One of the most common questions solar experts often get asked is if solar panels work on cloudy days? Well, the answer is that solar panels do work on cloudy days but it’s just that they do not produce as much energy as they do on a usual sunny day.
http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/solar-panels-on-cloudy-days/8548837/
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Architecture studios Jakob+MacFarlane and T.ark have designed a low-carbon cross-laminated timber building called Living Landscape that will transform a landfill site in Iceland's capital city.
Slated for completion in 2026, the 26,000-square-metre mixed-use building is set to become the "largest wooden building in Iceland" once complete.
Living Landscape has been developed by French studio Jakob+MacFarlane and local studio T.ark to give new life to the polluted landscape and offer a prototype for similar future developments in Reykjavík.
"The project recreates a fragment of authentic natural landscape on top of polluted land to compensate for years of pollution and heal the man-made damage to what has once been a beautiful coastal landscape," Jakob+MacFarlane told Dezeen.
Project is a Reinventing Cities winner
Once complete, the project will contain a mix of housing for students, elderly people and families, alongside workspaces, daycare facilities and local shops.
It is among the 49 winning projects of the Reinventing Cities competition, which was organised by global network C40 Cities to encourage the transformation of underused urban spaces into "beacons of sustainability and resiliency".
The projects strive to help urban areas meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change by minimising carbon emissions.
Above: Living Landscape will be a low-carbon cross-laminated timber building. Top image: it will transform a landfill site in Iceland
The Reinventing Cities programme encourages projects to minimise both embodied carbon – emissions generated during material production and construction – and operational carbon, which are emissions caused by the building's usage.
Jakob+MacFarlane and T.ark are aiming for net-zero emissions, which involves eliminating all possible emissions and offsetting any that cannot be eliminated by removing carbon from the atmosphere.
CLT will reduce embodied carbon "by almost 80 per cent"
According to Jakob+MacFarlane, this will be achieved in part by using a prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure.
"The CLT construction reduces the embodied carbon of external walls by almost 80 per cent compared to a typical concrete structure used in Iceland," the studio explained.
"The [remaining] embodied emissions will be offset through either wetland recovery or forestry, making the building effectively carbon neutral."
Among the other materials used in the building will be Panoblocs, a type of prefabricated and insulated wall panel with a wooden exterior, which can be easily removed and adapted.
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Living Landscapes' operational carbon emissions are expected to be minimal, due to high levels of insulation and use of waste-heat recovery systems and thermostat-controlled underfloor heating.
However, the energy it will require will be sourced from an existing district electricity and heat network powered by renewable hydropower and geothermal energy sources.
Nature to be reintroduced to site
Reintroducing nature to the old landfill site will also be a key part of the scheme. There will be an undulating roof garden and farm, alongside a large central courtyard designed as a communal park for the residents.
"The idea of living with and around nature is key to our project," said Jakob+MacFarlane.
The courtyard will be modelled on Icelandic landscapes, incorporating a mix of rocks, water and plants, which is hoped to encourage insects and birds to occupy the site.
"We aim to enable a fully functioning local ecosystem composed of earth and rocks, water and plants, insects and birds," the studio explained. "Protected from freezing by geothermal heat, this green oasis will develop its own microclimate and, hopefully, become a new generator of life."
[ 
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Living Landscape is now being continually developed by Jakob+MacFarlane and T.ark with landscape architects Landslag and environmental experts EFLA.
Another winner of the Reinventing Cities competition was architect Arney Fender Katsalidis, who is developing a low-carbon neighbourhood in Rome. The mixed-use project will transform a disused railway site, make use of biomaterials and will feature reversible buildings.
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#residential #publicandleisure #all #architecture #iceland #reykjavík #jakobmacfarlane #woodenarchitecture #crosslaminatedtimber #masstimber #reinventingcities #carbonneutraldesign
Eco-design studio Biobased Creations has built a showhome almost entirely from biomaterials including wood, mycelium, seaweed, straw and vegetable fibres as well as earth and sewage.
Unveiled at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven this week, the house showcases 100 different plant-based or natural materials that are either commercially available already or coming to market soon.
The house is built from 100 different natural materials
The only non-bio materials in the timber-framed house are metal screw fixings and glass windows.
"We used 100 bio-based materials because we wanted to show what is possible," explained Biobased Creations co-founder Lucas De Man. "It's an exhibition in the shape of a house."
It showcases 100 different biomaterials, including earth, plants and fungi
The project is called The Exploded View Beyond Building, although Dutch Design Week calls it The Embassy of Circular and Biobased Building.
The designers' aim is to show how eco-materials can be used in the construction of ordinary homes. All the materials used are listed on the projects' website.
Materials include lime plaster coloured with algae and an algae textile screen
The house, which features a modular design, was mostly built in a factory. It has a layout based on a standard grid so it could become a template for a variety of different house designs.
"If we want to build a million houses here in Holland in the next 10 years, then the design has to be scalable," said De Man. "So it has to come from the factory and it has to be sustainable."
The bathroom exterior tiles are 3D printed from sewage sludge and algae
"Some people think it's too expensive to be modular and sustainable, but it's actually cheaper," he told Dezeen. "Non-sustainable modular is way more expensive."
The building, which has been erected at Eindhoven's Strijp-S district for the duration of Dutch Design Week, is also designed to be circular.
The structural timber frame is demountable so the house could be relocated or recycled in the future.
The toilet is framed by a 3D printed wall of filtered sewage residue
Biomaterials provide surfaces both inside and outside the house.
They cover walls, floors and ceilings, and are also used for furnishings including tableware and bedding.
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These materials are presented in different categories relating to their material properties.
The bathroom features materials made from waste, with examples including blue wall tiles made from sewage and algae, and a compost toilet framed by a wall of 3D-printed sewage sludge.
Tableware is made from food products including eggs and oyster shells
The kitchen showcases materials made from food and plants and includes tableware made from plants and food waste including plates made from eggshells and beakers from 3D-printed seaweed.
