NZ616379A - Building construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A building system comprising a container 10 comprising a floor, side walls 56 and a roof 46, where the floor has opposite side edges and the roof has opposite guttered side edges, and where the side walls consist of a single pair of opposed side walls 56 each having a height, a plurality of pairs of hinges 52, and a plurality of pairs of roof sections 66, where each roof section has a span greater than the height of each side wall 56. The pair of opposed, side walls are adapted to fold downwardly from the opposite side edges of the floor to form a pair of floor sections abutting opposite sides of the floor of the container. The opposite guttered side edges of the roof are adapted to mount the plurality of pairs of hinges 52 spaced apart from one another. The plurality of pairs of hinges 52 are adapted to mount the plurality of pairs of roof sections to pivot upwardly to overlap both the plurality of pairs of hinges, and the opposite guttered side edges of the roof of the container.

Description

BUTLDTNG QGNSTREUCTTQN FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention s to a building construction. In one form of the present invention there is provided a prefabricated building unit for transport as an 180 standard shipping container.

: ACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION There is a need for affordable and sustainable mass produced buildings, and dwellings; The current l0 techniques of ng houses, for example are typically very manual and expensive, Most of a typical house is constructed on site, Skilled labour is required to build the house and connect the required services Furthermore, it takes a considerable amount of time, typically many months, to build a house it is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present l5 invention has been developed.

Y OF THE TNVENTTON According to the t invention, there is provided a ng system comprising: a container comprising a floor, side walls and a roof, wherein the floor has te side edges and the roof has opposite guttered side edges, and wherein the side walls consist of a single pair of opposed side walls each having a height; a plurality of pairs of hinges; and a plurality of pairs of roof sections, wherein each roof section has a span greater than the height of each side wall; wherein the pair of d, side walls are adapted to fold rdly from the opposite side edges of the floor to form a pair of floor sections abutting opposite sides of the floor of the container; n the opposite guttered side edges of the roof are adapted to mount the ity of pairs of hinges spaced apart from one another; and 3O wherein the plurality of pairs of hinges are adapted to mount the plurality of pairs of roof sections to pivot upwardly to overlap both the plurality of pairs of , and the opposite guttered side edges of the roof of the container, The present invention also provides a building method, comprising: a building method.a comprising: ing a ner sing a floor, side walls and a roof, wherein the floor has opposite side edges and the roof has opposite guttered side edges, and wherein the side walls consist of a single pair of opposed side walls each having a height; providing a plurality of pairs of hinges; and providing a plurality of pairs of roof sections? wherein each roof n has a span r than the height of each side wall; folding the pair of opposed side walls downwardly from the opposite side edges of the floor to form a pair of floor sections abutting opposite sides of the floor of the container; mounting the plurality of pairs of hinges spaced apart from one another to the opposite guttered side edges of the roof; mounting the plurality of pairs of roof section to the plurality of pairs of hinges to pivot upwardly l5 to overlap both the plurality of pairs of hinges, and the opposite guttered side edges of the roof of the container“ According to a first aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided a building construction comprising a body portion having a floor extension adapted to extend from the body portion and provide a floor area n the floor extension includes a fitting facility for receiving a building module, According to a second aspect of red embodiments herein described there is provided a building construction having a body portion of a box configuration suitable for transportation as a transport container wherein the body portion has an upper structure having at least two elongate upper external edge ns with a gutter arrangement disposed inwardly of an along at least one of the two elongate upper edge portions.

According to a third aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided a ng construction comprising: a body portion and a gutter arrangement wherein the gutter arrangement includes a moveable hinge portion and a gutter portion, the moveable hinge portion being adapted to mount a roof extension to the body portion, the movable hinge portion being movable to allow the roof extension to be inclined at angle relative to W® ZGiZ/izoiioo P€T/Aii2iiiZ/iiiiii3ii9 the body portion in a position nt the portion such that when water falls onto the roof extension the water will flow rdiy along the roof extension into the gutter portions According to a fourth aspect of preferred ments herein described there is provided a ng construction comprising: a body n 'having'an upperstructure and a lovrer structure, the lower structure being adapted to provide at least one water compartment, the at least one water compartment being adapted to be emptied and provide the lower structure with sufficient buoyancy to iiit the body portion in flood conditions.

According to e fifth aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided o. id hoiiding eonstroetion comprising: at ieest one modoie, the or each mediate ’oeing adopted to be provided as ESQ shipping container, when in o transport condition; the ot'ieast one moduie being adopted to provide a, budding body which has at floor sree at ieast 2.5 times the eombined horizontoi ores of the modniesi when inthe transport eondition; and e panei system comprising a p‘inraiity of interchangeable paneis aiiowing the ‘ng to be provided with different toende ioyonts suited to different site orientations and other conditions According to a sixth aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided a ng uction comprising: a body n; and panei system; wherein the panel system comprises a number of interchangeable panels that can be arranged to provide the body portion with different facade layouts so as to adapt ng to different site orientations and conditions.

According to a seventh aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided a building construction for providing a building, the buiiding censtroction comprising-a body portion, a floor extension and s moveable hinge portion, the hinge portion mounting the floor extension to the lower end of the body portion such that the floor extension is ie between coilapsed and extended conditions; wherein in the ooliapsed condition the floor ion provides side waits of the buiiding construction at least in part presiding the ng commotion with EC shipping certification; timber wherein the budding construction comprises’a roof extension that is put onto the building 3G after the floor extension has been moved to the extended conditiong the floor extension being of a heat/)1 weight in comparison to the roof extension, W8 rem/resorts rennernrznonsos According to an eighth aspect of preferred embodiments herein descrihed there is provided a method of construction comprising: providing a building construction; swinging out floor extensions provided as side walls that at least in part provide the building eonsn'nctions es en iSQ shipping container wherein the floor extensions are of s substantial weight; and then attaching roof extensions to the ng uction where the roof extension are of a, reiativeiy light weight, According to a ninth aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided e'method of constrnction comprising: providing a buiiding construction positioning roof and g extensions reintive to a body of the g construction; and providing s, flotntion arrangement beneath the floor extensions to assist with iifting the hoiiding construction during flood ions According to s tenth aspect of red embodiments herein described. there is provided or method of construction comprising: providing a building eonstrnction; ing floor ions to provide an extended floor ares; using a faciiity of the floor extensions to receive e hirilding ; positioning the ng modnie such that the isniiding rnorinie provides e portion of the floor area. of the hniiding construction“ According to an eleventh aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided a. method of construction comprising: ing a huiiding construction; positioning roof and flooring ions reiative to a body of the huiiding construction; using e hinge of a gutter arrangement to dispose the roof extension in an} inclined condition relative to the body of the building uction such that when water fails onto the roof extension the water flows flow downwardly aiong the roof extension into the a, gutter portion of the gutter arrangement According to n tweifth aspect of preferred ments herein described there is ' provided a unitfor a buiidingg the unit comprising; s base; and a roof supported above the base.

According to a thirteenth aspect of preferred embodiments herein described there is provided a building construction providing e’transportsbie module; the transportahle module providing kitchen or hethroorn tgeciiities for instniiation Within e larger 'hnilding eonstrnctiont WG zerzzrzeeee PCY/AU29lZffiflll3fi9 As will be discussed there are ered 1:0 be a number of preferred arrangements of the present inventicn that advantageously: (i) Provide room areas having an improved feeiing of spaciousness and . } t in a building constructed using prefabricated £80 standard eomainer modules, where the building is still vely readily manufactured and led; (ii). Provide buildings; congtrucred using prefabricated ESQ standard container modules, having advantageous rairr capture and warerpreefing earsabilities while still being relatively readily manufactured and installed ill {iii} Previde E80 standard eemairier modules having prefabricated fold out fleer iens? where during eene‘imeriem the eerrmieers ere pieced side by side te previde e building e’f edrantageeus size and the bulldirig i3 able re reeeive e building modeler {iv} Provide eyeteme having me er mere eee‘lairiere eeel'i Willi a {leer e l5 where the ileer periieri earr be felded re triple elre fleer Sparse. (v) Provide a building ucted urging prefabricated ESQ standard container“ modules with advantageous fleod protection capabilitiesi (vi) Provide systems formed fmm at least crie 180 ng container module having a plurality of panels that allow the final building to be previded With different facade layeuts suited to ent site orientations and other eonditionsi (vii) Provide systems and. methods having an advantageous kitchen and bathroom fitting facility and module, Further aspects, advantages and red featuree will be apparent from the drawings, claims and a reading cfthe cation as a whole. it is to be appreciated rhar each of the embodiments is Specifically described and that the present invention is net to be censmied as iaeieg limiied te any specific feature er element ef any we of the embodimentsm Neither is the present invenrierr re be construed as being d to any feature el‘ a number ef tire embedimenrs er variatiens described in relasien ‘WQ zeizzizeeee PCT/AUZQiiZ/iiilifitléi to the embeciiments, The term building constrhction‘ is te be tand as ing transportable meduies and building assembliee.

