Temporary educational space delivered within 2 weeks for uninterrupted learning

The challenge

The Offshore Oil concept was developed to explore how workforce accommodation and supporting facilities could be arranged efficiently on a man-made island, where available space would likely be limited. From the outset, the focus was on considering how land use could be optimised within a compact offshore setting.

A low-rise accommodation setup would have spread the buildings across a much larger area. That then creates other problems too, more roads and more infrastructure running across the site, which is inefficient.

Because of this, the concept explored whether accommodation could be organised more compactly while still keeping the site practical for the people living and working there. Offshore environments can already feel pretty constrained, so the layout needed to work properly rather than just fit onto the island.

The solution

Maxi Space proposed a three-storey modular arrangement to reduce the amount of land taken up by the accommodation blocks.

The layouts use a mix of two-bedroom and four-bedroom units placed across three levels. Stacking the accommodation vertically meant the footprint could be kept much tighter, which freed up more space for the rest of the site facilities.

Alongside the accommodation, the wider proposal includes dining facilities, admin and training areas, medical rooms, gym space, prayer buildings, and operational support areas. Some of these spaces are grouped closely, others are positioned separately, depending on how they would function every day. The intention was to create something that felt organised without becoming overly dense.

Given the coastal setting, the concept acknowledges the need for enhanced corrosion resistance through the use of specialist paints and coatings.

Delivery & Install

This was developed as a concept study, so the focus was more on the modular strategy itself than on a detailed construction timeline.

The proposal is based around off-site manufacturing, with the modules transported to the island and installed once delivered. The accommodation units could then be assembled into three-storey blocks alongside the supporting site facilities shown within the plan.

Overall, the concept demonstrates one possible approach for organising accommodation and operational buildings within a relatively restricted island footprint while still keeping the site functional for long-term use.