The ceiling is a material made from flowers, the walls are lined with grass and the door is clad in Totomoxtle, a wood veneer that promotes biodiversity because it is made from heirloom corn species.
Linen coloured with waste from the metal industry is hung on the wall in the kitchen
Upstairs, elements on display include insulation made from reeds, seaweed wall tiles, acoustic wall panelling made from bioplastic and a bed made from natural rubber and linen.
There's also a whole room dedicated to products derived from bacteria and fungus. Mycelium is used to create wall tiles, insulation and a composite flooring.
A wall of mycelium tiles is fire-retardant and water-resistant
This material is one that both De Man and Pascal Leboucq, lead designer for Biobased Creations, were already familiar with. The pair previously worked on The Growing Pavilion, a mycelium structure presented at Dutch Design Week in 2019.
"We're going to solve a lot of problems by reinventing bacteria," said De Man. "In Holland, they are now making bacteria that can eat plastic and give back oxygen."
The bed combines a natural rubber mattress with linen fabric
An air filtration system integrates plants and nutshells while rainwater is harvested and reused. The house also features six different roof types, including two types of green roof and paving that absorbs rainwater.
De Man hopes the project will show that biomaterials are a viable option for new housing developments.
"When we built The Growing Pavilion two years ago, a lot of people said it was too futuristic. This time we've created a house that is realistic and scaleable."
Straw cladding is used on the outside of the house
The house is on show for the duration of Dutch Design Week. After that it will be demounted and reassembled at the Floriade Expo, a horticultural exhibition taking place in 2022.
Dutch Design Week runs from 16 to 24 October 2021 at venues across Eindhoven. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
Photography is by Oscar Vinck and Jeroenvander Wielen.
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#residential #all #architecture #videos #wood #dutchdesignweek #straw #houses #seaweed #architecturevideos #mycelium #sustainablearchitecture #biomaterials
A trio of vaulted wooden structures connected by an exterior walkway make up this house on the island of Chiloé, Chile, by local firm Edward Rojas Arquitectos.
Casa Abovedada, which means "Vaulted House", sits on a sloped site in Nercón – a small community outside the city of Castro, the capital of Chiloé province and the architect's home base.
Casa Abovedada comprises three wooden volumes with vaulted roofs
The island of Chiloé is known for its unique style of wooden buildings, known as Chilotan architecture, and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The style is influenced both by indigenous Chilean buildings, and the wooden houses and churches built by Jesuit missionaries as early as the 17th Century.
Corridors connect the house's three volumes
In reference to this vernacular, Edward Rojas Arquitectos separated Casa Abovedada into three similar volumes, each of which is topped by a vaulted roof and covered in wooden shingles typical to the region.
To make the most of the home's picturesque setting, the blocks are splayed out to face in different directions.
Arched windows add a contemporary twist to the island of Chiloé's traditional architecture style
"Abovedada House is located on a high-rise terrain with good sun and extraordinary views of the landscape," said the firm.
"[Its] volumes are interconnected by corridors – galleries and terraces that look at the landscape that draws on the horizon the Chilean Patagonia."
Wood is also used throughout the interior, also referencing the local Chilotan architecture
Each end of the home contains bedrooms, with the parents' quarters in the northern block while their children sleep on the opposite side.
The central space is occupied by the communal areas, offering an intermediate area for the family to come together.
The vaulted tops of the blocks are each used for different purposes.
Above the owners' bedroom, the architects included a library and home office. In the children's wing, there are two guest bedrooms on the upper floor.
Stained glass windows enliven the home's central area
"In the central area, enriched by stained glass windows, a mezzanine emphasises the height and the vault as protagonists of the house," said Edward Rojas Arquitectos.
Although the home draws heavily from the influence of the area's traditional architecture, its simplified shape and details like arched or even circular openings lend the project a contemporary appearance.
The central volume acts as a family gathering space, between the bedrooms on either side
The home is almost entirely built of wood, including its structure, exterior cladding, and interior finishes.
According to Edward Rojas Arquitectos, the use of wood and traditional building materials is a central focus of the studio.
The upper level of each volume is designated for a different use
"The architecture that we make, must be born from the context of the work, interpreting the ancestral values of the architecture of the South, and through them projecting contemporary works," the firm said.
Other projects on the remote and rugged island of Chiloé include a self-built retreat for architect Guillermo Acuña with striking red interiors and a hotel by Mobil Arquitectos.
The photography is by Antonella Torti.
Project credits:
Lead architects: Edward Roja Vega, Esteban Uribe Mansilla
Project team: Carolina Vidal, Valentina Riquelme Quintanilla, Andrea Mansilla Barra
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Paraguayan architecture office Bauen has completed a house in the forests of Guaira, which cantilevers off three concrete walls to project over the site's steep and lush landscape.
Casa Himmel, or Cloud House, was designed for a Paraguayan couple to settle down in for their retirement.
Casa Himmel is situated on a remote mountain site
After identifying a steep and isolated site in the Guaira region, roughly 200 kilometres from the capital city Asunción, they enlisted local architects Bauen with the brief that the home should be as light on the landscape as possible.
"The clients found the ideal spot in a remote region, in which the main character would not be the architecture but the landscape itself," said Bauen's founder Aldo Cristaldo Kegler. "Keeping in mind these premises, 90 per cent of the house was already solved."
The building's steel structure cantilevers from three concrete walls
Three concrete walls are set into the slope, creating a platform from which steel-and-glass structure cantilevers.
Because of the difficult access to the site, Bauen chose to use shorter steel sections that would be easier to transport.
A portion of the home projects dramatically towards the landscape
According to the architects, the primary structure was manufactured in 60 days, and assembled in only seven using bolted connections.
"The structural spans become the windows and are simply closed with glass," explained Kegler. "Every square metre of the project allows the striking surrounding view to pass through."
Large windows are fitted between the steel elements
Roughly cross-shaped in plan, the interior living spaces are delineated by only a few walls.