BRIEF Dnscnwrrnn Gr finnwmee in order to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention? several preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings? in which: Figures i t0 9 e Several views rating e method ef‘ construetien ing te a first preferred embodiment of the present inventien; Figure l0 preVieies eeverei Viewe {if e building eene‘tmetien ‘aeeerding te anetiier i0 preferred embedirnent of the present inventien; - Figures i i te i7 iiiestrete e enmpieteti buiiding etien neeerding te a further embetiimentg the building eenstmctien being provided? eeeerding tn the methed iliustrated in Figures l to *9; Figures i8 end: w ilinetrnte er eniidin‘g eenetmetien eeeerding tn: e fifl‘titet‘ preferred etniieniment et“ the present ineentien; Figures 263 to 205 ilinstrate a fitrther system and methed according te a further etnbdciiment; Figures 21 to 23 iilustrate a kitchen bathroom moduie according to yet ianother embodiment ofthe firesent ion; Figure 24 illustrates a ng eonstruetion according to yet-enether embodiment of the present inventien; Figures' 25 :0 2‘7 ilinstrate a ng construction aeeording to a flirther embediment0fthe present invention; and Figures 28 to 45 iilustrate yet further preferred embediments of the present '25 imentien° EE’EAILEB PHON er "Er-rt EMBOBIMENTS Referring to Figures i tn 9 there is shown a methed ef eonstruetien it) eecerfiing to e first [preferred embediment (it the present inventiena Referring te Figure 3.; in particular, the metiwd ef censtrttetion it) employs twe building eertstrnetiens i2 that term red embodiments ef the present invention in their own right, Adventageeusly the metheci it) Wt)? zen/izsoes nor/nozoi Z/iiiitiSW V’ 6 is .eonsidereti to provide for the reagiy eonstruction of a buiiding with i advantageous features that are sed below.

As shown in Figure 13 the method of uction 10 provides a footing arrangement 14.

More particuiariy, in the footing arrangement iii, the method i0 provides a pinr‘aiity of first side footings 16 of intermediate footings i8 and a piuraiity of opposite , e ity side footings 20. A siide structure 22 in the form of a pair of bearers 24 is also provided.

The first side footings 16 and the opposite side footings 20 town a pinraiity of rows 26 ' ' ° oompnsing e first row W?”i9 A e sewno row m «14.3an e nm n 41".” L ««««« ’3. so, a ruins row 329 anti «:1 radii! MJW J4.

Advantageousiy the siioe re 22 provisos s, first intermediate footing 36 and o second: interineriiate footing 38 that form part of the first row 28¢ 0i“ the intermediate footings i%, on intenneoiete footing «iii forms part of the second row 399 an intermediate footing 5&2 forms pant of the third row 32 one on intermeoiiete footing 44 forms part of the fourth row 34s As shown in Figure 2; s first one oftiie oniiding eonstrootions i2 is oieeefi on: {i} iiie first sizie footings i6 of tire first new 2% and tire see'oni row so; .os weii as on (ii) the intermediate footing 36 end the ediate footing 40; This is performed using a eranei The second building construction 12 is pieced on: (i) the opposite side footings 20 of the first row 28 and the second row 30; as. Well as on (ii) the intermeciiate footing 36 and the intemediete g 40. The intermediate footing 36 and intermediate footing 40 are provided as “if” footings to advantageousiy support both of the building constructions 12, in the method 10 the building constructions 2.2 are d. to the footings The two buiiding constructions 12 are each provided as a standardeontainer module 46 Certified to meet ISG shipping. standards. Each of the standard moduies 46 Comprises a: body portion 48 having an advantageous gutter arrangement 50‘ As shown in Figure 43 the gutter arrangement 50 of each rd module 46 includes a ‘moveabie hinge portion 52 anti or gutter portion :54». When in a. sed condition for transport, as shown in Figure 3‘, eaei: gutter arrangement 50 is advantageousiy eroteeted by e number of floor extensions 56 that are connected to the ioelei‘ portion 58 of each modoie 462 in the embodiment the floor" ions 56 are connected to the iowervpoi‘tion 3Q 58 W a number of ontt hinges on, Wt}? 20l2/l26866 Pfill/Atlztll Z/fitltflllg The floor extensions 56 are provided in the form of outer panels and, inthe method iii, are unfolded to form a floor area 62 as shown in Figure 5. in order to provide the floor area 62, the top of each of the floor extensions 56 is swung away fironi the upper portion 64 of each respective module 46 The floor extenSions 56 are brought to test on and are secured-to the footings l4.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate the process of attaching a roofextension 66 to the body portion 48 of each module 46, The moveable hinge portions 52 of the modules 46 are adapted to mount a plurality of roof eomponents 68 in the form of roof panels to form the tool“ extension 66 which is mounted to the hotly portions 48” The le hinge ns 52 are ahle to move from s first position ‘70; shown in Figure 49 to en intermediate position 72 shown in Figure 6” in the method it}? n number of root“ ents 68 are etteohed in series along the hinges 52 such that the root ents 6% exteno horn one side of the l te to the other; to town the soot extension 66 Advantageonsly in the embodiment? the floor extensions 56 are of a teletiyely heavy weight in eomoatison to the roof extension 66 so es to provide weight e of the final hoilding, Adventageoosly, the floor extensions 56 ptovioe a floor area that feels similar to a house having a concrete floor in terms of the stability providedi By g clown the floor extensions 56 first the heaviest part is folded down. The roof extension 66 one then be advantageously ed by lighter roof components that are subsequently connected in the intermediate position 72 shown. Assembly in this vertical—type position allows the person assembling the building to ageously assess the quality of the water proofing of the completed roof extension 66; Six roof components 68 are provided within each of the constructions 12 during transport to. provide the overall roof extensions on either side.

Returning to Figure 7, the gutter arrangement 30 provides an elongate channel ”M having .25 a first lateral side portion 76 and a second late‘rnl'sioe portion 78. The first lateral side portion 76 is configured for extending along the length of the body portion 48 and the second lateral side poxtion is eonfiguted for extending along on along on edge portion 80 - of the tool extension 66. in the method l6? as shown in Figure 83 the roof extension 66 is moved by on ontwettl 3O swinging moyenient with the hinges 62 moving from the intennediete on ‘72 shown in Figoie 6 to on inelineo position 82 shown in Figure 80 When the roof extension 66 has WQ zeiZ/izsoes PCT/AEZMZ/tltmiitfi been raised to a suffieient height a plutoiity ofsupporting members 84 are installed and secured in position using conventional attachment means,- The process is repeateii on the opposite side of the each moduie 46 which has an identical advantageous mirror image gutter mongement to provide a fuli extended building i'e 86 shown in Figure § After this has been performed a number of supporting brackets 88 are removed.

The fotm and arrangement of the building structure go'is considered to be tegeous given that the hinge portions 52' are moveahie from a vertieai position shown in Figure 3 to the intermediate position 72 with thereof extension finally being fixed in the inclined ' on 32 shown iii Figaro 8., iii The osovisioii of the gutter smogemeot 55} as tiesetiheol and shown iii the drawing is considered to serve to advantageously protect the body ns 48 for watet seepage and to provide advantageous water oeptore in e. prefabricated two module ner .

Referring to Figure iii these is shown so advantageous hoiiciiog eoostmotion @0 according to a furthee preferred embodiment The building construction 90 eomot’ises a body portion 92 and a gutter ement @4, The gutter arrangement 94» includes e moveehle hinge portion so and e gutter oortioo @& The le hinge petition 96 is adsoted to mount e roof extension 100 to the body portion 9.2;, The moveable hinge portion 96 is e to allow the roof extension 100 to be inclined at an upwarti angle relative to the body portion 92 in a position adjacent the gutter n 98. .As such when woter fails onto the roof ion 100, the water is caused by the action of gravity to flow downwardly along the roof extension 100 into the gutter portion 9& The gutter arrangement 94 is provided as an elongate channel H32 having a first lateral side portion “)4 and a second late-mi side portion we The first laterai‘ side portion {04 is configured for extending along the lengh of the body portion 92 and the second isteral side portion was configured for extending along an eclge portioo lfiXof the toot" extension iOO.

In the embodiment the gutter arraogemeot 94 is ptovideci on a fist sioe iii) of the building eonstmetion 9e and a émlETOE’ image” gutter arrangement iiZis provided on so ‘WQ leiZ/l moot Ffi’l‘lotliflii 3li§ opposite side lléc The gutter arrangement 94 and the gutter ement ll2 form an overall guttet arrangement llo.

When in e eonditiori for transport, both the gutter arrangement 94 and the gutter arrangement l l2 are advaiitageously protected by lateral elongate side panels of the body ' portion 92 in the town of two floor exteneions llge The two floor extensions Hg, in the transport condition, extend upwardly to protect-the gutter arrangement 94 and the gutter arrangement ll2 from sideways e which eoulcl be caused by say a forklift.

As shown in Figure lo? the gutter portion 98 is provided as e, o=ehoped ehermel portion mo ‘loeeteo between the foot eittemioo ltttt anti remaiociet of the hociy portion 92 E3» vittoe of the channel n mt} being of a conventional size for e guttet", the channel pottioti lit} to odveotageoosly able to he teediiy eleoiieo oeiog a legitiet and eooveotionoi exteooehle gutter etsg hi the gottet oeot $4., the hinge position to eomptisee on eioogete hott hinge lZZ hot/log e first leaf we for eoooeetioo to the gutter n 9% anti 3 second legit" l2o tot BS connection to the roof extension llill as shown. Various hinge and connection arrangements are of course possible” The body portion 92 has a slightly inclined upper portion l28 for causing water falling on V the ed upper portion l28 to flow into the gutter arrangement 94. lo the embodiment the upper portion l28 is inclined by being slightly eonvexly shaped. '20 As discussed each lateral side of the building construction 90 is provided by an elongate floor extension llg adapted to extend from the lower portion of the body portion 92 and provide a floor areal The floor extensions l30 are latched in position for transport sesa The floor extensions extend slightly beyond the eentt’al main portion 132 of the body portion 92 to e strength during ort. The Width of each elongate floor extension lSGtvertieal height) ie only slightly greater than the height of the main portion l32 of the hotly portion 92, ids/fl tort/recess PCT/AEZiliZ/‘tllltfitlg Adventageously, the hinge portion 96 of the gutter arrangement 94 allows for the roof extension lOOto be substantially wider than the height: of the body portion 92 such that when the building is assembled there is provided a desirable g of spaciousness and comfort The embodiment is considered to provide a building construction 90 having a body portion 92 of a box configuration suitable for transportation as a transport container, The floor extension 130 prevides an upper structure having at least two elongate upper external edge portions lint? provided by the floor extensions lift with the . arrangement 94 and the gutter arrangement HZ being disposed inwardly thereof; The W gutter arrangements extend along the al edge portions l34 and provide a channel EZQ on the upper portion for the flow of Wdififl The huiiding oonstruetion so is considered to he advantageous for reasons discussed above Turning to Figure ii, there is shown an overall building eonstruction 186 provided noeording to the method in. "lire huilding oetion Bo oomonses We modeler hnilding oonsfiuetions Hg oriented to he transported es lSQ? certified shipping ners.

