Skylark

Skylark is a block-based WikiHouse modular timber construction system designed for 1–3 storey buildings.

For more information, product guides, support services, and terms & conditions, visit:

• https://www.wikihouse.cc
• https://www.wikihouse.cc/terms

Notes on this release

Skylark v1.0 is the result of years of testing, iteration and improvement. It represents the simplest and most flexible version of the WikiHouse system so far.

The following changes have been made:

1. Internal ribs removed from walls
   Internal wall ribs were removed as, although they provide space for services, they significantly complicate and slow down the installation of the vapour barrier on site. Their removal also makes block assembly easier. Where a cavity for services is required, we recommend adding battens to the required depth before fitting the final lining material.

2. Removable top panel on beams
   The top panel of beam blocks is now removable to allow easy under-floor access to the internal cavity if needed. It can be fixed in place with brad nails after insulation is installed.

3. Removable pocket at floor–to–wall joint
   In previous versions it was very difficult to fit the vertical ties at floor and ceiling level. In this version, a removable pocket panel has been introduced to the floor to make this easier. It can also be used to run services between storeys.

4. Wider end floor blocks
   The previous thinner end floor blocks were difficult to align during assembly. These have been merged with standard floor blocks to create a wider, more user-friendly element.

5. Wider corner blocks
   Previous versions used standalone corner blocks at the corner where two walls meet. This offered design flexibility but contributed less ot lateral stiffness. The new wider blocks incorporate the corner into the end wall block and include additional hold-down connections. This improves overall structural stability and lateral load resistance. Corner blocks can be rotated and used in either direction, so there is still lots of design flexibility.

6. Thinner walls
   Previous versions had standard insulation thicknesses of 200mm and 250mm. This version is thinner, with wall thicknesses of 150mm and 200mm. This offers savings in time and materials, with no loss of structural performance. In cases where additional insulation is required in order to achieve the desired U-value (for example in residential buildings) it is more effective to add an additional layer of rigid panel insulation (eg wood-fibre) to the exterior of the chassis. This has the additional benefit of reducing cold-bridging and significantly reducing the risk of in-wall condensation in the event that the vapour barrier fails.

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What blocks are currently included?

Users familiar with previous library releases may notice that this release only currently includes 3 room spans, limited roof profiles and smaller range of window openings. We have also not yet released Skylark 200 blocks.

This is simply a reflection of our determination to ‘release early’ while ensuring every block is updated, checked and fully documented, even with only a limited range of blocks. More blocks will be added over time.

If in the meantime you need a block for your project that is not yet in the library, you can either:

• Adapt the existing blocks
• Engage our team to develop blocks
• Contact us to request blocks. Where possible we will try to prioritise these.

You can also contribute new standard blocks to the library via a GitHub PR or via wikihouse.cc/feedback. We have published a roadmap below which also serves as a list of Open Challenges that you are invited to contribute to to help accelerate development.

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Developed and maintained by the WikiHouse team at Open Systems Lab: https://www.opensystemslab.io

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Roadmap / Open Challenges

Going forward, we plan to expand the library to include:

1. Simple (low-poly) block design kits Download in multiple formats including Sketchup, Rhino, Autocad, Blender and BIM families.
   As used in previous versions of the library, these are intended for quantity estimation and early-stage design, and to ensure you can create a dimensionally-accurate 3D model to design interfaces with other building elements.

2. Expanded range of standard blocks A full set of blocks for both 150 and 200 series, including a wider range of spans, window openings and roof shapes with gable walls. May also include thin-floor mini-spans for buildings with a planning height limit.

3. Multi-spans A set of blocks that facilitate multi-span structures – that is where two spans bear down onto a single, shared wall.

4. Stairs A set of standard tested solutions for stairs of different types, fitting standard floor-to-floor heights or fully parametric.

5. Parametric block models A range of fully-parametric models for generating blocks based on variable parameters including dimensions, roof angles and even potentially exact per-sheet material thickness.

6. Standard details A library of typical wall, roof and floor details and buildups for common types of cladding, roofing, lining and foundation connections.

7. Further testing Including structural, earthquake and fire tests, as well as performance testing for acoustics, thermal performance, moisture and air quality.

If you are interested in contributing to the library or to any of these challenges, please feel free to submit files directly to us or fork this repository, ensuring files are formatted in the correct structure.