Running perpendicular to the slope, the home's open-concept kitchen, living and dining room welcome visitors as soon as they enter through the front door.
On either side of this volume are the private areas: the owner's living quarters to one side, and a home gym on the other.
At the highest point of the building, a covered terrace looks out over the mountainous landscape beyond. An exterior staircase leads up to a secondary roof terrace that is open to the elements.
The home has minimal interiors
Bauen's interiors were completed in a minimal palette of reflective white surfaces, with little furniture or other elements to distract from the views.
"Having the advantage of a 360-degree view of the mountain range, designing the house was not an arduous task," Kegler said.
Rooms open onto balconies that surround the house
Other projects in Paraguay include a home with a mechanically operable roof that tilts open like the lid of a box, by Javier Corvalán, and a synagogue in Asunción that was completed out of board-marked concrete and weathering steel.
The photography is byFederico Cairoli.
Project credits:
Lead architect: Aldo Cristaldo Kegler
Other participants: Dina Agüero, Luz Serena Hiebl, Saúl Acosta, Fátima Estigarribia
Structure calculations: Alfredo Espínola
Structural assembly: Metales Procesados
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#residential #all #architecture #steel #houses #cantilevers #paraguay
Large stones conceal a single column supporting the upper level of this concrete house near Porto Alegre, Brazil, configured to protect the roots of a centennial fig tree.
Designed by local architects Stemmer Rodrigues, the Casa Figueira – or Fig House – is a modernist-style concrete house in Eldorado do Sul, a residential community that sits across the Guaiaba Lake from Porto Alegre.
Fig House looks as if it is supported by natural stones
The home's main feature is the overhanging second floor, which defines the driveway and forms a passage through to the back yard.
This windowless concrete volume is made to appear as if supported by natural stones that contrast the facade's smooth finish.
Sliding glass walls offer views towards a nearby canal
This formation conceals a single column, which was placed to avoid disrupting the roots of a nearby fig tree that lends the house its name.
"The composition of the front facade is a harmony of contrasts between the rigidity of the concrete and the large rock that simulates the support of the volume and hides the pillar, paying homage to a strong element of the regional landscape," explained Stemmer Rodrigues.
The features minimal interiors to complement its modernist form
The only other elements visible on the facade are the front door, which is marked by a curved concrete wall, and the wooden garage door.
On the ground floor, Stemmer Rodrigues laid out an open-concept kitchen, living and dining room to face views of the tranquil waterfront beyond the edge of the property.
"The facade facing the street was designed to block the south wind, and the views are therefore turned to the opposite direction, maximising the contact with the canal water, energy efficiency, and privacy," the architects said.
Two sides of this volume are enclosed with full-height sliding glass walls. Immediately outside of them, an overhanging weathered steel canopy avoids the sun directly hitting the glazed surfaces.
Landscaping leads down to a boat dock on the canal
The upper level runs parallel to the waterfront, and contains four bedrooms. The north side of the home, facing away from the street, is clad in ipe – a traditional Brazilian wood prized for its vibrant colour and durability.
A few steps away from the main building is a pavilion containing a secondary kitchen and dining area. This stone building is slightly lower than the rest of the property and is fronted by a walkway leading to a boat launch.
The property's two pavilions face each other across the garden
Porto Alegre is the capital of the Brazilian province of Rio Grande do Sul. Other projects in the area include a house for a yoga teacher also by Stemmer Rodrigues, and a house for a car collector featuring a glass-bottomed pool that offers views of the garage below.
The photography is byMarcelo Donadussi.
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#residential #all #architecture #concrete #stone #brazil #houses #brazilianhouses #waterfrontproperties #concretehouses #portoalegre
Architecture office Studio Bua has converted an abandoned farm building in Iceland into an artist's studio and residence, featuring a new gabled volume slotted inside the existing walls.
Studio Bua, which has offices in London and Oslo, was asked to develop a proposal for revitalising a cluster of former farm buildings overlooking the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve in western Iceland.
Studio Bua has converted an abandoned farm building in Iceland
"Our first proposal was to link the existing spaces to create a more cohesive landscape with a 'community' of buildings for the family and their friends to occupy," said Studio Bua. "Together they create the place and make its history evident."
The first phase of the project involved converting the derelict concrete barn into an artist's studio and holiday home for the owners.
The house overlooks the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve
The existing barn's robust concrete structure was retained and adapted to accommodate a kitchen and dining area alongside a double-height studio space.
Additional single-storey walls adjoining the main structure had been constructed without foundations and were therefore deemed too fragile to reuse. Instead, they are left as they were found, forming a perimeter around an open courtyard.
A new gabled volume is slotted inside the old farm's walls
The ground floor is designed to provide a sequence of utilitarian spaces with good natural light and views of the surrounding landscape through new and existing openings.
"On the ground floor in the original concrete structure we made openings only where it was necessary, mostly because the walls are not reinforced and opening further would compromise the structure," the architects explained.
The building functions as a holiday home for the owners
"We added two new openings because we needed to let more light into the kitchen and to add an entrance to the studio, to get in large artworks."
The ground-floor spaces feature a palette of simple and practical materials including an exposed concrete floor and surfaces covered with stained birch plywood.
The new construction has a timber-framed structure
The architects collaborated with the client, who had previously used stained plywood in her practice, to develop pigments that would evoke colours found in the surrounding countryside.
A timber-framed structure added above the existing ground floor contains the building's more domestic spaces, including a small sitting room, two double bedrooms and a bathroom.
There is also an artist's studio
The extension's gabled form mirrors the profile of the original concrete structure, while its homogenous, corrugated-metal cladding distinguishes it as a new addition.
A staircase positioned in one corner of the building ascends to the sitting room, which is lined with a row of windows looking out across the beach and the fjord beyond.
This mezzanine space overlooks the dining area below, which is flanked by a large opening in the original gable that once allowed hay to be hoisted into the barn.