[Each Of the r building constructions 138 includes a. body portion 140 having a floor extension l42 pivotally attached to ad lower portion of the respectiile body portion 140. in other embodiments a pivotal attachment. may not be prewideda and the floor extensions 142 may be positioned manually with say straps and chains that are used to ain the lower edge of each floor extension 142, during lowering. Notablyi with a, manual positioning , without an integral pivots it is also-preferred that the floor extensions are mounted vertically on the sides of the main chassis of the building construction 138 during transport. This may be advantageously achieved with a g system as is discussed in further detail below with reference to Figures 18 and. E9, Returning to the embodiment of Figure l l, each floor extension E42 is d to extend from the body portion Mi) and e a floor Street 144. As shown the floor area M4 provided by both extensions E42, in eombinationi is about 2/3 of the total floor areas W69 zen/meme l3€l/All2iliZ/iiil€l3il@ Moreover, each flew-extension 142 includes a fitting faciliry rare for reeeiving a building module Hg in the form of a kitehee or bathroom module 150 (See Figure 13}. The building constructions 138 are provided as mirror images with the fitting faeility 146 being provided at ecomer of each corresponding building eonsrrueiieri me By being providecl as mirror images this means that the fitting ties 146 provide a central fitting ' facility in the overall building construction 136.» Referring lo Figures ii to 13, each fitting faciliiy E46 comprises a removable portion 152 ”n.rLL is removable from the respective floor extension ”55:12 re provirie a floor recess i5£i (See Figure ii) for receiving a eorrespoeding hell“ of Elie beildirig module i483, {See i0 Figure l3}.

As Shown in the Figurees tire reeeases M4 are together positioned on a lv outer edge efriie rrg eorrsireeiiee i369 end are eeriireily eoeiiioriedc Whilst mole of Eire beiléing eonstreerieris, l38 provides e reeess rim reeeives only half of {he horizentel QTOSSeSéCElQI‘i ”ef Elie building moduie E48? Eire recess we of the overall buiiéiflg confirmation E36 i5 reeeivee lire full erossweeeeieri {if Elie building module (in the horizontal plane) This is illustrated in Figure 12“ The recess 156 is ed by removirig centre panels that each form about half of the. respective floor extension 142.

Before the building modele 148 is led, a number of water tanks l58 are ed in the centre of the building construction 136' This is illustrated in Figure 14.

As shown in Figure l5, there is provided a Sliding system E60 that is adapted to allow ready positioning of the ng module Hg. The sliding systemlol) comprises two spaced apart bearers that allow the boilding module 148 to be placed thereori arisi slid into the recess 156 of the full building construction 136; As 3110an the bearers extend perpendieularly firm: the building constmetior: 136. The bearers if relatively accurately positioned can else be used as a guide. in the embodiment? the ble portions 152 are advantageously used' to provide further fleeting in fire form of e h.

As shewm in Figures l5 to i7a lire building module 148 is placed outside the houee on the bearers“ Module ene eeps are removed and Elie meeule is slid along the bearers into the insteilerl posiiieri. internal and exterior wall e ear; then be installeel W0 zen/tween PCT/AUlelZ/llllllfilfil in the embodiment the building module cemprises a kitchen I bathroom module: Each floor extension is adapted to be mounted ally when in a ort condition and then to he position horizontally to provide the floor area, The hle pet-liens are ed adjacent a top enmer of the finer extensions sn that when temnved a recess is relatively ' centrally provided to accommodate the floor of a rectangularly eonfigureel reeess/fitting facility. Whilst the removable portions are preferred other mounting arrangements ng the ineorporation of a n/bathroom module are of course possible The overall recessprovided receives the full flee: area of the building module Referring to Figure 18 there is shewn e fetthet embediment of the present inventien. The einhociiment eomprises a single 40ft ng unit l3? that is ageously provilietl es a unitary 40h lSQ standard Shipping eenteinen A number ef fleet extensiens Mt ere halted in a main chassis M3,, The belting oeetnfs eleng ten edges i4”? ené hettnm edges “M95 Aevnntegeenely in the emheniment the complete sicle of the hnilding nnit lee? inelueling its top and hettom eemer fittings comprises a single welded frame Of a fleet" l5 extensien Ml [ This is illnstrntetl in Figure 18 end previties the etiventageens strength: Additionally Figure i9 illustrates the use of belts 151 and moneting portions >153 that are used to fix the floor extensions l4l to the main chassis M3 during transport: The mounting portions are openly configured to allow ready access to the nuts that are used to secure the opposite end of the bolts l5 l. Several configurations are of course pessibiet Alter ing, the floor extensions are movee {mm a vertically mounted position an& are then oned horizontally to form an extended floor area. This can he ed by seven! methnds including say ly with straps, chains or brackets that constrain the lower edge during assembly, The floor extensions 141 span the full height to the main chassis 143. This is eensidered to be advantageous.

The building unit l39? in this embodiment, eemprises a single/unitary 401% reinfeteed «container rather than Ewe 20" containers placed end to end. This is ‘een‘sidered te significantly reduce the number ef eompenents teqnired end thetefere enstg as well as te' simplify tmnspnnetien and installatien in several eases“ The lining enengement ’WQ zeiZ/izeeee PfirlT/AilfitliZ/tltitfltiél ' i3 comprises the floor extensions. Mi heing bolted by extending the bolts lSl through the main peripheral frame 135 of each floor extension Hi. This is also considered to be advantageous for the reason that the bolts are able to advantageoiisly er impact ioeds and maintain the floor extensions Ml in a desitahle on during transpofiation.

Referring to the Figures it is also shown that the floor extensions l4l each advantageously form a; complete side of the container vertically and horizontally with resoect to the chassis 143, The floor extensions Ml provide 180% standard eorners 157 as pert of their outer frame £55, The £80 etti comet castings l5? are sepatateg as shown? from the eentie ehessis £43 to which the floor extensiohe Mai ere holteti° By iii ’holting in this mannen the floor extensions Mi are aéivantageously secured in a steadfast manner” The floor extensions iéli eaeh provider e structural time of e, similar structural reinfomement to the chassis MB to whieh‘ they are bolted, Eating instantiation the floor extensions Mi ere detached time the eentte eheseis 3&3 of l5 the container? are d in to positioe using a pivoting motion (but without an integral pivot} and then ate reattached by bolting, In; addition? one of the floor extensions Ml of the y 4G’fi‘ building unit L32 advantageously provides a fitting facility. The fitting facility is advantageously adapted to receive a separate building construction in thevvform of a kitchen or bathroom . it is considered that alloWing e separate building unit to be inserted into the centainei", enables the advantageohs provision of vely full sized rooms, in eompa’risonto other container building units the n and bathroom is not positioned in the vely narrow central spine of the 40g container. in the ment, a kitchen and bathroom module is teceived /on one of a floor extensions 141 extending from the base of the " chassis M3“ Referring to Figures 203; to Ztlf there is shown a method of eonsteuotion ESQ eoeording to a thither embodiment ing a unitary 40ft building unit. As shown the fleet extensions provide the 180 Standare comets iéii The kitchen/bathroom module is W6? ZGiZ/iZéiloe illhiZ/iiiiifiti? transperted as a. container having a floor 163;. The kitehenz’hathroom unit also provides v. lSO end mounts 165 and a protecting roof l6? During installation the floor 163 of the module which is transporteo separateiy, is then guided into on and forms part of the final iieor area. The ting roof is reusable and acivantageonsly' inelneies flooring as part of the protecting layering for use as part of the verandah of the building.

Figures 21 to 23 illustrate a moduiar unit l69 according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention» The modular unit 169 is advantageously provicied as a 20 foot eontainer Win The eonteiner iii advantageousiy comprises a ehassis i73 having a hex shaped frame W5 with an intemei reinibreernent W71 The frame i73 is iii elongate and ineiudes a first end 179 and a second end 18$ A first earrier element i85 is mounted to the first end 3‘79 and e seeeiie earrier element l8? {not shown}is mennted t0 the seeend end i8} The eerrier elements ies anfl l3? are hiy attachedte the ehassis 17? and have a reiativeiy fiat glanar eoa’figoratien The removable attaehmentis provided a ‘E‘mmbfir efheitihg elements as shewna The earrier elements i8§ anti i8? are ef a shaheprotecting the periphery of the ehassis 173 and substantially span the full Width and-height ef the ends 179, 1839 The carrier elements €85, 187 each include 130 corner elements 189. The modular unit 169 is provided to 180 shopping container standards; Furthermore, the modular unit 169 is designed to provide both n facilities and bathroom facilities for a 'modular ‘ unit of the type described above By providing the majority of the plumbing and kitchen ties in thenioduiar unit 169, other material such as roofing can be advantageously transhorted in the larger modular unit (40m° The smaller modular unit l69 Containing the kitchen and bathroom facilities is tely transported IQ the assembly site The applicant considers that thisis advantageeus The modular unit we may include low frietien material en its lower surface to assist With. being moved or: a pluraiity of bearers mounteé to the large modular unit during assembly This eeulr’i fer example eornprise a strip ei" nylon materiai, ii is preferred that a wineh is eonrieetefi iii the inner edge of a recess prevideti within a iioer extensien of the iarger ‘WQ stirs/rennet Ptii/AillelZflltlllSii‘} modular unit and that the smaller unitl69 in pulled on the bearers using the winch. By bolting to the larger unit the bearers can be advantageously used to provide a guide. The system is preferably able to be led by two or three vely led persons.

