floor of the module for the foot pad 136 to slide along.

As is clear from a comparison of the solid and ghosted images of Figure 17b, the mechanism described above allows the two beds 128, 130 to be either slid together to form a double bed or moved apart for use as twin beds. The sliding mechanism also allows the beds to be moved easily to facilitate cleaning underneath them.

Although preferred embodiments have been described above, these are not limiting and there are many possible variants and modifications within the scope of the invention as set out in the claims. For example, it is not essential that the principles of the invention are used for hotels and hotel rooms, they might instead be used for temporary or permanent office space, living accommodation, retail units or indeed any other type of building where the ability to be able to mass produce might be valuable. It should in particular be appreciated that where features are described as being preferred in the context of a particular embodiment it is specifically envisaged that those features could also be applied to any other embodiment within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. A building comprising at least two vertical columns of modules wherein in each column the modules are substantially identical to one another, the columns cooperating with each other to define a vertically extending void having a light source at one end, the modules in at least one of the columns having a light admitting section adjacent said void for admitting light from said light source into the corresponding module.

2. A building as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a source of natural light.

3. A building as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top of the vertically extending void is closed by a light diffuser.

4. A building as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising a light reflective lining in the vertically extending void.

5. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the modules in the two columns are mirror images of each other in floor plan.

6. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the modules have a floor plan which includes a cutaway portion at one corner for defining the vertically extending void.

7. A building as claimed in any preceding claims having an outer cladding which comprises a plurality of inflatable pockets.

8. A prefabricated module for a modular building, said module having a floor plan shape including a cutaway portion such that when placed in a vertical column of identical modules the corresponding cutaway portions together form a vertically extending void, the module further comprising a light-admitting section in a wall of the module facing onto said void in use.

9. A building or module as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a bathroom at the rear of the or each module with an external wall thereof adjacent the void.

10. A building or module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each module comprises a bed.

11. A building or module as claimed in claim 10 wherein the or each module is provided with two beds and means allowing relative movement between the two beds wherein said movement is constrained to be in a direction of mutual approach or separation of the beds.

12. A building or module as claimed in claim 11 wherein the means allowing relative movement is provided by the mounting of one or both beds to the module.

13. A building or module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or one or more of the modules is provided with exterior illuminating means for providing external illumination.

14. A prefabricated module for a modular building comprising two beds mounted to the module so as to be movable relative to each in a direction towards and away from each other.

15. A kit of parts for fabricating a module as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14.

16. A building comprising a plurality of columns within a common outer skin, each of said columns comprising a vertically arranged series of prefabricated modules stacked directly onto each other to form a self- supporting structure.

17. A building as claimed in claim 16 wherein the towers each comprise a set or plurality of subsets of substantially identical modules arranged in a vertical column.

18. A building as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein at least one of the towers comprises a stair or lift well formed from modules stacked directly on top of each other to form a self-supporting structure.

19. A building constructed from a plurality of prefabricated modules comprising a plurality of first modules and a plurality of second modules, said first and second modules being provided with mutually aligned doorways so as to allow access between respective pairs of modules and at least one of said modules comprising a door for closing said doorway.

20. A building constructed from a plurality of prefabricated modules, each having external illuminating means operable independently of any interior illumination of the module so as to be visible from outside the building.

21. A method of displaying information on a building constructed from a plurality of prefabricated modules, the method comprising selectively illuminating one or more illuminating means on an exterior facing surface of at least some of said modules such that when viewed from the exterior of the building a composite image may be viewed. In preferred embodiments though the image gives an indication of the extent of availability of rooms in the hotel.

22. A building comprising a plurality of floors, each floor comprising a plurality of rooms wherein at least some of said rooms on vertically adjacent floors are shaped to define therebetween, in conjunction with suitable apertures in the floors, a vertically extending void having a light source at one end, wherein at least some of said rooms have a light admitting section adjacent said void for admitting light from said light source into the corresponding room.

23. A method of applying cladding to a building comprising using hoisting means mounted at the top of the building to hoist an elongate cladding element comprising a plurality of inflatable pockets vertically so as to cover part of a face of the building, translating said hoisting means laterally, using the hoisting means to hoist a further elongate cladding element to cover a further part of the face of the building, securing said cladding elements to the building, introducing a pressurised gas into at least some of the pockets of said cladding elements to inflate them and sealing said gas in said pockets.