Italian Buildings Deep Renovation Through Off-Site Construction

Despite the recent surge in interest, off-site construction is by no means a new concept [1] Prefabrication began in the 16th century with British colonisation to meet the demand for rapid settlements using elements manufactured off-site and assembled on site. Modern prefabrication can be dated to the mid-19th century with the birth of industrial production, and the first major example of prefabrication was Sir Joseph Paxton's ‘Crystal Palace’, built in 1851. Since there has been continuous improvement in prefabricated construction, aided by the development of site lifting machinery. This article proposes to the reader a modern and intelligent vision of prefabrication, highlighting the great advantages of off-site construction (OSC), not only in terms of speed of commissioning, but also in terms of energy and structural advantages, as well as those related to a better environmental quality and the reduction of site “nuisances”. A “catalogue” of solutions has been studied and drawn up, applicable to the whole national territory, which responds to the above-mentioned requirements and is expressed in a “dynamic matrix” that allows operators in the sector to make targeted choices in cases of building renovation. The solutions developed can be easily replicated in non-housing situations and offer numerous advantages, such as the possibility of integrating the façade with other functions, speed of installation, dust and noise reduction, flexibility in the choice of modules and the possibility of carrying out the renovation while keeping the occupants in their homes during the work. .