Another advantage of the approach is considered to be that it allows one to relatively maximise the floor area of the house. The applicant-considers that such a design in combination with a modular roof system could possibly give a substantial additional effective floor. space in some embodiments a This is considered to allow for the design of more generons spaces which contribute to the overareliing goal of creating a home that looks and feels like a Site built house” Kitchen anal bathroom. ties are centrally iii located on a floor extension rather than in the main ehassis. During transportation, the relatively empty chassis of the larger unit can be anvantageously usetl to transport other material seen as rooting panels, This orovides several advantageous assembly aspeets on site.

Referring to Figure 24% there is shown a building eonsnuetion to: aeoording to a further preferred ment of tine t invention, The building eonstruetion res eornorises a body portionl64 having an upper structure we and a lower structure log, The lower strueture log is advantageously adapted provide a water compartment 179 that is d to be emptied to provide the lower structure 168 with sufficient buoyancy “to lift the body portion £64 in flood Conditions.

The water compartment l70 comprises a symmetrical arrangement d to odate a plurality of footings l72 extending therethrough and. to allow the building to be tormedusing two lSO certified containers. The water oompartrnent 170 is fitted within the lower structure tea so as to form part of the lower structure 168 and extend around along the bOundary thereof.

The building construetion lo2 includes a vertical g system. 17’4 that is adapted to guide the body portion 164 up and down during flood conditions” The vertical guiding system W4 comprises four guiding members we that are d to guide the body portion 164 up ané flown“ W’fi zeiZ/izeeee PC'K/AUZQEZKMWMW in .

The huiiding construction 162 is ered to he partieuiarly advantageous for use‘in floodplain areas that are subject to flooding, Generoliy where houses are fonnedfrom ESE) complaint shipping containers they would otherwise hewashed away.

In the embodiment the building construction 162 is provided by positioning the roof and flooring extensions ve to two prefabricated units and providing a flotation ement beneath the floor extensions.

Referring to Figure 255 there is shown a building uction i78 according to a r each modnie 132 is adapted to he provided as an i§€i shipping container, when in a ironspoi“: condition Adventegeoosiy the moduies 132 een he essemhied from ihe transport eondiiion to provide 3 ng igéi, in an extended condition» As ehown in Figure 255 the hniiding igéi has a, floor area £85 about drree “times ihe eomhined hozizontei area of ihe heses of moduies i82, when assemhied'in the mgport condition“ Advantageoneiy the hniiding eonstrneiion Hg further ineiudee n panei syetem ien comprising a pinmiity of inrerehangeahie paneis iee allowing the hniiding igéi to he piovided with different feeade iayouts suited {0 different site orientations and other conditions.

The building system v is considered to be pariicuiarly advantageous as. it alloWs the 2G provision of a building formed from 1330 certified shipping ners where the building is able to be desirabiy adapted by builders to suite the site orientations. Ownere can also advantageousiy decide where to position windowsa doors as well as internai walls; Similariy to the us embodiments described, the building body l30 as hled includes a floor portion E90 that forms pan: of the sides of the modules 182 when ihe modules iSZ are provided in the irenoport condition. The floor portion 188 forms at least part of the floor area; £84 in. the huiiding body. ageousiy the interehangeahie panels 188 are ana’ngeahie around the ry of the floor area. 185 to provide the difierent facade ieyouisi A3 shown inFigure 259 {he panel system Mo includes a: wall nanei i943 e high window iii} pnnei ion a: medium Window panei £98; a foil window panei 2095 a door pane}; 202 land a Ell/(l elrrZ/rzeeee Ealjlflell lelZfllllllgllél sliding window double panel 204. Each of rhe panels of the panel system res; ls advantageously of the same width apart from the sliding window double panel 204 which is lwioe the standard width.

Advantageously by providlng e modularlsed eonstruetioh with the panel , mass manufactured eorktelner type houses are considered to be able to be readily manufactured“ Different positions of facade and internal layouts can be readily provided.

As shown in Figure 26s the floor area 185 is substantially square comprising a width 206 of approximately 6 etaoclard p-‘nel wic’rlhs and height 26% of apprexirhrrely 6 sienclerrl panel Wldlhs 2%9 This is correldereel lo he advantageoes. l0 Figure 27 shows the wall panel 194 hr eross n; Advantageously the wall panel 1% is ed will; arr ion ere erré arr ehurrrrerrl 212” The abutment 2E2 ls prorlderl as 3:. lower surfeee for rg against the floor porrloe we, The slorl lel‘ extends from rhe from of the ehhtmehr Eli downwardly past the fromface 2% of the floor portion lgll as shown he Elgere 27,; This eerees lo advehlegeoesly esslel erh wee‘lherproofing the ES jole betweeh the well panel Wil- erle lhe floor e lee, .l‘he exreesloe ls preferably longer than Mom In the embodiment the extension is about 30cm long which also serves to advantageously hide water tanks provided h the floor portion WU.

The wall panels of the panel system 186 are hung at the top and then attached with screws ' along the sides ancl the bottom for the pressure seals to be sufficiently watertight, lo addition in the completed unit-the are no cables in the exterior wall panels, all the power and plumbing runs through the main floor structures and the centre ehassisa Floor boxes are used rather/than standard wall mounted outlets) to e power outlets to each room As detailed above? several preferred embodiments are eonslderecl to provlde 3 number of systems arid merhods that advantageously: (i) Provide room areas having an lmproved feeling of spacioesness and comfort hr a building eonslmetecl using prefabricated lSO stanfiardeomalraer modules, where rhe ng is still relatively readily manufactured and installed” ‘WG’ ZillZ/fieilfid PEWAEJZMZ/‘Mliflfi? (ii) Provide buildings constructed using prefabrieated 180 standard ner modules, having advantageous rain capture and waterproofing capabilities While still being relaiively y manufactured and installed (iii) Provide ISO'standerd container modules having prefabricated fold out floor extensions, where during consmictiori, the containers areplaeed side by side to provide a building of advantageous size end the building is able to receive a building module my; Pfuw’iéfi sysiems lies mg one w more eootairees eeeu we“ e Moos puma“;n.» b - where the floor pollioe ese ed to mole the floor space” (v) Provide a building Constructed using prefabricated ESQ standard container modules with advantageous flood proieeiioe ili‘iies. (will Provide sysiems fomsed iirom at ieest one lSQ shipping eon‘iainei: module leaving s plurality of senels that allow the fioei building io be provided with differem facade layouts soited “:o em site ofieomtioos» sod oillei l5 eonditloosa in terms of the Figures 28 to 4§; Figure 28 shows an eXploded perspective View of one embodiment of a building; Figure 29 shows steps of one embodiment of a method of erecting the building of Figure 28 in accordance with an aspect of the ion; Figure shows a site with screw piles iiistalled; Figure 31 is a ctive View of one ' embodiment ofmo units for a building, in aeeordanee with another aspect of the piesent inventioria in sed mode and received by the? screw piles; Figure 32 shows one of the. uniis with roof extensions swung up; Figure 33 and Figure 34 Show base extensions swung down into respective extended positions; Figure 35 shows the units with a sub unit disposed thereinr and columns installed over the base ions; Figures 36 and 3’7 Show the iroof-ex‘iensions in respective extended positions; Figure 38 showsthe unit with outer panels installed; Figure 39 shows the building in a final or near final form; Figure 40 shows an example of a esp which may form pan; of the unit of Figure 31; Figure 4i shows an example of a hinge that has more than one degree of freedom which is s part of the units of Figure 3i; Figure 4i shows an example of a vessel in the building of Figuie 28; 3G Figure 43% shows veiious’embodimems of exterioi" panels in @013? of 3 building they may W9 zen/teenage eenammennena be fitted to; an& Figures 44 and 45 Show one embodiment of” a collapsible wall in a collapsed anti an extended mode respectively.

As Shown in Figure 28 an exploded perspective View of one embodiment of a building is generally indicated by the numeral fill, in the embodiment, a erable fraction of the building 3l2 is manufactured within a controlled factory enviromnentg that is it is prefabricated This reduces the amount of skilled labour one time required onsite.

The building 3l2 is (ieliverecl as one or more units in a collapseé state“ in the eollapseci (Dtate the noilding 3l2W ., l‘.in8 en al ,ormmi eommenenmte With a-ehinein eontainer, such as an 18% shipping container. Another label for a shipping container? in the context of W thin ooenn‘ient, is an intermotlal neri Fee example, iiifi lease may hate the same footprint as the ease of an {$0 shipping container? the roof mny also have the same width anti length as the roof of an lSQ shipping oonteiner, and the eide walls may also have the same Width anti length as eerresponding side walle 0f an ‘lSG shipping neri The external fem: of the sed unit may, in some ative embodimentsg be l5 nsnrate with a non lSG'eentainer Standard. The United States often uses longer units at 4% it neat in} and 53 fl: (léol S In}. Some European eontainers are about 2 inches wider at 25 m (3 it 2.4 in) to accommodate Enrompallets. Australian RACE containers are also slightly wider to accommodate Australia Standard Pallets.