The muted palette used upstairs is informed by local vernacular interiors, and includes walls and flooring covered with white-stained pine boards.
Stained birch plywood lines the walls
Various reclaimed materials are used throughout the project, including plywood handrails on the first floor made using offcuts from the ground-floor cladding.
Outdoor furniture was produced using concrete salvaged from the new openings created in the existing walls, while all the internal doors, as well as the bathroom sink, were sourced from a recycling centre in Reykjavik.
The dining area is flanked by a large opening
Studio Bua was founded in 2017 by Mark Smyth, Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir and Giambattista Zaccariotto.
The studio's name derives from the Icelandic word for "inhabit" and its architectural approach focuses on elevating everyday spaces through a combination of craftsmanship, technology and a hands-on approach to design and construction. The team also renovated a guesthouse in the same part of Iceland as the holiday home.
The photography is byMarino Thorlacius.
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#residential #all #architecture #iceland #houses #studios #culturalbuildings #adaptivereuse #studiobua
American practice HK Associates has completed a geometric concrete home on a desert site at the base of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona.
Deep cuts in the cuboid form of Ventana House create a series of shaded terraces and covered balconies for the home, which the local practice has designed to be a "window onto the desert".
HK Associates designed the home with a covered entryway
"The two-storey dwelling rises from its mountainside setting like a geological outcropping, a rugged exterior form shaped from within by openings that afford panoramic views," described the practice.
A cut in the southwest corner of the home's ground floor creates a covered entryway. This leads into a double-height, skylit gallery space crossed by a small bridge above and containing a perforated steel staircase that allows light to filter through.
A large living space overlooks rocky terrain
The less-exposed ground floor contains a garage, media room and gym alongside a guest bedroom and bathroom. An external staircase along the eastern edge of the home provides direct access up to a first-floor terrace.
On this upper level, the home has been opened-up to create a large living, kitchen and dining space between two external terraces, contrasted by a more private block to the east containing two en-suite bedrooms and a study.
Minimal interiors are found in the kitchen
Throughout the home, large windows and glazed sliding doors frame views out onto the desert site, with larger openings set in deep recesses to prevent glare and overheating from the harsh sun.
"The spatial dialogue between interior volume and exterior form unfolds in a cinematic montage that complements the picture-window views," said the practice.
Referencing the silhouettes of the surrounding mountainous, the living areas sit beneath a sloped alder wood ceiling that subtly focuses the space towards the south-facing terrace. A large skylight along one edge illuminates the centre of the plan.
"The ceiling becomes an organising datum, mapping activities and interactions below: dining, cooking, conversing and relaxing," the practice continued.
The house features several glazed sliding doors
The interiors have been minimally detailed, with white wall surfaces and concealed built-in storage areas intended to create a "subtle backdrop" to the desert views.
"The interior of the home reveals itself as a series of discretely carved volumes proportioned in relationship to exterior apertures," said the practice.
A discrete fire pit cuts through the terrace
In the entrance lobby, these white surfaces are contrasted by warm wooden panelling that covers the wall and ceiling, as well as creating a small bench.
Other projects recently completed in the Arizona desert include a courtyard home with white stucco walls by architecture studio The Ranch Mine.
The photography is byEma Peter.
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#residential #all #architecture #usa #arizona #deserts #houses #americanhouses #concretehouses
American practice Studio Upwall Architects has designed a house on a desert site in Moab, Utah, sheltered from the harsh climate by a weathering steel roof.
Overlooking panoramic views of red rock cliffs, the rusted steel and weathered wood cladding of Sunny Acres Residence was chosen by the Washington-based practice to reference the colour palette and texture of its surroundings.
Sunny Acres Residence and a neighbouring garage are clad in weathering steel to match the desert landscape
The simple arrangement of the 185-square-metre home sees bedrooms and utility spaces in its northern half, and a large living, kitchen and dining area facing south, protected from the sun by the metal roof's large overhang.
"The home is simple in function and form with an asymmetric gable roof volume that is extruded along the main axis of the house to form an exterior shroud," said Studio Upwall Architects.
The two buildings have gabled roofs that overhang outdoor spaces
"The southern wall, punctuated with a series of glass doors and windows designed to provide a connection to the landscape and panoramic views, is set in under the deep overhang of the roof to deliver shade in the hottest months."
This overhanging roof form continues downwards with two wall sections, one solid and one fitted with louvres, at either end of the roof to further shade the large windows.
Smooth concrete patios are used as outdoor dining areas
Extending from the interior, the smooth concrete floor creates a patio that wraps around the southern end of the home, with outdoor seating areas oriented towards the La Sal Mountains and sunrise to the east, and sunset over the Utah Cliffs to the west.
Grey render covers the exterior, with openings surrounded by weathered wood cladding to creating a softer texture where the home is entered. A sliding, slatted door on the eastern elevation enables further control of the sunlight.
Inside, white walls and a pitched ceiling brings a feeling of lightness and space, with simple fittings focusing attention on the framed views of the landscape.
A ladder leads up to a mezzanine loft above the kitchen area, creating a more intimate space for reading and reflection away from the brightness and open views of the ground floor.
The house features neutral interiors
Along the northern edge, the roof extends down to provide greater privacy in the bedroom and bathroom spaces, which feature smaller horizontal windows.
Opposite, a small garage building has been designed with the same form and weathered exterior finishes to mirror the main home.
White walls are set against darker cabinetry in the kitchen
Other projects recently completed in Utah include a charred wood home by Klima Architecture and a cedar-clad courtyard home by Kipp Edick and Joe Sadoski, both located close to the Wasatch Mountains.
The photography is byCity Home Collective.
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#residential #all #architecture #weatheringsteel #usa #houses #utah #americanhouses
A quartet of houses designed by local firm Logan Architecture and built from 3D-printed concrete by construction tech company ICON has completed in Austin, Texas.
