46664 bangle factory
The global campaign 46664 by the Nelson Mandela Foundation aims to raise awareness about AIDS and encourage people to fight against the disease. A central element of the campaign is the production of high-quality, artistic bangles into which Nelson Mandela's prisoner number is incorporated. 46664 was Nelson Mandela's prisoner number on Robben Island prison – he was the 466th prisoner to be incarcerated in 1964. The proceeds from the sale of the bangles through SOFTTECH are fully dedicated to the construction project, with the goal of building modular and mobile workshops for the employed AIDS patients.
For the production of the bangles, a modular and mobile system of workshops is to be planned. Due to the linear production process, the halls and work areas are arranged accordingly in sequence. The length of each area can be individually added, according to the space program or desired room size. The shape of the building represents the linear work process. The roof is placed as an independent element on the structure, allowing for natural ventilation and preventing overheating. The roof overhang does not require additional drainage techniques to collect rainwater in the cisterns below. Installing a small sewage treatment plant would even enable the cleaning of rainwater. Climatically, the process of adiabatic cooling of the interior spaces occurs on hot days.
For the construction, a plug-in system made of wood and steel has been developed. The smallest unit of the system is steel nodes. The wooden posts are inserted into the nodes, and the beams are placed in the corresponding positions. Steel plates welded at the corners form the support points for the ceiling and floor plates and serve as bracing at the same time. For the outer walls, a choice can be made between wood and polycarbonate panels. The wooden wall panels stabilize the structure. The framed polycarbonate panels can be opened. Wall, floor, and ceiling panels are delivered finished with or without insulation, depending on requirements. The roof construction functions as a separate system. It consists of delicate steel beams inserted into the upper side of the ceiling nodes. Secondary beams are bolted to these main beams on-site. The aluminum corrugated sheets are screwed onto the secondary beams. The corrugated sheets are delivered in the required length and are fastened overlapping according to the length of the cubes. The entire structure is founded on screw foundations, which can be easily dismantled without leaving any residues, allowing for the mobility of the building. To avoid stability issues due to wood swelling and shrinking, the nodes are provided with springs to absorb the corresponding forces. The springs are welded to the nodes at the necessary points. Eight springs are provided for each connection of the node with the support and two for each connection with the beam. Small steel plates are attached to the corresponding pressure points to absorb the point load at the location.