The unit, in this particular ment, is not a shipping container but has been ' constructed to take certain features of a shipping container so that it can be tranSported over an intermodal freight transport system which may comprise; for example? a container ship, a container train, a truck, and specialized container handling equipment such as a portalnen in r embodiment, however, the unit is a shipping container that has been suitably modified. in a particular embodiments the outer form of the unit is commensurate with a high cube shipping eontainern High cutie containers have a width of around 2.44m {8 feet), and a height of 239 m (9.5 feet)“, High cube ners are available in lengths ofa for example, it}, 263 30 or 40 feet, lite length of thennit in thin, but not necessarily all ernl'iotiiinentsa is Ell feet.

Wt} ZGiZIEZMieo Pariseterzmemes The builciing 312 is be assembled by extending the unit onsite, typicaliy in a few weeks by an owner/builder, or by an experienced construction crewin a matter of days.

Figure 29 shows the steps of one embodiment of a methotiof erecting the building 312 from one or more units end a sub unit in a first step, one or more units (in this example 2 units) such as units 310, 311 for the building 3129 and e sub unit 374 are’delivered to e site on which the units 319,311 and thus the resuiting building 312 is to be located. The units 3109311 are substantially identical, but do not need to be? anti have dimensions whieh ere commensurate with at shipping ner? such as an 180 shipping container. in this emhodirnents the units Eitifiii have extemei dimensions commensurate with s high etthe shipping ner whieh is higher thee “stander ” ‘ shipping eenteinersi The corresponding heiiding thus hss'e reiativeiy high roof and reietiveiy more internal voiome than that whieh sen he sehieveti rising lower shipping containers The units éitifiih because they heirs dimensions surate with a shipping eonteineri may he hendieti and orted using the existing infrestrheture for hendiing and transporting shipping eontsiners" in the emhodiment of the methoe shows in Figure 293 the enits 3i (wit ere deiiveree ort e B—tripie troek: which is configured te carry ESQ ng (containers The Bwtripie track also earries and delivers the sub unit 3741 which is to he ioeateci in the enits 3i0,311. Typically,» the sub unit 374 has external dimensions which are also surate with e 'shipping containerghut a shipping leontsiner smslier then that 28 corresponding to the unit 10 (typicaliy lower but having the same footprint). The sub~urtit al dimensions may be commensurate with an 130 shipping container! in step 2, base such as 374 are removed from the eitds of the units, and then the units 3i0§ll are positioned end toend upon the site by, for essmple, a crane that is e part of the truck. in this case, the units 310,311 are located on a plurality of eoiumns 360 (as shown in Figure 29) each having the form of a screw pile, for e. The screw piles are typicaliy instaileci on the sitehefore the units 31%,311 and sub unit 374 are delivered. in the foliowing, the method will he explained ftirther with reference to shit 3 fit-03 although it is to he tood that similar steps may he performed with unit 35:1} As shown in step 2, the unit 310 has a rectangular roof extension i8 foldeé down to form 3t} ' e, eii but which may he extended to form an extension of the reetangttiar roof 3% of ‘WQ ZtltZ/tiotltio PCT/AEZillZ/tliliiiiilil the unit Silt): During transmit, the roof extension 1’518 is ed down in a collapsed position by , cables, or ties for e, Before the roof is swung up it' is teleased, When the roof extension Big is swung up into an ed mode; as shown in Step 3% s rectangular base extension 320, which may form an extension of a rectangular base 3 it of the unit 3H) when folded; clown, is revealed. The base extension 20 is fastened during transport. When it is to he smog down, the base extension 20 is first released.

As shown in step 43 the base extension 320% swung down to form a larger floor area than in step 53 the sols unit 3745 which in this example has as fomi somtevwith e 20 toot l0 iSO eontaineg is disposed Within the one or more units. in: this example, the subunit is not e high cube eooteiner. The ssh wit 3%? is this emhooimem:s may he s hath sodfoe e kitchen and may have all of the plmohing and other services it: place ”the suhooit may have one or more doors, for exampie opening into the kitehe‘o sod/bi bathroom, in step e? the roof extension l8 hes heeo swung stews hoist the elevetefi mode into so l§ extendect mode: in step “7, panels ate placed erouiid the periphesy of the extended unit Bill? the panels A being, for example, wall. panels, doors and; exterior windows. The panels may be all of thesame width, typically but not necessarily 1.2 m, and so the panels are interchangeable? Generally, the use of panels is greatly simplified when the toof ion is» ed .20 before the floor extension is extended.

The various stages of the erection of another embodiment of a building 3l2 ate shown in more detail in the Figures. Similar parts to those shown in Figures 28 and 29 have been similarly numbered.

As shown in Figure 3G, a plurality of columns in the form of screw piles such as 360 and 362 are first iostallecl on the site, Figute' 31 shows two units for a, buildiog abutted end to end, the foremost unit indicated by the numeral 3M} and the warmest unit molested by e l ill l. When the units are used as shown in Figure 32, the resulting building may be described as s mociulai huilding. A vertical line isdieetes the ry of the suits 3i 093E l» A capping merhher is disposes over the boundary of the respective mots settles Bil toot ions. The eappiiig member? is this embodiment in the form of a, seal capping W79 Zilii/iZtittfio PCi/fisilzttiZ/tititli’éiiit is attached using adhesives and/or fasteners The units are shown in a eoilapsed mode located on the piles 360. The unit 310 has opposingends 348, 350 that are open, as does the unit 311. During transport, r; the open ends 3485 350 may he ,~the additional esp struemre stiffening the unit for transmit“ With the esps insteiied, a nnit may have ions equal to an ESQ shipfiing container, for examples 20 foot long high cube, 'With the esp removed, the unit may be slightly shorter thanan ISO shipping containers The caps may be removed on site, for example, and used as a component of the building i3; Figure 49 shows a front perspective View of an example of a esp 3743 The rear end of the esp is open anti presents a eavity into whieh-an end of'a unit may he iii reeeiveet ihe sees may he eoniigured to engage art iodal container transport? such as a eontainer ship, by a pair of” cooperating eie’mentsi, each of the pair of elements being loesteei on one of the esp anti the trshsport respeetiveiyn When the eiernents are engageei the unit een he seemed in handiing and in transit The element may? for exampies he s standard 186 mounting point 3% in the forrn a corner castings an eiement ibie with s twistioeh {a fastening devise nseti in the rter shipping indnstryt Any soitehie festening system may he employed” 'i‘he eiements 376 may he ioeeteei st one er more eomers of the esp 374 as for an ESQ shipping container.

The unit 310 has a roof ion 318 which can adopt a collapsed, an extended, or an elevated mode. in Figure 31, the roof extension 318 is shown in the eoiiapseti mode 29 ' (folded down). in this embodiment? the roof extension 3l8 extends essentially the entire span between the base and the roof to form an external wait of the unit 310. In other embodiments, the roof extension does not extend the entire span, The roof extensiont in this embodiment, is iy smaller than. an outer wail of a high cube containera and in particular its width in this, but not neeessariiy ali embodiments is around'2.8m.

When the unit is in a sed mode? located behind the roof extension 318 is a base extension 320. The base extension 320% adopt either a eoiispsed mode or an extenfied mode, in Figure 3i, the base extension 320 is shown in the coiiapsed‘ mode. The base extensien has a width of 14m, The hese extension 326y it: this but not all embodiments? is of s lesser width than the roof extension and thus does not extend the entire spas se hetween the base 3M» and the root 1316» .“i‘his may provide space for, for example? a ism sash as e, hinge eonneeting the reef extension to the units in the extendefi W@ Zero EEiiZ/fititmiig mode the base extensitm 326 is an extension of the base 314; the top surfaces of the base - and the base extension he in the same piane.

Because the root“ extension is of greater width that: the roof extension the house is provided with an awning. The awning advantageously improves passive thermai management making the house more sustainable.

The roof extension 318 has a proximal edge'322 nt the roof 3% and aiso a distal edge 324° When the roof extension MS adopts the coiiapsed moose, the distai edge 324» is ioeeted et the base 3%,’ ' e t mode? however, the diorfii estge s“as t ,m e2 3".)4i or the“4‘ L.» root extension 318 is eievs‘teei shove the otoximsi edge 322 of the roof extension 31%? es it} shown in Figure 28. ”the ihtemei space is generaiiy higher than that provideé hy a, eoritaiher heeause the ‘ciistei edge is eieveteeit More height is provided oh an outer edge 324 of the house than the interior under the roof 3%, This enhances the sense of space withih the house? espeeieiiy when iookiog outwet‘os heyohd the distal edges of the roof extension. Arise? the inward siope of the roofrextensioo causes rein that feiis oh the house iS 3E2 to flow inwards where it can he eeritreiijy eoiieeteo anti hempoiteei vie e eoncieit to a water reservoir; streh es it took ioeateo tender the house As shown in Figure ‘32, the roof ion 318 cert, at least in this embodiment, be swung - tip by greater than i80 degrees revealing the base ion 320. The roof extension i8 is attached to the roof by a’hinge 342 shown in Figure 28. The use of a hinge is convenient 29 as it supports haif the weight of the roof extension asit is swung around" A hinge aiso preweiigns the roof extension with t to the roof and waiisq Simiieriya the base extension 320 is attaeh'eci to the base 314 by another hinge 344 shown in Figure 32.

