| But apart from the
architectural debate awareness sets trough about ecology and
responsibility for our environment and our health. In many ways innovations take place and new building techniques are developing using
for example agricultural (waste) materials and earth as healthy and
ecological building materials. Some age-old techniques and materials have
been re-discovered and based on modern demands innovations take place.
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| Mixing the light straw-clay
mixture. |
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Model of detail of wall and ceiling
filled with a light straw-clay mixture. |
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A revival and new
developments in earth architecture are on its way, including its
combination with agricultural (waste) products as an insulation material.
Such products include all sorts of straw, wood chips and other fibers like
hemp chips. This combined with a binder like clay or lime gives excellent
insulation material that can be formed in moulds around a wood frame (see
model of Andreas Dilthey of a wall and roof detail). |
| The same mixtures are used for
sheet materials, that are developing, and more products to support healthy
building are on the market. Also an assortment of machines are developed
such as for brick making (see right) and for mixing adobe. Further
investments could be made for the production of prefab house elements to
speed up the drying time of the insulation materials mentioned and make it
less labor intensive. |
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| Adobe-Brick-making machine.
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A greenhouse extends at the south side of the
house.
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In respect to design
principles major changes take place in response to environmental issues
such as energy saving through insulation or collecting of sun energy
through collectors or passively through greenhouses as an addition to the
south façade. Important for sun heat absorption is to have a mass to
store it and stabilize indoor room temperature. This mass is mostly the
house itself or the water of a collector. |
| Collecting rainwater or the water
household is another focus of awareness. This applies to public spaces or
for houses to collect the rainwater from the streets and roofs and use it
for plants or toilet. A rain ton is attached to many old houses. This
image (to the right) shows a well buildup on top of a large
underground concrete container. |
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| Well that collects the rainwater from
the roofs. |
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Adobe brick wall with wall heating. |
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Floor and wall heating is very
effective and affordable. With the inside skin of the space being warm,
room temperatures can remain relatively low. The floor and wall with
heating not only provide for the warmth; they also stabilize room
temperature through its masses. As this form of heating does not circulate
the dry air with dust, like radiators do, this kind of heating is ideal.
It radiates from a large surface, which has a relative low temperature.
Also the adobe bricks and plaster stabilize the air humidity much more
then any other building material. |
| Straw bale blocks are an ideal
insulation material, which through its size can be quickly build up into
walls. The thick walls are optimal for insulating warmth/cold and noise. A
straw bale wall is very solid if well applied and such a wall has a good
fire resistance once plastered. It takes experience to properly build a
straw bale wall and most of all the plaster finish requires knowledge of
both adobe and lime plaster (for the outside). At the same time such
knowledge becomes available through workshops, books and the Internet. |
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| Building the straw bale wall. |
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Contemporary step facade in Amsterdam. |
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With the development of Modernism into
Post-Modernism the architectural language restores its link with history.
The vernacular, local language becomes lifted from its underdog position
and reapplied in a contemporary context. With the return of meaningful
elements and their stylistic combinations architecture became revitalized
and poetic motives possible. With it the Modernistic phrase Form
follows function proved wrong as a function does not necessarily
requires a rectangular form and bringing forms from a level of syntax to
that of semantics does not necessarily have to be Will to form.
After all the communicative function of form has to be recognized. |
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