The Conker was designed by automotive and aerospace engineer Jag Virdie. Starting his career working for automotive companies such as Rolls Royce and Bentley, Jag has also gained experience working with aerospace clients too.
The Conker is spherical in shape, with a diameter of 3.9 meters and a floor area of 10 square meters. The foundation of each Conker comes in the form of four anchor points making it perfect for uneven ground or more difficult terrains. Adding to the versatility of The Conker is the fact that multiple units can be joined together to form larger customisable designs.
Talking about what he wanted to achieve whilst designing The Conker, Jag said, “In the back of my mind, there was always the traditional architect who would design something and pass it on to the builder. The builder would interpret the designs and build it as he saw fit. If you were to get three quotations from three different builders they would all do the job completely differently. My background in automotive and aerospace engineering was also very important. For me, the big question was: why can’t we design and build structures for living in like we do for the automotive industry?”
The idea of the Conker being truly modular was important to Jag. Modular accommodation shouldn’t just be a building that is built by specialists in a larger building, and then shipped to a destination. Jag explained that, “I wanted to create a modular system that allowed you to build a building without the need for the multiple trades that are out there, such as electricians, carpenters, or plasterers. In the automotive industry, everything is pre-made into a module and then connected together to another module.”
Explaining the modular approach further, Jag said, “That’s why the shape doesn’t matter but the approach does. It’s all about designing something, creating tools for it, manufacturing those tools and then producing the parts. The parts are designed in such a way that they fit together every time in exactly the same way. There is no differentiation in quality from one conker to the next.”
With an installation time of a single day, it appears that Jag has succeeded in making the construction and delivery process more efficient. Not stopping there, he also desired to make it easier as well, explaining, “The Conker takes into account transport and assembly, in that every panel is designed in such a way that it fits through a normal size doorway, which is perfect for landlocked gardens or other difficult to access areas.”
The Conker is also perfect for more remote locations. While each Conker can be hooked up to a mains electric grid, they can also operate completely off the grid via solar panels or fitted rechargeable batteries. The heat recovery system means that they’re great in cold climates and perfect for year-round use due to them being 100% weatherproof, with no need for guttering.
The Conkers are made from recycled aluminium and upcycled plastic, all of which is sourced locally from the UK making it incredibly eco-friendly. Looking to tackle the waste issues that are common in the construction industry, Jag added, “The Conker is designed in such a way that it has a very small carbon footprint, from the point of view that there is no wastage in any of the materials that we use.”
To find out more about the Conker, head to their website.