The roof extension in the elevated mode, as shown in Figure 32, typicaliy makes an angie of between E80 - 270 degrees with the roof extension in the eoiiapsed mode. The roof extension is iy one of two roof exteosiohs and in the elevated mode respective distal ‘edgesiof the roof ions are brought er: This is a reiativeiy stabie position? espeeieiiy if the extensions are festehed together, anti expensive and cumbersome ‘ equipment is hot required to being the extensions into the eievated mocie or» hold their: in this mode in this mode, the root“ extensions erevseif supporting anti eonverrierrtiy out of iii) the way during the preiiminaty stages of emotion, Wt} sets/moses UZtMZ/thfltw As shown in Figure 33 thehsse extension 320 may be swung down into the extended position after the roof extension 318 has been swung up.

The hinge 342 is configured so that the roof extension 318 can be smog either above or beiow the roof 316 and so adopt various positions usect during transport, construction and final me of the building. This may beimpossible using prior art ansngements. A hinge that provides movement aiong a path rather than around an axis may be Used That is, it may be advantageous to use a hingethat has two or more s of feces!om:a such as for example the doobie hinge shown in Figure 42., The doubts hinge has a first 380 and s i second 382 pivot; the pivots being eaeh ted to s sonneoting member 383 common itt to the pivots The first oévot 380 is etteottett to s first test 38434 see the seeoott otsot is attached toe seeono test“ 3369 Beesose the. angle between each test" and the ting member son he changed this double hinge has 2 degrees of freedom unlike at standard hinge whioh has oniy one ciegtee of freeetotnr to use5 the titst Beef may he fastened to an internal: surface of the roof 16 sojseent an ectge, one the second test is attached to an interest sorteoe of the toot extension sts When exteocttng the soot“ extension? rotation amend the first pivot 38G senses the second pivot 382 to swing out of the interior of the omit and free of the roof, The toof extension can then be totated atounct the second pivot without interference from the roof, A hinge with more than 2 degrees of freedom may be edt A hinge having one or more transiationai degrees of freedom may be emptoyedt Inthe present embodiment: the hinge is attached to external surfaces of the unit, however it may be attached to internal surfaces of the unit as described. This protects the hinge during ort etc, one in this case the hinge does not extend beyond the dimensions of the standard container the unit is eé on.

The! unit 312 has a water proofing motorist over at least a. portion of a ry between the roof and the roof extension. in this embodiment, the material takes the form of s strip of water proof ne, such as a strip of PVC ptsstie sheet or a bituminous sheet. In other embodiments the water proofing motorist maybe emembrane applied as s fluid and showed to set, stash as sifiioone, Typically, the roof extension 3% is swung between the ootlapsed and extended modes ,30 stoned the hinge 344 howeset it will be sppteoisted that the roof extension need not he we zerZ/izssss P€ffAiJZliithiilii3tW hinged“ in alternative embodiments, the roof 3l6 (or everi the base 3%) can be detached from the unit and then reattached in the required ori or mode.

As can be seen in Figure 33, the roof 3l6 is teii above the base 314 by s pluraiity of posts 346 extending between the base 314 and the roof 316. The posts 346 may be, for example, steei tube of a square cross nal profile or in some embodiments, timber, Generally any suitable material may be useci for the posts 346» The posts are offset fiom corners of the unit. This allows the extensions to span the entire length of a, unit in the coilepsed mode, As shows is Figure 33, the base exterrsion 32%}, when is the extended mode, sits or: e plurality of coismns such as 362, Fire column 3s: rosy take the form of, for exempie, s screw oils, or aitematively s brick pile Witb a concrete foundation. Generally any form of suitabie commit may be employed. fierce; piles, hoWever, may be rapidly deployed. Hie base exteeisioo (mo indeed the base} may breve, for exsmeie, integral strengthening plates that engage the columns, As shown gore 35, with the roof exierrsioo Rig swung rip sod the base exreosioo 32%) swung down, the unit 310 may receive the sub unit 374, which is in this embodiment lies a length commensurate with a 20 foot long ISO shipping container, in some embodiments, more than one subunit is disposed within the unit 310. The unit, in this embodiment, comprises a kitchen arid bathroom. The fiirtlier units may be, for example, bedrooms or studies or some other specialised room.

The embodiments of the unit 310 and sub unit 374 shown are each configured to receive one or more services such as a water service, a gas service, an electrical service, 8:. communication service such as telephone or intemet and a sewerage service, For example, the unit 310 may come with one or more of an electrical riistribution board and ical outlets, apertures for receiving pipes and cables therethrough and ducts for pipes and cables, as appropriate. The apertures may be capped for ort and handling of the unit“ An exterior service of the unit can comprise an electrical connector for tion to the grids The connector may be recesses Electricai “wiring may be heated withiiis floor cavity, for e, Generaliy, no iorial elec’o’ical work seeds to be clone inside the house or: site besicies econecting the house to as electrical supply such as so ‘WQ lelZ/lzolltifi ?€l/&EZ®lZ/litltl3@@ electrical grid. l‘l’l this embodiment the subeunit 374 has a toilet, shower? stove, and oven all connected to sewiee conduits such as wires and pipes, for example, within the unit, The sub—unit of this embodiment has a base that is removed pfim’ to being disposed within the one or more units. in this case, there is no step into the interior of the submunit from the unit.

The t 37M has e vessel 388, shown in Figure 4i, d to hold a themel mass such as water? sand? or any le al capable of storing heat The vessel is typieelly stiles-em at side well at the subunit zine fixed to at well of the subunit. When the sehaunit is isstelletl the vessel is ideally loeeted near or at the centre ef the building. The unit is delivered with thevvessel empty, The empty’vessel tetlttees the mess of the salsa unitdnting transpert and instellatiettt in (me form? the vessel is a water tank of amend Ltltltl litres Once the submit is installed, the settle may lie tilled with, the example? water delivered Vie, e hose connected te the water mainsc Altemetivelyg send? soil etet may he usetl, possibly sourced from the site“ The theme! mass may help stabilise the temperature Within the heilcling ptevitlitig e hettee interim elimete without eeeeeessety ttettspet’t (if the mess.

As een be «seen in Figure 35, a plurality of columns, in this embodiment in the form of steel posts 376, are elected above the base extension 320., The posts suches 376 are located over tive screw piles. The roof extension 318 is then san down into the extended mode to test upon the columns 376 as shownin Figure 36‘, The extensions they . have integral strengthening plates that engage the s. The roof extension in the ed mode makes an angle of 50 — l35 degrees with the roof in the collapsed modes As shown in Figure 36 wells are disposed within the unit“ At least one of the walls 412 is a collapsible wall that is transported in a collapsed mode e 44) and after being installed adopts an extended mode (Figure 455) Therwell has first 4% and second sheets 4i 6 of material. A structure 413 is attache-(l to the first and seeond sheets The structures at least in this ment? has a hinge gh any Suitable eqnifialent structure such as ejeitit may he used. In this ’emhodimentg the structure actually has two double hinges 4i 8" lite deuble hinge has first and seeené leeves, the first leaf being attached to the first sheet 3% and the seeond leaf being atteeheti to the second Sheet The double hinge is located between the sheets. The sheets are relatively elosei‘ (say; ltlllmttt tether that's 308m W‘Q zeiZ/izeeee P€Wfiill2liilill€lil3il9 spacing} when the structure is in the collapsed mode then the extended mode.» Once expanded, material such as an insulating material mey be disposed in the space between the sheets, Figure 38 Shows the building with outer wall panels installed, The panels are interchangeable to adapt to site specifications and orientation. Because the outer walls are panels, cladding materials can be ged as required. For example, the cladding material may be fibre cement, timber, metal sheet, plastic or the like, Because, in this embodiment, the outer wells ere hung, they have improved water proofing eompeied to outer walls atteehed via, hinges to the roof and/or base end which can be Swung out on the ii} hingee. The load beefing features of the bedding 3l2 ere eoliimne 3%“ The outer walls are self sneporiing, making Elie final structure relatively easy to build and sigeilieenily lighter. ”lite beee extension may have e eroiiiinel edge adieeent Elie beee and e dietel edge The distal edge is, in this lent riot neceeserily elllembodirnente, cenfignred to receive 3“, respective edge ef e panel. lo this penieeler embodiment, tiie distal edge ie eonfigured to engage the panel by 3 pair of eooperating elements, each of the pain? of elements being d on one of the distal edge and panel respectively. The cooperating elements may comprise a pin configured "to be located in a corresponding recess, In r embodiment, however, the Cooperating elements mey cemprise a protruding iib 26 configured to be located in a corresponding slot. Generally, any le engaging elements may be employed. it may be preferable, in some ments, to have the male element, such as a pin or rib, located on the panel This is because a mele element located on the distal edge of the base extension would be vulnerable to ng end/or damage as the building is erected; A male elernent on the panel. is ed some protection By virtue of the nt structures, most notable a downward projecting flange £08 shown in Figure 43, The panel may comprise, for e, et‘least one of e window, a well panel and a door: Figure 43 shows various embodiments of die exterior panels ted by the numerele 390m 460i Panel 39%, for example, has; e first end 492 and e seeond end 404 that is 39 spaced apart from the first end 462, A surface 406 .is disposed between the ends The surface may be, for example, the outer feee of eledding, 2: Surface of e door, e window, 2: Q ssee PETXAUZlilZ/‘llilélfil? clenble sliding windewg slisliiig doors etc. As lies: seen in panel 40%, the panels each have a. flange 408 parallel t0 the surface and exiending away lion}. one of the ends that it is attached too The flange has a surface which is adapteci te be an exterior e For e? the exterier surface may be painteci e2” teestecl metal 011” timbers plastic etc, end can withstand the weather and/or. sun. The flange 408 is substantially in the seine plane as the surface 406“ The flange may comprise an inselating material which covers the edges of the base and/’03” base extensions. Alternatively or additionally, an insulating al, sueli as a glass fibre inst, may s5 disposed between the flange and the base.