The East 17th Street Residences in East Austin are now on the market, which construction company ICON and developer 3strands claim is a first. "They are the first 3D-printed homes for sale in the US and ready for move-in," ICON told Dezeen.
The East 17th Street Residences development includes four homes of varying sizes and layouts
The four dwellings have ground-floor walls built using ICON's Vulcan construction system, which uses a robotic armature to layer Portland-cement-based material Lavacrete into striated surfaces.
ICON claims that this process creates a stronger and longer-lasting building material compared to traditional techniques, and makes the homes tougher in the face of extreme weather.
Each of the houses has a ground floor built using an additive manufacturing technique
"3D-printing technology provides safer, more resilient homes that are designed to withstand fire, flood, wind and other natural disasters better than conventionally built homes," said the company.
The 3D-printed elements for the development, which comprises two two-bedroom homes and two four-bedroom homes, were completed in March 2021. It took five to seven days to print each house.
Black standing-seam metal clads the timber-framed upper floors
Although differing in size and layout, all four of the 3D-printed homes have the same external and internal features.
Black standing-seam metal clads the timber-framed upper floors and roofs, while large porches have red cedar undersides.
The houses' interiors were designed by Austin-based Claire Zinnecker, who referenced southwestern design when creating the spaces.
"Drawing inspiration from the homes' natural structural materials, wood, metal and concrete, she chose a simplified colour palette of green, white and terracotta and fixtures that play off the natural materials," ICON said.
Minimal interiors by Claire Zinnecker draw influences from southwestern design
The open-plan spaces have a neutral palette, with wood cabinetry, woven rugs and touches of greenery.
Zinnecker also incorporated glazed saltillo tiles from her collection for local company Clay Imports into some of the homes.
Kitchens feature wooden cabinetry and marble countertops
Flooring downstairs is finished with a concrete overlay, while engineered wood is used upstairs. Double glazing, tankless water heaters and variable capacity AC systems are all included to help with energy efficiency.
Of the small development, the two-bedroom properties are currently under contract, but both of the four-bedroom houses are still available.
The striations created by the printing process are visible on the interior walls
3D-printed homes are popping up all over the world, built using a variety of materials that range from bioplastic to clay, and even waste from rice production.
ICON's 3D-printing technology is also being used to build a prototype habitat for Mars, designed by architecture firm BIG in collaboration with NASA.
The company is also working with the space agency on robotic construction techniques for the Moon, and planned a community of affordable printed houses in Latin America with Fuseproject.
Photography is byRegan Morton Photography.
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#residential #all #architecture #news #usa #houses #3dprinting #texas #austin #americanhouses #3dprintedhouses #icon
This family house in Quebec is modelled on the region's vernacular architecture and was designed to Passive House standards of energy efficiency.
Canadian architecture firm L'Abri and contractor Construction Rocket collaborated closely on the creation of the Saltbox Passive House, the primary residence for a family of four.
Saltbox Passive House nestles into a slope near Bremont, Quebec
Located on the southern flank of Mont Gale in Bromont, in the Eastern Townships, the 3,100-square-foot home is built over three levels into the sloping 2.5-acre site.
The project achieved LEED Platinum and PHIUS 2018+ certifications, becoming the third house in Quebec to obtain Passive House certification.
The house is split over three levels, the lowest of which is partially buried
Passivhaus, as it's also known, is a high-performance building standard that originated in Germany three decades ago.
Qualifying buildings are highly energy efficient and sustainable, achieving heating and cooling energy savings of around 80 per cent.
"The basic principles of the standard are simple: a highly insulated and very airtight envelope, superior heat recovery of the mechanical ventilation system and a design which optimises the orientation and sizing of openings to promote passive heating of the building," said L'Abri.
The entrance on the middle level leads into a double-height living space
This residence was designed to reference the region's historic saltbox-style houses, which originated in 17th-century New England and are still prevalent in this part of Canada.
Situated in a meadow surrounded by protected woodland, the home is laid out in a L-shape and has different roof styles over its perpendicular arms.
Large windows in the dining room offer views of meadows and woodland
"The nature of the site and the local vernacular architecture prompted us to turn to a historical form," said the studio.
"With a gable roof on the main section and single pitch roof on the lower section, this colonial style takes its name from the lidded containers where salt was once kept above the hearth to keep it dry."
Wooden furniture adds visual warmth to the white interiors
Nestled into the slope, the house faces south to aid passive solar heating and make the most of views.
Retaining walls made from excavated stone are partially hidden by the landscape, as is a basement garage that only appears on the approach up the gravel driveway.
The ground-floor entrance is marked by a panel of burned cedar cladding – a stark contrast to the rest of the white wood-faced exterior.
The lobby leads through to a central double-height room that the architects describe as the heart of the home.
The kitchen is part of a central core that is topped with a mezzanine office space
Occupying the southern wing of the L, this space contains the kitchen, living and dining areas, bathed in light from large windows on three sides.
A pantry is tucked behind the kitchen, which is topped by a mezzanine office accessed from the level above, while a media room and guest room join a bathroom and laundry in the other wing.
Bedroom windows are smaller to reduce heat loss
The pocket of outdoor space formed by the building's shape is accessed from both wings and covered by a wooden pergola, shading an al fresco dining area and passively regulating the internal temperature.
Upstairs, three bedrooms and two bathrooms are lined up under the gabled steel roof, connected by a corridor on one side.
The upstairs corridor connects three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Thin window bands in the children's rooms frame forest views and minimise heat loss on the northern facade.
The majority of the rooms have white walls, black window frames and polished concrete floors. Wooden furniture, kitchen fixtures, stair treads and bannisters add touches of visual warmth.
A blackened cedar panel marks the entrance on the white-painted exterior
The architects and contractor worked with a consultant from PHIUS, North America's largest Passive House Certification, during the design and construction of the house.
Decisions were tested using an energy model, informing the choice of a double-stud structure for above-ground walls and triple-glazed UPVC windows.
The house was designed to Passive House standards of energy efficiency
Wood siding and cellulose insulation also helped to reduce the building's carbon footprint.
