Press Reflection - July 20, 2025 - Mail
Recently, modular steel structures have come to the fore in order to meet the need for housing quickly and economically. Modular steel structures, which can be built quickly, provide cost advantages and have less net-gross difference, can also be a solution to urban transformation.
BECAME AN ALTERNATIVE
In the last 2 years, housing production in Turkey has slowed down due to the increase in construction and labor costs. Modular steel structures constitute an important alternative to meet the housing need quickly and economically in this period when supply is shrinking and prices are at high levels. Modular steel structures, which shorten the construction period by 40 percent compared to traditional reinforced concrete methods, are sustainable, earthquake-resistant and more economical, and stand out as a fast alternative in urban transformation processes.
TARGET 30 PERCENT
We talked about the developments in the modular steel construction sector with Melik Şimşek, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Structural Steel Association and Founder of Consera, an off-site building production/modular construction company. Stating that steel is currently used in 5 percent of industrial buildings and 1.5 percent of residential buildings in Turkey, Şimşek said, "Our goal in 10 years is to bring these rates to 30 percent in the residential group. There is a great demand for steel structures in Turkey. The public also wants it. At this point, an industrial preference should be made."
MORE ECONOMIC
Stating that modular steel structures are always more economical due to the time and space gained, Şimşek said: "Especially in repetitive projects, this economy increases much more. For example, on a scale of 1,000 houses, we have shown that it is 17-18 percent more economical. In addition, since the gross-net difference is about 7 percent less, the number of units built in the same area increases. For example, if we had preferred a reinforced concrete structure in our Kuzeybükü project in Zekeriyaköy, 38 villas would have been built, but we built 42 villas with steel. In places where land value is high, the advantage can reach up to 30 percent."
WILL ACCELERATE URBAN TRANSFORMATION
A steel-like solution to the housing need
CAPACITY AVAILABLE
Explaining that modular steel structures will be a very fast and economical solution in urban transformation processes, Şimşek said: "There are 1.5 million risky buildings in Istanbul and it is underlined that 30 percent of these buildings need to be urgently transformed. By accelerating the urban transformation processes, it is possible to take measures against the impending earthquake danger and to produce 1 million houses in 3 years. In order to produce 300 thousand houses in a year, 3 million tons of structural steel is required. The capacity of our country is 50 million tons. 72 thousand manpower is needed for this production."
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GROSS-NET DIFFERENCE
Stating that the transformation from reinforced concrete to steel structures has also started in the urban transformation projects implemented recently, especially on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, Şimşek said, "Since the transformed buildings were built with the old regulations, they lose square meters while becoming compatible with the new regulations. However, since the gross-net difference in steel is less, there is a square meter advantage. Since it is built quickly, the rental cost decreases. For example, a 5-storey building with 4 apartments on each floor can be completed in 6 months with a steel system. In addition, since the modules will be assembled as they are ready, environmental pollution is also reduced."
DEMAND INCREASED BY THOSE WHO BOUGHT THE LAND
After the pandemic and successive earthquakes, the demand for land has also increased significantly. Especially in coastal cities, those who want to use it as a summer house and get away from the earthquake risk buy land. Those who want to build a house on their land are also turning to steel structures. Explaining that they respond to this demand with Homera brands, Melih Şimşek said, "We give the opportunity to choose among pre-designed residences to those who buy their own land in the summer areas, on the peripheries of metropolitan cities. We have a production capacity of 1000 units per year with the Homera brand."
PRODUCTION IN DOMİK
Providing information about Consera's activities, Şimşek said that with 25 years of experience, they have produced approximately 3 million square meters of steel structures such as houses, hotels, schools, dormitories and hospitals and exported to 32 countries. Defining steel structure production as 'a housing factory like an automobile factory', Şimşek said that they aim to increase their annual production capacity, which is currently 1000 units, to 10 thousand in 3 years. Şimşek stated that they will produce with local partners in Dominica and that their negotiations with Saudi Arabia are ongoing.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
* Steel structures are 7 to 10 times lighter than conventional structures and are therefore less exposed to earthquake forces.
* Since steel load-bearing structures are produced in an industrial environment with 100 percent supervision, there are no human errors.
* Since they are produced in factories, independent of climatic conditions, they can be built 2-3 times faster.
* Thus, the completion time of the building takes at least 50 percent less time than traditional structures.
* It is possible to build energy-efficient structures with this system.
* The steel material is recyclable, contributing to environmental sustainability.
* Modular structures can be produced 24/7 in a factory environment.
* Modular construction has the potential to reduce carbon emissions.
* Modular systems also strengthen control mechanisms.
A steel-like solution to the housing need
VALUABLE EXPORTS
Explaining that Turkey has the potential to become a very important modular building exporter, Şimşek said, "The export unit value of the construction sector is 60 cents. In modular structures, this rises to 20 dollars and above. It is almost half of the exports of the defense industry. In the export of structures such as hotel rooms, the unit value rises to 30-35 dollars."