This is sdvantsgeous‘wlien the base andfor base extension is sieai of a thermally ii} eensluetive material such as steel whieli would minimally set as s thermal eemluil; e the etiges 0f the ase extension and the interim of the units The flanges may alse aid in waterproofing the structure ijeeause they may temieate at or eelew the beltem of the lsase extensiene leested behind the flanges are the we or mere elemenls tines eeepemte with ending elements en she distal edge of the Base extension i5 Figure 33 skews the beilding is a final es near filial fem; A sesgelaosmi {or Bergebosidl 368 has heel“: installed at an end ef the Emit sleeve the end panels 372 “llie'verge beard. . eempsises material of high thermal resistance seen as glass fibre taming? sir blown plastic such as Styrefoam, an analogue of these or any other suitable material. Preferably a. biodegradable insulating material is used. One or more glass elements 370 are installed 2% ' above the side wall panels 3369338l Typically, the glass elements each comprise glass panels of high thermal resistance, suchas double glazing, low emissivity glass, Ol‘ even section: glazing.

The final building 312; such as that shown in Figure 38, may mt. have any reminiseenee to a shipping container. ’25 Typically, embodiments of the unit Eli} are eenfigureti to receive st least one solar eelleelor such, as a photovoltaic penel or solar hot water beaten Elie roof or reef extensiens may have mounts 3% attached or fen‘necl therein ready to engage a solar eolleeter er s selai' tcir supporting member. in the present mene mounting plates 3752 {Figure 28) are fixed m an ei lop surface by an adhesive such as s Zepsi’t epoxy or eyanoacryls‘te adhesive The use of. an adhesive is able is the use of mechanical fasteners, such es screws? which may penetrate ene 05’ more apertures formed Wfi ZillZlei’llloo Ptle/AlJElllZ/Glllllfltlg in the root: The apertures may provide a t through which water or another substance may enter the interior of the unit, which is generally undesirable The appaiatus may be starting points for corrosioo, The mounting plates may be fabricated of aluminium, for example, but any suitable material may be oaed. atively GE" additionally, one or more exterior wall panels such as 390 may one orha’ve mounts such as 374 to engage a solar collector or a collar ting supporting member. in another embodiment, a wall panel may have an integrated solar tor. The solar eolleetor may lie installed when the building is in a final or near final condition Titus ill one aspeet of the invention tltefe lo provided a unit for a building, the omit comprising: a base: and a roof supported above the bilge“ 'l‘lte ooit may be prefabricated lo e, factory and form at least part of a prefabricated or modular building; Mose peodoetioo teelitiiqoes may lie employed to reduce eoote and eoostmetioo time. Beeaose onite item the faetory may oe similot or ldentieal eeooomles; of seale‘may be realised reducing eostsb A. qualityg for example one or more of eneegy ewe w i eastaiiialiility of tile materlale used; or 7build quality? oftlie unit may be greater and more oettaio when ptodoeed in o controlled environment typieel of a factory» in embodiments, the Limit comprises e roof extension having a collapsed mode and an extended mode, in the sed mode a suffaee of the roof extension is also an external side surface of the unit, and in the extended mode the roof extension is an extension of the roof} The roof extension in the extended mode may make an angle of 50 - 135 degrees witli the roof extension in the collapsed mode. The roof extension has a proximal edge nt the roof and a distal edge that is, in the ed mode, elevated above the proximal edge The collapsible unit may be easily transported in the collapsed mode and still provide I significant building space in the extended mode. The distal edge being elevated above the proximal edge is ble for arelxiteetural'reasons, including giving more iotemal space and a greater sense of openness when looking outward from within the building, Without the elevated distal edge the ng may feel unacceptably ed to a persooy who may even enoe elausoool'iobia, Wt} ”mm/testes PCT/AHZtEiZ/tiilifiifig The roof ien else may have an ed meée wherein the tiistal edge of the reef extensien is loeated ever the roof, The roof extension in the ed mode may make an angle of \l30'~ 270 degrees with the roof estehsion in the collapsed mode, The reef extensiee they he one of tee reef extensiohs. in the ed mecie respective tiistal edges ‘ efthe two roof extensions may he breught together.

When the reef extensions are in the elevated mode they are conveniently outlet“ the way during werlt ’metl at the level of the base, The roof ions are less likely it} he dartiaged while in the elevated made during the wetle ‘ The extensiehs may he substantialiy self supporting when the respeetive distal eeges are hmught together lg eediieing the seed sf building twigs/equipment it: one emhedimehtl in the eeiiapsed mede the reef extensive extends at least in past hetweeii the base anti the moi: The reef extensiee when in the eeliapseé made may extend hemeeh the base anti the ffiflfi A reef extensien that extends between the lease and the reef may iet’m s superiei berries ES to extemsl interferehee sseh as fresh humps meistiite etez. timing tmespeitw in preferred forms, the emf extension is pivotally attached-ts the mail The roof extension may he attachedte the reef via a! hinge such that the reef extension can he swung abeve - and belew the roof.

Preferably? the reef extensieri is swung n the collapsed, ed and ed modes around the hinge The hinge "has more than one degree ef‘freedom. The hinge may he a double hinge“ Preferably, the reef extensiehx is eenfigured to receive at least me solar collector“ Retrofitting buildings with fittings to engage a solar collector may be more expensive than including the fitting during fabrication 0f the unit Ad hoc installation may cause inaevertent damage to the building, for example if apertures fer fastenet's need to he made Preferably, the unit eemprises a, water proofing materiel diseased at least 2i pertiee of a; heuhdsty between the teef and the reef extensiem A “WU 20 i2/iihfié6 Pfii/AEZfliZ/‘iiiiiiwg in forms? the unit eemprises a base extensien having a. ceiiapseé mode and an extended mode, in the coiiapsed mode the base extension extends at Beast in part hetween the base and the reef, and m the extencied mode the base extensron. . . . is an extension of the base: The base extension whee in the ceiiapsed mode may extend eniy in part n the hase and the reef. The base extensien may have a proximai edge adjacent the base and a distal edge; The distal edge may be configured to ieceive a respective edge (if a panela The distai edge may be configured to engage the panel by a pair of ating‘eiements, each 0f the pair of eiemehts being d on one {if the distal edge ahd paneirespeetivelyc The eeepemtiiig eiements may se a meie eiememtB suehes e pie? eerifigered to be ieeeted if: s eorrespendieg femeie eiememtg seek as a reeess. Aitemetiveiy 0e additia’imiiya the eoeperating eieh—xehts may comprise e pretending rib eehfigureci t0 be heated iii a eenespendihg sietu The pahei may eettipeise at ieast one ef e windews e weii pemei and a deee A eoiiapsihie ease prevides easier transmit Whiie eiiewing signifieant time space. The use ef ieteiehaiigeehie peeeie may gteetiy extend the iiexihiiity (if the design {if the huiidimge The peneis may aid in waterpreefing the building? espeeiaiijy eemperee with? far exeinpie, weii panels that are hinged te the huiidieg. in forms, the reef is supperted abeve the base by a piuraiity of posts extending between the base and the moi Each post may he Offset from a respective comer of the base. The posts may each comprise a steel tube; Offset pests may not interfere with the roof ion and/0r base extension previding more design freedom and may maximise reef and/hr base extensien area. When the base extension and the xtensmn are in respective eoiiapsed modes, the moi" extension ‘ forms an extemai side surfeee of the unit behind which the base extension is dispersed. {he extemai side surface may be a reiativeiy tong}; surface; such as steei? which preteets the ease extensien and other parts intemai 0f the unit during transport. in one faring the base extension is eenfigui‘eeig when in the ed mode, te he ‘ supperteé by e plurality 0f eeiumnea Coiumns may previde e levei stmemre en which the base and base ieh can be heused end redueefithe s ef re anther pests ism ihe building.