"This experience confirmed to us that a building can be both aesthetic, in harmony with its environment and extremely efficient," said L'Abri.
The design is modelled on the region's rural vernacular architecture
Although it originated in Germany, Passivhaus has gained traction in North America as a standard for many homes and other types of buildings.
Recently completed examples include a cidery in New York's Catskills Mountains, a townhouse in Brooklyn, and a residence designed by students in South Dakota.
The world's tallest Passivhaus building is also planned to be constructed in Vancouver.
The photography is byRaphaël Thibodeau.
Project credits:
Architects: L'Abri
Architecture team: Francis M Labrecque, Jérôme Codère, Vincent Pasquier, Antoine Mathys
Contractor: Construction Rocket
PHIUS consultant: Sarah Cobb
The post L'Abri and Construction Rocket complete Saltbox Passive House in Quebec appeared first on Dezeen.
#residential #all #architecture #houses #canada #québec #canadianhouses #passivhaus
Brazilian architecture firm Superlimão has overhauled a large home in São Paulo, relocating the staircase to the facade and painting the front a deep shade of red.
The Yoga House project was completed for an enterprising couple that wanted to convert a portion of their home into a yoga studio, a co-working space and a rental bedroom, all on the same property.
Superlimão relocated the staircase during the renovation of the house
The original building was constructed in the 1990s and is located in Vila Madalena, a trendy area of São Paulo.
"[The] project had to accommodate a large room for classes, a reception area on the ground floor, a studio and co-working area on the top floor, and a room for rental in the old smaller house in the back," the team explained. On completion, the project encompasses an area of 310 square metres.
The red front of the house contrasts with a more muted palette behind
In order to create more room inside the house, the Superlimão team relocated the staircase to the front of the building, facing the street.
This allows separate access to visitors using the ground floor spaces and those going upstairs.
The new yoga studio features sliding screen doors
The steel structure was painted red, along with the rest of the exterior of the house.
By removing walls within the home as well as the staircase, Superlimão was able to bring much more light to the interiors.
The yoga studio and its associated functions occupy the ground floor, while the co-working area is found upstairs.
A formerly tiled area between the main home and the guest house was converted into a garden, giving yogis a view of the outdoors as they practice.
Yogis have a garden view while they practice
"The ceramic tiles of the outdoor area were replaced by a garden with relaxation areas, featuring an architectural style that conveys a calm and soothing environment, with a more neutral and cosy colour palette and natural elements," explained Superlimão.
The outside area is designed to be relaxing
"The light-colored walls and curved corners helped heighten the warm and welcoming feel of the environment," the team added.
A much more muted palette indoors contrasts the bright red facade, lending the spaces a bright and welcoming feeling.
The building accommodates a co-working space upstairs
Superlimão is based in São Paulo and has completed several other projects in the city, including the conversion of an old warehouse into a minimalist dental studio and a historic apartment in which vivid colors were combined with traditional building elements.
The photography is byIsrael Gollino.
Project credits:
Team: Thiago Rodrigues, Lula Gouveia, Antonio Carlos Figueira de Mello, Inaiá Botura, Viviane Camilli
The post Superlimão converts single-family home for São Paulo couple's multiple uses appeared first on Dezeen.
#residential #all #architecture #brazil #sãopaulo #houses #staircases #redbuildings #brazilianhouses #coworking #yoga
Australian studio Nielsen Jenkins has completed a "tough" family home with lush green courtyards protected from extreme bushfires by high blockwork walls.
Mt Coot-Tha House sits on a challenging site characterised by a steep slope at the foot of Mt Coot-Tha, in the suburb Brisbane of Bardon.
Faced with the requirements of the second-highest bushfire attack level (BAL40), the local studio designed the home as a series of low, sloping units linked by a triple-height, "civic-scaled" staircase block that steps up the forested site.
Mt Coot-Tha House is located on a forested site at the foot of a mountain
"An efficient stairway axis at the scale of the gum forest runs directly into the contour, and an informal meandering path across the plan allows for functional plateaus or occupiable contours," Nielsen Jenkins explained.
This layout provides a garage at ground floor level, a large living, dining and kitchen area on the first floor and an area for the main bedrooms on the second floor.
Floors are linked by a triple-height staircase block
Due to the steepness of the slope, the first floor features a series of smaller level changes, stepping up from a living area and balcony towards a kitchen overlooked by a large internal courtyard.
"These smaller sectional shifts allow a grounded courtyard space adjacent to the living area of the house becomes a kind of 'village green' around which the rituals of daily life are lived," described the studio.
The building features a corrugated metal facade on top of a blockwork base
The sloping rooflines on each block follow the slope of the site upwards, each clad with corrugated metal atop a blockwork base.
All of these material choices, as well as those in the interior, were made in accordance with the BAL40 rating, which also necessitated that the gaps around openings be no greater than three millimetres.
"Robust and prosaic materials have been detailed in a manner which will require no maintenance moving forward, and will let the building continue to settle into the hill over time," explained Nielsen Jenkins.
Internally the exposed blockwork of the central staircase form is contrasted by white walls and wooden floors and furniture.
The kitchen overlooks a large internal courtyard
Taking advantage of the frequent changes in level, a mix of high panoramic windows, skylights and carefully-framed openings aim to capture the feeling of "leaning back" to look at the forest. The apertures are aligned with the tree trunks on the lower levels and the canopy on the upper level.
Around the perimeter of the house a series of "wet walls" have been pulled away to deal with overland water flow, doubling as small, flat courtyard areas that mimic clearings in the densely vegetated forest.
High panoramic windows allow residents to take in the forest
Mt Coot-Tha home was recently longlisted in the rural house category of this year's Dezeen Awards.
Other nominated projects include a cave-like house by Mold Architects that's embedded into a hill overlooking the Mediterranean.
The photography is byTom Ross.
The post Nielsen Jenkins designs Brisbane home to withstand bushfires appeared first on Dezeen.
