How Layered Modularity Transforms Space Design

“There is no shortage of energy being put into trying to define the future of work. If we’ve learned anything over the past several years, it’s that none of this is predictable. It’s all up for grabs.”

DIRTT co-founder Geoff Gosling is direct when discussing design and construction planning. Whether for workplaces, healthcare facilities, or educational institutions, he believes flexibility is key. "No two environments are the same, no two task structures are the same, and no two groups of people are the same," he notes.

Designing for Adaptability

For designers, architects, and general contractors navigating the evolving demands of space usage, Gosling offers a simple solution: stop trying to build for an uncertain future and instead build for adaptability.

While this may seem easier said than done, the right tools make it possible. "With the right approach, you can embrace uncertainty. And at the same time, you allow for innovation," he says.

The future is unknown and that’s OK

Investment in the future of work is substantial. In 2021 alone, spending on new work models was projected to exceed $650 billion, a nearly 20% increase from 2020.

Given the financial stakes, many design decisions lean conservative, prioritizing long-term flexibility at the expense of current functionality. Gosling, however, sees unpredictability as an opportunity for creative problem-solving. He calls this mindset "embracing ignorance."

"Accept that you not only don’t know the future, but that you can’t know the future. Once you fully accept that, the problems you’re trying to solve change quite radically," he explains.

For instance, when designing a workplace, it's unnecessary to stress over long-term resale value or future occupant preferences. Instead, focusing on meeting today's needs while ensuring easy future modifications is a more effective approach.

The Power of Layered Modularity

The concept of layered modularity underpins this shift in construction thinking. This principle guided Gosling in developing the DIRTT Construction System. While modularity is often associated with assembling small components into a whole, traditional construction assumes these pieces are fixed in place. In contrast, true adaptability requires modular components to be easily disassembled and reconfigured in any sequence.

Conventional construction relies on interdependent elements, meaning changes often require dismantling an entire system. However, by utilizing an independent system like DIRTT, modifications—such as replacing a glass wall with a solid one or adding a door—can be made seamlessly. Components can be detached and swapped without disrupting the entire structure.

A helpful analogy is electrical appliances. Regardless of when or where a device is made, standardized outlets and plugs ensure compatibility. This universal design principle supports both innovation and sustainability. Similarly, layered modularity applies this logic to construction, enabling elements like walls, floors, and electrical systems to function independently while remaining interchangeable within a unified system. When components don’t rely on each other to function, real design freedom emerges.

Staying Relevant Over Time

Adaptable spaces allow for continuous, incremental improvements. With the increasing need for flexibility in built environments, Gosling emphasizes that change is now an expectation.

“People that are making decisions about the nature of space now have an expectation of change,” he says. “And they want their built environment to allow for those changes — whatever they may be and whenever the need arises.”

Static environments struggle to meet these evolving needs, whereas layered modularity ensures seamless adaptation. By separating construction elements into distinct layers, the system enhances flexibility. A structural layer provides support, a technological layer houses utilities like AV equipment and plumbing, an aesthetic layer enables brand expression, and a spatial layer determines placement within a floor plan.

Real-World Application

Consider a hospital that incorporates medical facilities, food service, workspaces, and patient residences. Such an environment demands versatility. A singular modular construction system can be applied throughout, enabling effortless adaptation.

Whether it’s a headwall or a hallway, the same system accommodates different functions. This adaptability allows, for example, a patient ward to be converted into a vaccination center with minimal disruption.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Beyond large-scale modifications, layered modularity also simplifies everyday adjustments. Gosling emphasizes the importance of refining space through small, regular changes. Adding an electrical outlet for a new workstation or a writable wall for collaboration should be quick and easy.

In conventional spaces, even minor changes involve significant cost, labor, and downtime. Often, these barriers result in users tolerating suboptimal conditions until a major renovation is necessary. Layered modularity removes this challenge, allowing spaces to evolve continuously rather than through disruptive overhauls.

Adapting a space doesn’t always mean major changes. If a space isn’t meeting today’s needs, simple modifications can improve functionality. Experimentation is just as crucial as long-term planning. With DIRTT, adaptation is an ongoing process, not a one-time renovation.

"The amount of weight that comes off of people’s shoulders as soon as they understand that they don’t have to know the future is truly incredible," says Gosling. "Our goal is to create spaces that reflect the unique and evolving needs of their users. The true success of a DIRTT-built environment is that it should be unrecognizable as DIRTT—it should simply feel like it belongs to those who experience it."