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April 30, 2024
A decent, affordable housing is the bedrock of health, happiness, and prosperity. It determines the well-being of an individual and therefore the well-being of a society. Recognizing the importance of decent housing, International human rights law (IHRL) went insofar as to include ‘The right to adequate housing’ as part of its laws.
However, in the face of the global housing crisis it has become increasingly more difficult for individuals to find a home. Be it for rental or building or buying a new one. Multiple reasons have contributed to this crisis. One being the increased prices of construction materials. In recent years, the prices of everything concerning construction has skyrocketed as much as 50% for some materials.
If price rise is one issue, then there are equally disconcerting issues like cost overrun, supplier failures, labor shortage issues, shortage of building materials and miscommunications, among others. For the same reasons, it has become difficult for people to find even a rented place, as housing owners look to compensate for the money spent in construction through sky-high rents.
According to statistics, as of late 2022, more than 1.8 billion people do not have access to adequate housing. At least 150 million live in permanent homelessness. The U.S. needs 6.5 million homes to solve the crisis and the U.K. 4.3 million. What’s more, that number gets bigger by the day. And please note, all these stats belong to 2022. The World Bank has estimated that by 2025, the housing crisis could impact 1.6 billion people.
This has become a pressing issue worldwide that needs to be addressed immediately. Add to that the environmental damage traditional concrete buildings inflict. At best, they account for 37 per cent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, providing decent, affordable, and sustainable housing is beyond urgent now both on the moral and environmental front.
Foreseeing all these in 2018, back when it wasn’t even a thing, Carel Van Duuren learnt how there was a lack of knowledge to start a holistic, controlled approach to address the housing crisis. So for the next two years he went all in investigating and researching the possible causes of the housing crisis while still running his professional kitchen rental company. Thus, in 2020 NxtGen Houses was established. In 2023 Carel changed the name NxtGen Houses into True Modular Building (TMB) opposite to volumetric building.
Based out of Gorinchem, The Netherlands, TMB is a pioneering company in the construction and housing industry. It specializes in modular construction, which involves prefabricated building components off-site and assembling them on-site. TMB’s approach to construction is rooted in principles of innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. The company focuses on developing proprietary construction systems, such as the Orange Kit, which streamline the building process, minimize waste, and maximize efficiency. TMB’s goal is to revolutionize the way homes are built, making them more accessible, adaptable, and environmentally friendly. “TMB creates, sustains, preserves, and shares value,” says Carel Van Duuren, Founder and CEO of TMB. “For decent housing is a human right.”
At the core of TMB’s mission lies a commitment to addressing the global housing crisis by reimagining the construction process. By leveraging a proprietary componentized plug-and-play construction system, TMB tackles industry challenges head-on, from miscommunication and cost overruns to supplier failures and labor shortages. Through quasi-vertical integration, TMB streamlines the value, supply, and production chain, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and affordability in every project.
Central to TMB’s approach is the Orange Kit—a flexible, configurable building system capable of delivering a diverse range of structures with unique architectures. Modularization lies at the heart of this system, breaking down buildings into simple interchangeable components that facilitate mass customization and adaptability. By embracing modular design principles, TMB empowers communities to create bespoke living spaces tailored to their needs, preferences, and environmental considerations.
“The components of Orange Kit are releasable and can be reused without any rework and therefore retain their value or increase in value as building materials become scarce and more expensive over the years,” explains Carel.
In crafting the TRUE way, TMB embraces the ethos of true modularity—a philosophy rooted in the assembly of releasable small modular parts. This approach not only fosters adaptability and sustainability but also reduces carbon footprint and energy consumption. With plans to expand globally, TMB envisions a future where communities thrive in eco-friendly, resilient habitats designed for longevity and well-being.
Inspired by the visionary leadership of Steve Jobs, TMB embodies innovation, creativity, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Drawing from Jobs’ philosophy that “people don’t know what they want until you show it to them,” TMB curates a product catalog of over 60 residential homes and community designs, inviting stakeholders to envision a new paradigm in housing.
As TMB ventures into new territories, it remains steadfast in its commitment to social impact and sustainability. Through initiatives like Homeless Hospitality (HH), TMB seeks to address homelessness by creating co-living spaces that foster community, dignity, and empowerment. By championing a circular economy model, TMB ensures that building materials are reused and repurposed, minimizing waste and maximizing value. Alongside, TMB is planning to start with building communities in Ireland, United Kingdom, United States and South Africa. “In my opinion, Africa will rise in the near future and still has the ability to avoid housing mistakes made by industrialized countries in the past, so start building releasable, with reusable components to be able to adapt housing to changes,” says Carel.
The accolades and recognition bestowed upon TMB—including the Sustainable Building Award 2023—underscore its innovative approach and unwavering dedication to excellence. As TMB continues to push the boundaries of modular construction, it invites individuals and communities to join hands in building a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.
In a world grappling with the urgent challenges of climate change, housing insecurity, and economic inequality, True Modular Building stands as a beacon of hope—a testament to the power of innovation, collaboration, and social responsibility.
On a closing note, Carel Van Duuren concludes with an inspiring note, “I once read ‘You don’t find your passion, but your passion finds you’. Actually, that’s what happened. I am now 71 and helping to solve the global housing crises and decarbonization of the built environment. These are the main drivers that shaped True Modular Building. And I do this Not because I have to, but because I want to…”
Company Description:TMB is a pioneering company in the construction and housing industry. It specializes in modular construction, which involves prefabricated building components off-site and assembling them on-site. TMB’s approach to construction is rooted in principles of innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. The company focuses on developing proprietary construction systems, such as the Orange Kit, which streamline the building process, minimize waste, and maximize efficiency.
Pull Quote: “The components of Orange kit are releasable and can be reused without any rework and therefore retain their value or increase in value as building materials become scarce and more expensive over the years.”
Company Name: True Modular Building B.V (TMB)
Founding Year: 2020
Office Locations: Gorinchem, The Netherlands
Official Website of the Company: www.truemodularbuilding.com
Name of the Featured Leader: Carel Van Duuren
Designation of the Leader: Founder and CEO