#residential #all #architecture #brisbane #australia #houses #australianhouses
Ismail Solehudin Architecture has designed a red metal and brick boarding house in Indonesia where the stairs serve as both a corridor and a light-filled social space.
Titled the Stack By Step Red Zone Boarding House, the building was designed for a small block in the city of Bogor, West Java, necessitating a creative floor plan to squeeze in 11 dormitory rooms.
The Stack By Step Red Zone Boarding House is in a crowded urban area in Bogor, West Java
Ismail Solehudin Architecture's solution was to eschew the common style of having a single- or double-loaded corridor for a multiple-occupancy residence.
Instead, they focused on the stairwell as the one site of horizontal and vertical circulation between the units.
The boarding house is structured around a communal staircase
"The advantage of the circulation system that we used, compared to boarding house or apartment designs that use a double-loaded corridor circulation system, is that this building has a smaller area with the same number of units," studio founder Ismail Solehudin told Dezeen.
The boarding house has 178 square metres of built area, incorporating the 10-metre-square rooms plus communal space, a parking area and a service area.
Perforated metal and transparent roof sections allow light to flood into the stair area
So the stairs would be an attractive social area, the architects turned them into a sculptural element using a suspended steel structure.
The perforated metal steps and skylights allows light to flood into the space.
The feature provides "an iconic and memorable experience for the residents", according to Solehudin, with nooks, tables and benches creating places to linger.
An additional architectural statement is the red-coloured facade, which the the studio chose for its intensity.
Ismail Solehudin Architecture came up with a sculptural white metal staircase design
To reflect its function as a boarding house, the team also wanted the outside of the building to give the impression of a "cumulative stacked house" — an image that is enhanced by the fragmented sloping roof.
"The attractive shapes and contrasting colours of the environment make it look like a sculpture and its inhabitants seem to live in a sculpture," Solehudin said.
Brick, red metal and greenery provide contrasting textures
The roof design has the added benefit of suiting the tropical climate and potentially creating more air circulation inside of the building.
To further aid the flow of air, the building is set back on every side, creating a void between neighbouring structures.
There are 11 dormitory rooms with beds, desks, closets and en-suites
It has a concrete and steel structure, with exposed brickwork creating a textural contrast against the red metal walls. The facade and roof are Zincalume-coated steel, a material chosen for its lightness.
"Choosing lightweight roofs and walls is a strategy to reduce the load on the substructure, which can reduce the volume of concrete when compared to three-storey buildings with general materials," Solehudin said.
The exterior of the building is meant to look like stacked houses
The exposed materials also minimise the need for maintenance, as they can be left to age naturally without repainting.
In addition to the stairs, the building has communal areas on its ground floor, in the empty space formed by pilotis. This is used by the residents as a parking area, laundry and pantry.
The red colour was chosen for its vibrancy
Within each of the 10.3-square-metre rooms is a private bathroom and mini walk-in closet.
Stack By Step Red Zone Boarding House was completed in 2021. Other recent projects in Indonesia include Ramboll's series of earthquake-proof prototype houses made of bamboo on Lombok and AGo Architects' skinny house in South Jakarta.
The photography is byMario Wibowo Photography and Andhi Prayitno.
Project credits
Principal architect: Ismail Solehudin
Assistant architect: Jamilah Uswah
Structural engineer: Setyadi Muztaba
Contractor: Wani Build
Project manager: Ali Yazid Bustomi
Site manager: Zaini Tamrin
The post Ismail Solehudin Architecture builds bright red Indonesian boarding house appeared first on Dezeen.
#residential #all #architecture #indonesia #housing #redbuildings
In June alone, new PV systems totaling 430 MW were connected to the German grid. The country\'s cumulative operational PV capacity reached 55.3 GW at the end of June.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/08/02/germany-installed-2-75-gw-of-pv-in-first-half-of-2021/
#residential, #industrial, #commercial, #utility, #scale, #pv, #markets
A leafy tree rises up through a circular opening in this Brazilian residence and yoga studio, which was designed by the architectural office of Stemmer Rodrigues.
The 350-square-metre home is located near Guaíba Lake in Eldorado do Sul, a town in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The project's name, Anada House, stems from a term commonly used in Hinduism to refer to "supreme bliss."
Anada House acts as a residence and a yoga studio
"The choice directly refers to the owner's wish of transforming her house into a bright space to live in and to receive students for yoga and meditation classes," said Stemmer Rodrigues, which is based in the nearby city of Porto Alegre.
Situated on a rectangular, 600-square-metre plot, the house rises two levels. Exterior walls consist of concrete, glass and wood.
A circular opening in its roof canopy allows a tree to grow through
On the front elevation, a curved walkway passes under a concrete canopy supported by angled columns, which are meant to resemble tree trunks. An elliptical, six-metre-wide cutout in the canopy accommodates a pau ferro tree.
Atop the canopy is a terrace that adjoins a slatted wall made of cumaru wood. One level higher, on the roof, is a cistern for rainwater collection.
Within the dwelling, there is a clear distinction between public and private areas.
The ground floor holds a yoga studio, kitchen, dining area and living room. On the upper level, one finds three bedrooms.
Light diffuses through frosted glass in the yoga studio
The interior offers a fluid layout and finishes such as exposed concrete and wooden flooring. In the yoga studio, diffused light enters through a curved wall made of frosted glass.
At the rear of the ground level, glazed doors open onto a marble terrace, where the homeowner can receive friends and family.
A marble terrace provides space for entertaining
Other projects in Rio Grande do Sul include a white concrete residence by Rafael Lorentz that stands on a hilltop, and a home by Hype Studio that has a glass-bottom pool and a garage for antique cars.
The photography is by Lucas Franck/NMLSS.
The post Stemmer Rodrigues creates Anada House for yoga teacher in Brazil appeared first on Dezeen.
