Credit: PRC Certificates Reema construction is a prefabricated reinforced concrete building system that uses standardised panels to construct houses and apartments. It was developed after WWII to build affordable homes quickly. In my opinion, Reema construction played an important role in the post-war period by providing fast, affordable housing through an innovative prefabricated system. Though Reema properties faced issues, recent repairs and renovations have helped overcome these. Overall, Reema construction is an interesting example of meeting housing needs through prefab methods. Reema construction is a non-standard building technique that uses prefabricated reinforced concrete panels. Developed in the late 1940s, this construction method remains in use today. The Reema construction method involves using large, precast concrete panels to build the walls and floors of houses and buildings. After World War II, construction companies built Reema PRC houses for returning soldiers using this quick and economical system. The key features of Reema construction include: Reema Construction Ltd is a well-known UK company specialising in this technique. They build Reema apartments and houses across the country. Reema properties can secure mortgages. These come in two grades – the original Hollow Panel type or renovated versions with modern interiors. The versatility of the Reema system allows designers to choose from a range of standardised precast concrete units to construct buildings in many configurations. Credit: The Salisbury Museum The Reema construction method was developed in the 1940s by a Concrete Ltd construction company. They were looking for a rapid way to build new houses in the post-war period. Engineer Ole Billum devised the Reema technique in 1947. It involved using prefabricated reinforced concrete panels manufactured under factory conditions, which were then transported to sites and assembled into houses. Builders constructed the first Reema houses in Hayes, West London, in 1948. Park Way development, consisting of 500 homes, was built from precast concrete panels. Reema construction proved to be an efficient building system and was soon rolled out across the UK. Builders constructed over 100,000 Reema houses from the late 1940s to the 1970s. Builders constructed many Reema houses as two-storey, semi-detached homes featuring a straightforward boxy shape. Workers on-site bolted together the prefab panels and rendered them for a uniform appearance. Later on, Reema construction evolved with new techniques like Reema Hollow Panel and Reema Conclad. This allowed for larger panel sizes and multi-storey buildings. Developers across Britain were constructing high-rise Reema towers by the 1960s. However, some of these later fell into disrepair. Reema construction companies continue to utilise it for new housing developments and apartment blocks across the UK today. Many original Reema homes also remain, representing an important part of Britain’s post-war architectural heritage. Reema construction offers several advantages that made it popular for rapid housing development after WWII. Firstly, manufacturing precast concrete panels offsite under controlled factory conditions produces high-quality components that can be mass-produced. On-site, the Reema system is simple and fast to assemble. Workers crane the lightweight panels into position and bolt them together. A small crew can erect the structure quickly. Reema construction is highly adaptable. Designers can arrange the modular panels into various layouts and configurations. Homes can be single or multi-storey. The concrete panels provide thermal mass, helping regulate interior temperatures. Reema houses tend to have low heating and cooling costs. Precast concrete is durable, fireproof and sound-resistant. Properly maintained Reema buildings can have a lifespan of 100 years or more. While some criticism emerged regarding the uniformity of Reema designs, the system proved efficient and flexible for mass housing projects through the 20th century. The Reema construction process involves manufacturing prefabricated concrete panels offsite and then assembling them onsite. At the factory, workers cast the panels by pouring concrete into moulds. This allows quality control and mass production of standardised components. Workers may add reinforcing steel bars for structural strength. They vibrate the concrete to remove air bubbles and allow it to cure in the moulds overnight. The workers strip the panels from the moulds the next day and store them until they are needed onsite. They are lightweight and easily transported. At the construction site, workers prepare the ground and lay foundations. They construct a steel or concrete ground floor as part of the Reema construction process. They crane the wall panels into position and bolt them together. Openings are cut for doors and windows. Services like plumbing and electrics are installed. Additional panels are added to form the upper floors and the roof of the building. Exterior and interior finishes are applied to complete the building. The Reema system allows rapid onsite assembly from standardised components. It was ideal for the fast production of housing needed after WWII. When first introduced, the Reema construction system provided affordable, quality housing at scale. The prefabricated concrete panels standardised the building process and reduced costs. However, over time, the costs of Reema construction have increased relative to other methods. The bespoke precast concrete moulds and factory setup are expensive. Today, Reema is comparable in cost to building with bricks and mortar. The value is in the speed of onsite assembly. A Reema house can be watertight in a few days. For larger projects, the economy of scale makes Reema more viable. The initial investment in the offsite factory pays off across hundreds of panels. Reema properties are houses or apartments constructed using the Reema construction system, which utilises prefabricated reinforced concrete panels. Reema construction has some issues such as poor insulation, condensation problems, and difficulty in obtaining mortgages due to the non-standard construction method. Proper repairs and renovations can address many of these problems. Constructors build Reema houses from standardised panels, creating prefabricated concrete homes. Builders widely constructed them after WWII to provide quick, affordable housing. Lenders used to be reluctant to offer mortgages on non-standard concrete homes like Reema. However, homeowners can obtain mortgages, particularly for renovated Reema Hollow Panel properties. Reema construction is a prefabricated reinforced concrete building system developed in the late 1940s. It uses standardised precast concrete panels to construct houses and apartments quickly and affordably. While Reema properties faced issues like poor insulation, people can now obtain mortgages for them, especially for renovated homes. Overall, Reema construction helped meet the UK’s post-war housing shortage through its innovative use of prefab concrete panels.
What is Reema Construction?
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Our Opinion
Understanding Reema Construction
History of Reema Construction
Benefits of Reema Construction
Reema Construction Process
Reema Construction Cost
FAQ
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