In line with the political and social conditions of the time when they were built, apartment layouts in prefabricated buildings are primarily optimised for the needs of small families. Current forms of use, such as home office or living in shared flats, are not accommodated for. Soft Cells is a system of modular wall panels which allows for flexible room divisions and gives residents the agency to design their own spaces. The lightweight modules made of felted wool are simply connected to divide rooms as needed. Soft Cells uses locally produced sheep’s wool, which is currently disposed of due to its fiber properties and condition. By absorbing sound, insulating and regulating humidity, it can help improve the quality of life in existing buildings. Through its textile approach to architecture, Soft Cells replaces statics with flexibility and demolition with reconstruction. Complex building projects become do-it-yourself.