W53 znimzseee PC?X&U2€EEZi€l®®3@9 One or mere dimensions of ‘éhe unit are eemmensurate with the dimensions of a ng comminer. When the reef and base extensions are in respective collapsed modes, the unit may have the dimensions of a; shipping container. The shipping ner may be an lSO shipping ennwiner. The lSO shipping container may he a high euhe shipping containen A unit which takes espeets of an ISO shipping container may eenveniently take advantage of the existing shipping and handling infrastructure for ng containers. Furthermore, the unit may be configured to receive one 02' mere services“ The unit may e eendnits fer the one or more services At least one service may campfise one er more} if a water service, a gas service, en electricity service; a eemmnnicetinns service and n iii sewemge service” The egnens fee en she Kneesnnen may he shes seduced: in nne menn the unit eemprises nppesing ends ihat see enen. in ene embndii’nenn an end (if the unit is eeppecl by as can, The eaps may assist in sealing the unit againsi the ingress of ure ese; dining Emnspené The cans may else previde engaging means fee the existing shipping trensnert and handing infrastructure 7&0 engage, and may ‘snbseqnenily he remnvefi en sife Without eempremising the fiesig‘n of the bungling, Removable seeps ermine geenter freedens in eenfigme ds 0f Khe building which mey otherwise he aesthetically unsatisfactory, The eapg which may be fabrieeied from a strong material such as steel for trenspertation and handling considerations, may be used as past- of the building, d of being unnecessarily used as ends of the building” in forms, the unit is eenfignred to he supported ‘on a plurality of s. The unit may be configured. to receive within it; n'suh unit havingedimensiens cemmensurate whh a shipping container“ The sub-unit may have external dimensions of a non-high cube shipping container. The sub-unit may comprise evessel adapted to contain a l mass, The sub unit may have a eeniplete kitehen andior bathroom, for enample, reducing the requirements for tradesmen on site. The use of a thermal mass may stabilise the . internal temperature 0f the building. The vessel may be installed when empfiy and subsequently filled, wnh water them a pipe for example, which makes handling easier1 Themnl masses are typically n 1000 ené 10,000 leg and are thus difficult 3:0 " A submit the height of n stanclanl ESQ shipping eentninei‘ may fit wimin units 3Q} haying the height of e highwnhe ennteinee. tit/fl zen/testes PCT/[til Zttilfifitttfittg in a second aspect of the invention? there is provided a sub-emit adapted to he received by a-unit in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. in embodiments, the sub unit ses a door, The sub-unit meyeomprise one or more services. The sob-unit may comprise e bathroom The sub—unit may se a kitchen The subunnit may comprise a vessel adapted'to contain a thermal mass. The vessel may be a water tank; ' In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of erecting a building, the method comprising the; steps of: providing a unit in accordance with the first aspect of the” invention with: the toof extension in the collapseti mode; and sensing the roof extension to Moot the resoeetive extended mode. it}: in en emboditnentl the methooeomotises the step of musing the toof extension to adapt the eieveteé mode. in an embodiment, the method fnnhee composes the stone ot‘ causing the hose extension to ntiopt the respeetitle extentied motion A tiistel edge of the hose extension may teeeive a panel sites the hose ion is eonsed to adopt the extendetl 'mooe. in an embodiment, the methoti comprises the step of disposing one or more posts n the root extension and the hose extensions Most ot all of the load of the root ions may be taken hy the posts, instead of the panels forsexamnle, which provides considerable m in design For example, the panels need not he load g and their other aspects, such as visnal appearenee, may he thus aeeentuatedl in an ment the method comprises the step of locating the unit on a plurality of 26 columns. The method may se the step of installing the plurality of columns. In an ment, the method comprises the step of disposing asub unit within the unit; The snhwtmit comprises a bathroom and/or kitchen. in an embodiment, the step of causing the roof extension to adopt the respective ed mode occurs before the step of causing the base extension to adopt the respective extended mode. in another espeet of the invention? there is provioeo to method of meeting a hnilding eornptising the step of, {losing erection, disposing e vessei adapted to contain a thermal mass in the ng. in an embodiment? the vessel, when disposefi in the building is empty 'i‘he tnethod may eomptise the step of disposing the thermal mass in vessel. The 3Q vessel may he adapteci to hold waten The step of disnosing the thermal mass in the vessel ‘WQ ees PQE/AEZMZ/tiflttflw may comprise fliiing the tank with water. in an embodiment, the Vessei is paetof 3. sub« unit in accordance with the second aspect'of the invention and the step of disposing the vessel in the buiiding comprises the step of ciisposing the it in the buiidiogv In an embodititerit the method comprises the step of provigiing-s unit in accordeoce with the first aspect of the invention and iing the unit ing to 'yet another aspect of the invention there is provided an exterior pane} fOt‘ s tauiiding, the pane! comprising: a first end and a, second end spaced apart from the first; end; a flange attached to one of tine ends and d to engage so edge of either one of a base of a boiiciing end an extension of a base of a bonding” The penei one particoieriy the flange may weenie themmi insuistiona and may improve the water proofing of the buiittingi in so embodimenLthe flange has a surface which is adapted to be an exterior surface in an embodiment, the flange is substantially in the same pianefl as 3 surface of we ofti’ie ends: in en ments the flange composes as insoisting materista to so embodiment, the penet is configured to engage the buiiding by a pair of cooperating eiementsy esch of the pair m? ts being tocsteet on one of the twiiding and meet eespeetiveiy. tn anemeoeiment, the penet comprises a surfsee diseeseci eetween the mats A crime: may be iocated directiy behind the flange: The corner may be adapteé to receive so edge of the buiiding. The flange maybe attached to one of the ends. The flange may be is paraiiei to the surface disposed between the ends in an embodiment, the flange is configured to conceal the edge.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a sible waii comprising; first and second sheets of materisi; s structureattached to the first and second sheets having an extended mode and a collapsed mode, wherein the sheets are relatively closer when the structure is in the coiiapsed mode then in the extended mode. 25v The collapsibie wail may be collapsed g for exampieg transport and storage but: expanded when instance in the building. In an embodiment; the structure comprises s hinge, The structure may comprise a doubie hinge. The hinge may comprisefit‘st and second; ieeves, the first Beef being attacheti to the first sheet and the second ieaf being attached to the second sheets in an embodiment the structure is ioceteti betweeo the 307 Sheets— iii-7C9 zen/izeeee PQT/AilliiiZféPiiiidfifi Awarding to a further aspect of the ioVemioo there is ed a unit for a building ,1 sing: a base; a roof supported above the base; a roof extension having a collapsed mode and an extended mode, in the eollapsed mode a! surface of the roofextension is also eh extemai surface of the emit and in the ed mode the roof extension is en iors of {he roof; the roof extension having a proximal edge adjacent the roof and a distai edge that is, in the extended mode, elevated above the proximal edge. in anembodimene the unit comprises: a base extension having a eoilapsed mode and an exteoded mode, in the collapsed mode the base extensioh extends at ieest in part between she haseerid the roofi and in the extended mode the hose extension is or: erfiension of the Vie hose= iii eo embodiroeoi? .‘ihe roof egreosioo aiso has on; eieve’red mode Whei’eiri :he dismi edge of the roof ioo is located over {he roof; iii 2; further aspect of the invention there is provided 9i modified shipping comaioer eomprisiog: e hose; a roof sopporied eeove {he base; e roof extension having e collapsed mode and an extended modes, in the collapsed mode a surface of the roof extension is also i5 en exierriei Surface ofihe uoit and in the extended mode the roof exterieioo is err extension of the roofi in er: embodimeoi rhe roof extension hes e; proximei edge edjecerii the roof and a distal edge that is; in the extended mode, elevated above the proximal edge, .

Further advantages and preferred features wiil be apparent from the drawings and a g of the eaiion as a whole. . it: is to be recognised that the embodiments described may he partiy conceptual in nature, and that the applicant is developing fiirther'arrangemems that are more likely to be put into cial use. it is to be recognised that various alterations and equivalent forms may be provided without ing from the spirit and scope of the present ion. This ineludes ‘modifieations within the scope of the appended ciaims along with all modificaiionsi alternative constructions and equivalents, Ehere is no intention to iimit the present invention to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is to he construed beneficially to the applicant and the invention given its full scope WQ 2%} 12/1326m36 §€Ffl§fiflfllflbfl®3fi9 in the present specifica’ifiong the presence of uiar features dams mm; prscfiude tha existence 0f further featurss. The words ‘comprising", ‘including’ and ‘having’ are to E6 construed if: an imclusive rather than ah exclasive sense” It is to be recognised that any discfission in the present specificétion is intenfied to expfiain the t of the t inventian. It is not to be: takan as an admissfian thatthe materfiai discussed formed part of the prior art bag; or refievant generaé knowiedge in any panicufiar wumry or mgion.

(Sx

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS l a A building system comprising: a container comprising a floor, side walls and a roof; wherein the floor has opposite side edges and the roof has opposite guttered side edges; and wherein the side walls consist of a single pair of opposed side walls each having a height; a plurality of pairs of hinges; and a plurality of pairs of roof sections? wherein each roof section has a span greater than the height of each side wall; wherein the pair of opposed. side walls are adapted to fold downwardly from the opposite side 10 edges of the floor to form a pair of floor sections ng opposite sides of the floor of the container; n the te guttered side edges of the roof are adapted to mount the plurality of pairs of hinges spaced apart from one r; and wherein the plurality of pairs of hinges are adapted to mount the ity of pairs of roof sections to pivot upwardly to overlap both the plurality of pairs of hinges; and the opposite guttered side edges of 15 the roof of the container 2. The building system of claim it further comprising a ity of columns adapted to be mounted regularly spaced apart to the pair of floor sections to vertically support the plurality of pairs of roof sections. 3. The building system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of interchangeable wall modules adapted to be mounted between the plurality of columns to form reconfigurable walls. 4. The building system of claim l, n the container is a standardised shipping container. 5, A building method? comprising: ing a container comprising a floor; side walls and a roof; wherein the floor has opposite side edges and the roof has opposite guttered side edges; and wherein the side walls t of a single pair of opposed side walls each having a height; 30 providing a plurality of pairs of hinges; and providing a plurality of pairs of roof sections, wherein each roof section has a span greater than the height of each side wall; folding the pair of opposed side walls downwardly from the opposite side edges of the floor to form a pair of floor sections abutting opposite sides of the floor of the container; mounting the plurality of pairs of hinges spaced apart from one another to the opposite ed side edges of the roof; mounting the plurality of pairs of roof section to the plurality of pairs of hinges to pivot upwardly to overlap both the plurality of pairs of hinges, and the te ed side edges of the roof of the container“ 66 The building method of claim 5, further comprising providing a ity of columns, and mounting the plurality of columns regularly spaced apart to the pair of floor sections to vertically support the plurality of pairs of roof sections 7. The building method of claim 6, further comprising providing a plurality of interchangeable wall modules? and mounting the plurality of interchangeable wall modules between the plurality of columns to form gurable walls“ l5 8, The building method of claim 5, wherein the container is a standardised shipping container, 9. A building formed from the building system of claim l. th A building formed using the building method of claim ll,