FAQ

Do I understand that the kitchen and bathroom (with bath, with shower, with toilet) should be adjacent to the SAM module? That limits your options, doesn't it?

Indeed, the bathroom and kitchen are always part of the SAM module. That way you get more usable living space, the SAM layout is highly efficient and unique in the way we store utilities. In most new construction projects, the utilities are grouped centrally as much as possible.

What do you do with lamps on the ceiling, and with the wires? Or with sockets in the corner of the room? You can't attach all the contact points to the module, can you?

This depends on the type of SAM module and the house in which it will be installed. For small living areas - for which SAM is intended - e.g. city apartments and student rooms, we can leave all the lighting on the module itself and incorporate all the sockets into it. For larger living areas, we will also have to provide power sockets elsewhere in the room. We are currently looking at how we can achieve this in the least invasive way possible. For example, we always install switches wirelessly as much as possible.

Prefabricated for small spaces, hasn't it been around for a long time?

The SAM modules have no fixed design, which makes them unique. SAM is a composite system with no less than 35 flexible cabinet modules in which the utilities (kitchen, bathroom, heating, water, electricity, ventilation and domotics) are all integrated. This allows for a complete disconnection between the structure of a building and the utilities, which is very advantageous for the reconfiguration of a building.

Architects can design a huge range of homes with the Smart Adaptable Modules (SAM). Bao Living thus finally offers building owners and architects the opportunity to implement prefabricated construction in their building projects on a large scale, in a flexible, qualitative and ecological way.

What kind of homes is SAM intended for?

SAM is an excellent solution for apartments with a smaller living area: urban apartments, care homes, student apartments, office spaces that are transformed into residential projects,... because heating, electricity, water, ventilation and home automation are all combined in one module.

This is a totally new way of creating living spaces and a totally new way of living! Worldwide, more and more people are living in the city. If more people live on the same surface, they will inevitably have to live smaller.

Why is SAM more ecological and sustainable?

- By concentrating all utilities in one central location, the SAM modules require fewer materials, fewer lines, and fewer wires.

- In addition, all the wood used for the modules is FSC-certified, i.e. it is recycled or comes from sustainably managed forests.

- By producing the modules in one workshop, all materials can be recycled as much as possible and hardly anything is wasted.

- The invasive and wasteful way in which pipes are installed today - by grinding in the structure of a building - is a thing of the past with the implementation of SAM.

How long does it take before a SAM unit can be made? And how long does the installation take?

The builders and/or architects design their SAM units in collaboration with the Bao Living design team. The earlier we are involved in the building process, the better. The production time obviously depends on the number of units and the complexity of the design, but on average it takes 13 weeks. We install our modules in a living space in no more than 5 days. Preferably at the last possible moment in the building process.

How flexible is SAM? Do builders have to change the plans of their building project in order to use SAM?

SAM has no fixed design. It is a composite system with no fewer than 35 flexible cabinet modules in which the utilities (kitchen, bathroom, heating, water, electricity, ventilation and domotics) are all integrated. Thanks to the modules, SAM can easily be adapted to the ideal layout of existing projects. Of course, it is better to involve SAM as early as possible in the realisation.

Is there still room for creativity in the construction/design process?

There is still plenty of room for creativity with SAM. After all, SAM has no fixed design. It is a composable system with no fewer than 35 flexible cabinet modules in which the utilities (kitchen, bathroom, heating, water, electricity, ventilation and domotics) are all integrated. Architects can use the Smart Adaptable Modules (SAM) to design a huge range of homes.

The implementation of SAM leads to more creative freedom of design. After all, there are more resources available for the structural design or façade finishing because less budget has to be made available for the interior layout and finishing of the house.

What finishes are possible for the cabinet modules?

The freedom of choice regarding the finish of the cabinet modules is comparable to the classic furniture purchase. More exclusive materials and combinations of these naturally carry a higher price tag.

How qualitative is Sam? Is SAM as qualitative as other building methods?

The SAM modules are largely produced in an automated workshop. This means that we can produce the modules, including utilities, in the best possible conditions and have a great deal of control over their quality. On traditional building sites, the installation takes place in much less than perfect conditions. In traditional construction, building owners take into account an error rate of no less than 10%. The use of SAM drastically reduces this percentage.

How much does Sam cost?

The cost price of SAM depends on several things: size of the flats, quantity of the order, chosen appliances, way of finishing, etc. In general, SAM price is competitive compared to the traditional way of working. However, if you take into account the different advantages, SAM is drastically more advantageous than the traditional way of working. (speed of execution, degree of finishing, space saving, etc.)