f. i. t. HOUSE POLAND

2024​ / Krakow, Poland

F.I.T.House Poland was an initiative to support the Ukrainian Refugees of the Russo-Ukraine war. We built a prototype in May of 2024 in the city of Krakow. We wanted to show it was possible to build houses for them with this system. Aside from that, we also wanted to test new design features. They were developed to simplify the building process of the original F.I.T.House design. 

First, we built a gable roof with SIP boards. The boards used for the roof are the same as the ones used for the wall and floor. The flat side of the roof consists of 8 distinct shapes cut from 4 original F.I.T.House SIP boards. An opening along the top edge of the wall SIP boards were made to enable the roof SIP boards to sit on top.

Second, we combined the facade and the panels in manufacturing. The facade material is made from a mixture of recycled EPS and other minerals. It is also produced by the same manufacturer for the SIP boards which simplified the supply chain. The design comprises one continuous layer with 2 separate molds. The base layer is the main waterproofing layer and it’s molded first, then the second layer is added onto it for aesthetic purposes. After the SIP structure is assembled, additional adhesive is used to seal the overlaps and create a continuous waterproof seal.

Third, we built a spiral pile foundation system. In contrast to plastic crates, it provides greater flexibility when adjusting the height differences and enables continuous support underneath the SIP boards. It is quicker to install compared to conventional concrete. It’s also removable and reusable.

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TEAM: Team: Keio University SFC Hiroto Kobayashi Laboratory (Design, Construction), Barbara Matelowska, Cracow University of Technology (Construction), Sena Yapi (Manufacturer) and others.