#residential #all #architecture #wood #brazil #houses #brazilianhouses #yoga
American firms NAC Architecture and Bernards have used shipping containers to form private apartments in a Los Angeles facility for people experiencing homelessness.
The Hilda L Solis Care First Village – formerly known as the Vignes Street Interim Housing Project – is located on a 4.2-acre (1.7-hectare) site in Downtown Los Angeles. The complex is named after Hilda L Solis, who chairs the LA County Board of Supervisors.
The Hilda L Solis Care First Village is located close to Downtown Los Angeles
The facility was created by NAC Architecture, which has several offices in the US, and California-based Bernards, a builder and construction management company. The firms worked in collaboration with LA County's Department of Public Works.
Owned by the county, the site formerly held a parking lot and was slated to become a staging area for the construction of a new jail.
The complex comprises three-storey buildings created by stacking shipping containers
In 2019, plans shifted, as officials began to explore options for using the site for homeless housing. Reports estimate there are at least 60,000 people in the LA area who are experiencing homelessness.
When the coronavirus pandemic struck last year, the county moved forward with the housing plans.
"With the unhoused population growing and increasingly at risk during Covid-19, the need was immediate," the team said. "Schedule became a critical driver."
For the irregularly shaped site, the team conceived a series of single-level structures and a pair of multilevel buildings. Three different modular components were used: repurposed shipping containers, wood-framed prefabricated units, and mobile units.
Prefabricated modules and mobile units were also used to construct the housing project
The modular elements, which could be built off-site, helped speed up the project.
"Design, permitting, and construction of the project was aggressively accelerated to meet the heightened need for people living on Los Angeles' streets in the midst of a pandemic," said NAC Architecture.
Parking spots for residents and staff are included as part of the complex
Encompassing 64,000 square feet (5,946 square metres), the facility was completed in six months. It offers 232 housing units, along with a common building that holds a commercial kitchen, dining area, laundry facilities and administrative spaces.
The site also has landscaped courtyards, a dog park, and parking spots for staff and residents.
The facility features a commercial kitchen
The three-storey buildings are formed by the steel shipping crates, which are stacked atop each other.
"The shipping containers are stacked, fixed in place, and use an attached structure of open corridors and stairs to facilitate access to each unit," said NAC Architecture.
Yellow and orange define the shipping containers
The buildings are painted white and bright shades of yellow and orange.
To make the cargo containers suitable for habitation, the team cut large windows in them and fully insulated the walls and ceiling. Each container holds two living units measuring 135 square feet (12.5 square metres).
Apartments are equipped with a bed, microwave, mini-fridge and flat-screen TV
The apartments are equipped with a bed, microwave, mini-fridge, flat screen and private bathroom. The shipping containers were refurbished by Crate, a California company.
To help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, and to help increase the residents' autonomy, all units at the complex have their own heating and ventilation systems.
Each apartment also includes a sink and shower
The facility opened in April 2021 and reached full occupancy the following month.
According to the website for Hilda Solis, the project cost $57 million (£41.4 million), of which $51 million (£37 million) came from the federal government's Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The remainder was covered by the local government.
Orange and yellow brighten the walls of the shipping containers, while white is used across the rest of the complex
Other buildings for LA's homeless population include The Six building by Brooks + Scarpa, which offers low-cost, permanent housing for the homeless and disabled veterans, and LOHA's MLK1101 project, which was named housing project of the year in the 2019 Dezeen Awards.
The photography is by Dan Ursitti.
The post Shipping containers used to build LA housing complex for the homeless appeared first on Dezeen.
#residential #all #architecture #usa #shippingcontainers #prefabricatedbuildings #homelesshousing #downtownlosangeles #homelessness
Japan is aiming to have 108GW of solar capacity by 2030, 1.7 times higher than the country’s previous target.
https://www.pv-tech.org/japan-almost-doubles-its-solar-target-with-108gw-planned-by-2030/
#commercial, #solar, #targets, #japan, #rooftop, #residential, #news
Chinese company Broad Group has erected a modular 10-storey apartment block, named the Living Building, in just over a day in Changsha, China.
A timelapse released by Broad Group shows the 10-storey building being erected in China by a large team of workers and three cranes in 28 hours and 45 minutes.
According to the company, this is the "world's shortest construction period" for a building of this scale.
Tower built from stainless steel modules
The apartment block was assembled from standard container-sized modular units that were made in a factory by Broad Group and have a stainless steel structure.
Each module is 12.19 metres (40 feet) long, 2.44 metres (eight feet) wide and three metres (10 feet) high.
The container shaped modules stacked with one wall of each unit folding down to become a floor plate and create a column-free space that is 12 metres by 4.8-metres. Windows and balconies fold out from the unit to enclose the spaces.
"10 storeys can be erected in one day"
The modules are transported to the site with all the electric and internal finishes complete meaning that installation can happen rapidly.
"Extremely simple onsite installation: Just tighten bolts and connect [the] water and electricity, as fast as 10 storeys can be erected in one day," said the company.
The video shows the fully completed apartment block simply furnished with white walls and timber window frames and flooring.
Each of the modular units was made with walls and floors built from a stainless steel slab that is formed of two stainless steel plates separated by hundreds of stainless steel tubes.
According to the company, these B-core slabs are 10 times lighter and 100-times stronger than "conventional" floor plates.
Company claims system could be used for 200-storey skyscrapers
According to the company, the construction method could also be used to build public buildings or even skyscrapers.
"It is perfectly suitable for luxury residences, 200-storey skyscrapers, and also idea for public and residential buildings," said Broad Group.
Broad Group is a Chinese manufacturer of air conditioning units that has expanded into modular construction. In 2012 Broad Group unveiled plans to build a 220-storey skyscraper, which would be the tallest building in the world, from modular components in seven months.
However, the construction of the building stalled shortly after it began amid safety fears and a lack of government approval. It was later reported that the building's foundations had been repurposed as a fish farm.
The post Ten-storey stainless-steel apartment block built in 28 hours appeared first on Dezeen.
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