meet ‘design with frank’: a new digital tool that embeds architectural intelligence in a user-friendly way so that everyone can make well-designed homes that fit their exact needs. designed by gabriel munnich and chloe (yaoyi) fan, the software streamlines the traditional design process into a simple and familiar game-like experience, in which users can manipulate and connect 3D blocks to make a house; similar to playing with construction blocks as a child. 'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocksall images courtesy of gabriel munnich and chloe (yaoyi) fan

 

 

‘design with frank‘ puts powerful design tools in the hands of ordinary people and believes that good house design shouldn’t have to be a luxury. homeowners could use the latest technology to bring their visions into life without hiring an architect. when completed, users can receive industry-standard construction drawings to start their self-build journey in confidence. the software also provides a sophisticated map system, using satellite imagery and vector world data to visualize the user’s house in the chosen physical site. after users are satisfied with their design, they can interchange roof types and exterior materials to suit different climates.'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

 

 

homes designed with ‘frank’ software are created with sustainability at their core, factoring in solar gain and continuous insulation to minimize heat loss. the house blocks are compact to maximize their usage and building with ‘frank’ can reduce the harmful impact on the environment by using less energy and natural resources. with a built-in cost estimate, users can see how their design and material choices might impact their overall build budget. once the users are satisfied with their design, they can purchase a 3D printed model of the designed house to study further.'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

 

 

furthermore, the tool offers two drawing packages; an initial and a complete construction set. a self-build project can go from an idea in someone’s head to correctly annotated architectural plans ready for permitting and construction in a few short weeks. ‘design with frank’ can also integrate other designers’ creations into its system. they have recently integrated a design by architect ben uyeda; by turning the existing real-world design into a modular element with many possibilities users can play with ben uyeda’s design and incorporate it into their project.'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

 

 

‘frank’ reimagines architectural service and aspires to serve massive consumer design needs simultaneously. the founders, as architects, identified a need for a new generation of design tools to empower self-build projects. having in mind that most design software is built exclusively for professionals and requires intensive training, the creators, sought to produce design tools to create a better-built environment for all.'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

 

 

'frank' helps ordinary people to design sustainable homes by playing with blocks

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: design with frank
designer: gabriel munnich and chloe (yaoyi) fan

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina petridou | designboom