SUBS #12:

"THE FUTURE OF ARCHITECTURE":
FIRST ENCLOSED SUBSystem
STRUCTURE BUILT!

Now you can SEE how the SUBSystem works!

I have built and assembed a very small building [5' x 5' x 9'], just large enough  to show WHAT the SUBS components are like and HOW they bolt together to make a structure.  It includes a door panel, a window panel, two wall panels [one and two studs] and two half panels for floor and roof.

As assembled, it would make a world-class phone booth, shit house, guard shack, bus stop rain shelter, weatherproof gazebo, etc.  Of course, it's main function NOW is simply to demonstrate the system, but it could be adapted to any of those purposes . . . or disassembled and used as parts to construct any other kind of Modular Systems SUBS structure.  The ZERO WASTE ecological system for recycling buildings . . . indefinitely into the future!

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Below is a photo tour of "The Future of Architecture"
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THE EXTERIOR:

This shows the window panel and installed flashing at all edges.

To the left of the window side[behind blue door] is the door side.  Of course the same panels can be placed wherever you want them, or moved.

THE PANELS:

The SUBSystem building is constructed of PANELS that are bolted together.

The basic panel is 4' x 8', 6" thick, and functions as a floor, wall or roof panel.

Other specialized panels include door panels, window panels, and a wide variety of other possible specialized panels, including storage, air conditioner, pet doors, or whatever you find useful.

A full door panel is shown above. Here is a closer detail of the lockset.: ANY door can be installed in a SUBSystem Panel, and then assembled into a SUBSystem building.

A full window panel is shown above. Here is a close-up of the window raised, showing the interior wall.    The wheel is a panel-cart [when bolted to the edge of a panel].  It's just being stored there.

This is the back of the window panel being built.

This is the view through the window panel during construction, showing a pile of connector blanks on the floor awaiting drilling and painting.

Here is the back of the two 4' x 4' floor and roof panels showing how a simple panel is framed.  All joints are GLUED & SCREWED or NAILED with 8penny ring shank nails on the facing and 3 inch or better deck screws in the framing.  The entire panel is ONE *SOLID* PIECE.

Here is the top of one of those floor panels, and the interior of the two-stud plain-front panel.

CONNECTORS:

A connecter is used wherever two panels meet at a corner.

This is the basic connector.   Longer and shorter connectors would be useful for various purposes.  Multiple hole sets would be very useful variations.   Longer pieces of the same 6 inch square steel tubing could be used for posts and beams if required.

Basic 6' cubed connector.

Another perspective view of the basic SUBSystem connector, showing the seam where the tubing is welded together..

"Top" view of basic connector.   This is a 3/16" wall thickness, but 1/8" to 1/2" wall thicknesses are common industrial products.

Side view of connector showing the center holes.  Hole size will vary with bolt thickness, depending on load and application.

The connector easily bolts to any panel at it's predrilled locations.  Bolts and connectors hold the entire building together, and allow the entire building shell to be disassembled and reassembled with ZERO DAMAGE.

Each panel has many holes connector holes.   The metal conduit cross-pipes are optional.  They are excellent for hanging anything thing from hammocks to furniture and clothing when in the ceiling.  They also serve as joist bracing when the panel is used for flooring, and make excellent ladders when used for walls.

At the outside corner where two panel edges meet the flashing is bolted to the connectors, forming a utility duck for pipes, wires, air flow, and so forth.  Only one side of the flashing has been installed here, so you can SEE the method and ease of access to utilities for installation or repair.   Pop a few nuts off, remove the flashing, and it's all right there.

At a corner, of course, there are three faces intersecting, so there are three connectors off each corner.  You can see the third through the hole of the top one.  The flashing has a one inch overlap on each side, fully enclosing the ducks when completely installed.  How convenient for piping to have everything meet at right angles!

Here is a flashing detail at the corner.   The side that is whited out is below next.

The dark side here is the side you see above.

COMING INSIDE:

This is looking up as you come in the door.   There are three bolts not yet installed in the corner.

This photo was taken later.  Two of the missing bolts have now been installed.  You can see the connector edges through the spaces between the framing.

The corner between the window and door panels.

A closer view of the upper door/window/roof panel corner.  All six of the bolts have been installed in this corner.  The framing washers are malleable timber washers.

The lower corner looks much like the upper, except that you only see four bolts, because you see the top of the floor panel, which hides the two bolts beneath it.

A closer look showing that there is a slight gap between the edges of the panels.  The gap is wider if the corners of the framing lumber are radiused.  These gaps are perfect for wiring, small piping, and air flow.   If the duck is used for air flow, those gaps would be sealed from the interior of the duck, except to the suction or deliver areas, which would be left open.  The same duck can carry wiring or piping AND air flow, and you can easily get INSIDE the air ducks.   Is this an installers wet dream, or what?

Here a spare connector is resting on the board which another connector is bolted to immediately below.  The offset is the 3/4" plywood skin thickness.

You can see the exotic, high tech and expensive equipment that was required to build this radical architctural innovation: a table saw, two drill presses, a belt sander, a radial arm saw not shown, and a lot of small hand and power tools, in a garage.

Various panels being assembled and painted.

Panels and material out in the garage.

I hope these pictures allow you to start THINKING IN SUBSystem, to become your own architect, and to start designing your own spaces yourself, if not actually building them in YOUR garage.

Best Wishes,

Bill Dur <billdur@net-prophet.net>
Modular Systems @ http://net-prophet.net/billdur/billdur.htm
Simple Universal Building System: Superior By Design

*IANAA = I Am Not An Architect!