Weekly 5ive - Going green-houses
By the expanding urban sprawl as road constructions under and above earth, and concrete buildings, nature and wildlife has been clamped out from its natural habitat. Some branches of architecture and innovational advancements are setting up basics on how to evolve and strive for the cooperation and coexistence with Nature instead of reigning over it.
With the help of these endeavors ecological architecture is targeting sustainable development and the preservation of the natural environment by minimizing environmental impact of the buildings. It uses materials, energy, and development spaces as part of the eco-system.
Too give you an insight into this new trend we listed the five most well-known and liked architectural styles that are the most eco-friendly.
The first three buildings belong to the bio-architecture sector. The basic principles of bioarchitecture set the use of organic materials found in the surrounding area. On the other hand, transportation must not contribute to releasing any emissions harming nature. Products, materials, structures are recommended to be recycled without any pollutant, or harmful radiation. The energy mainly comes from renewable sources, demand for materials producing energy must run on low level.
1. Rammed earth house
Rammed earth house - Pisé Building: It is an ancient building method also known as traditional Hungarian building type that has seen a revival in recent years by ecoarchitecture celebrating the goods of its sustainability and eco-friendly green building style. Although in old times local environmental materials were used for the reason of poverty, nowadays building a home with your own hands adds a new meaning to these simple massive, strong, and durable buildings. The existence of efficient and lasting house depends on attentive workmanship, and continuous maintenance. Earthbag houses, or SuperAdobe houses combines the traditionals with innovation. It is also a technique known for temporary flood-control and that requires very basic construction materials. Bags are filled with sand, soil, rice hull, friable volcanic rock, or gravel that have internal stability. Walls are gradually built up by laying the bags in courses forming a domed house. The revetment in most cases is done with plaster, or adobe, both used to prevent it from water or solar radiation. The modern structural technology was developed by an Iranian-born American architect Nader Khalili, who also was the first to help build these safe houses for refugees during the Gulf War in 1991, for which he received a UN award.
From: lemon.hu
2. Straw houses
At first glance, straw houses are easily mistaken with rammed earth houses, however, when we take a closer look at it we discover a significant difference in the thickness of the walls. The straw, which is the main building material of the wall, or more precisely the straw bale-walled houses are an environmentally conscious choice as materials are cheaply available since they can be obtained from nature. The walls are mostly plastered with clay, the roof is traditional. Because of thermal insulation, heat-keeping, high sustainability and safety many people choose a life between these straw bales. The clay-covered walls compresses straw bales which is non-flammable and can prevent rodents from moving inside the house.
3. Earth houses, underground homes
Also known as earth-sheltered homes, or “Hobbit” homes. It uses given terrain to frame a house. An earth house is usually set partially into the ground and covered with green as a blanket. One of the main ecological benefits of these homes is that they lay on natural insulation. A hillside house is suitable for permacultural lifestyle as well.
Did you know?
- An earth house and a SuperAdobe house can be built together with different and fascinating design variations and are available around the world, including Tanzania (www.naturalbulidingblog.com).
- Hungary also has a couple of underground homes in Egerszalok, Esztergom and Lőrinci.
- Matteo Thun, architect created a sustainable design hotel called KlimaHotel in Bozen, Italy, that provides geothermal units for heating and cooling the whole building and regional spring water for the relaxing guests.
4. Passive Houses
Passive houses are energy efficient, comfortable and affordable buildings. They are low-energy buildings, heating and cooling related energy savings are up to 90% compared to a typical building stock. A ventilation system supplies constant fresh air and the consumed air is re-used by the heating system. The idea of passive houses originate from a german institute called Passivhaus Institut. The first passive house was built in 1990 in Darmstadt, Germany, and now across Europe it is an acclaimed architectural design. With the strict and well-detailed criteria system any house can be converted into a passive house.
Did you know?
- In Germany Passivhouse Plus certification was created which integrates passive house benefits with renewable energy options.
- World’s first passive house hospital was built in Frankfurt, Germany, the world's first passive house kindergarten in Löwenburg, Germany, and a 26-storey passive house in New York, USA.
5. Hybrid houses
IIs it possible for a passive house to become an earth house at the same time? Yes. If underground house design cannot meet with the strict eco-friendly and natural energy system criteria (so the house is less environmentally friendly as it would be expected) than it is a re-evaluation of the design. In Hungary, hybrid houses are expanding their market. Combining techniques has more advantages and offer more energy saving options. In these passive houses the soil insulation can be utilized by green-covered roof, the house is more resistant to extreme weather conditions, and geothermal heating systems combined with other heating systems increase the efficiency of low energy consumption.
Non-renewable energy sources are continuously running out whilst the consumption proportionally increases. The above mentioned organic and ecological architectural solutions can help humanity to overcome some obstacles and offset the declines in the Earth’s resources.