Archinect - Forum

“sustainable architecture” longevity

2024-02-28T04:00:35-05:00

Hi everyone,

I'm currently researching sustainable and durable architecture. Interestingly, my findings suggest that today's sustainable construction projects may be less durable than those from two centuries ago, with historical buildings having a seemingly lower environmental impact. However, my research is mostly theoretical, and I'm hoping to hear from those with hands-on experience.

I invite you to share a bit about yourself and your perspectives on the following:

Primary Influences: What are the main sources that shape your work?

Motivations: Is your focus on organic architecture due to personal preference, or is it influenced by a high demand in the field?

Challenges Faced: Can you share one or two specific challenges encountered while working on sustainable or eco-friendly projects?

Eco-Friendly Projects: In your opinion, do you recommend highly "eco-friendly" projects, or do you think they are overrated?

If you're interested in providing more detailed insights, feel free to...

sustainable architecture project

2024-01-25T07:12:53-05:00

Hello everyone,

I'm a student from an international school in the south of France, and I'm looking to connect with an architect who has experience in or is currently engaged in sustainable construction projects. For my final year of high school, I've chosen to study the impact of Frank Lloyd Wright’s concept of "organic architecture" on modern sustainable design principles in the United States.

While I know there's a lot of information available online, an important aspect of my project involves engaging with individuals who have hands-on experience. I'm not necessarily seeking an expert on Frank Lloyd Wright's life, but rather someone with real-world insights into sustainability within the field of architecture.

Unfortunately, I can't share my school email address publicly. If you're interested, please post your email in the responses, and I'll reach out to you. I have a brief list of questions that I'd love to discuss.

Looking forward to connecting with you,

Sam

Sustainable Wood-like Material (Coco Coir Board)

2023-09-06T18:01:00-04:00

Hello everyone, for academic purposes, can you comment on the use of sustainable material (coco coir composite)?

1. What do you think of using coco coir composite as furnitures?

2. Is it practical for architects to incorporate it in their designs?

3. What do you think are the PROs and CONs?

Challenges Encountered in the Development and Implementation Phases of Ecologically Sustainable Architectural Projects

2023-08-09T19:31:00-04:00

Greetings,

I trust this message finds you well. As an aspiring architect immersed in the realm of ecological and sustainable design, I am currently engaged in a research endeavor aimed at delving into the intricate challenges that confront professionals within this sphere. With an acute focus on the multifaceted issues that beset architects committed to crafting projects that align with environmentally conscious benchmarks, I am keenly interested in uncovering the nuances surrounding aspects such as material availability and the acquisition of optimal design methodologies.

In this pursuit, I humbly request your valued insights and experiences. If you have encountered, witnessed, or participated in instances where ecological and sustainable architects navigated the complexities of developing projects that adhere to high standards, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share your observations. The challenges faced, the strategies employed, and the outcomes achieved hold immense v...

Does this method of clay building construction make any sense?

2023-05-08T16:42:00-04:00

So I had this idea that I was thinking of incorporating into my architecture portfolio. It is just steel folded into a square and then some sort of netting in the middle. Unskilled laborers would simply stack these as shown and screw them together -then you they pack them with whatever each materials are present. My thinking is this would make clay buildings much sturdier and easier to construct. Some square frames could have windows preinstalled or holes for ventilation.... etc.

The metal thickness would be extremely thin and the overall size of these squares would be around 2-4 feet and maybe 3-5 inches thick. (The CAD model was made in 2 minutes but shows the general idea) Of course, a lot more thinking needs to be done but I am looking to know if there are any dead-end issues with this idea from the start.

Thank you

Wall Assembly with continuous insulation

2023-01-20T13:18:00-05:00

HI all,

I have a question about of what wall assembly I can use to a building without side setbacks with a building adjacent on the property line. we can't get to a consensus if the building can be on the property line or not. it's a steel frame building. How's the connection with the front wall with insulation on the outside?

Non profit organizations for housing

2022-12-29T12:28:00-05:00

Hello everyone

My school is offering a program/grant for students interested in working with non-profit organizations that relate to their studies.

I was wondering if there are org. in contingency with Habitat for Humanity (one that works with the local community to build community) anywhere around the world? I am interested in working in somewhere in the wild..(silly way to word this but environment like the amazon, nature..untouched by high-technology-to study sustainability)

Supermarkets Grocery Stores Reinvented Reenvisioned

2022-12-13T11:41:54-05:00

Hello, I would like to start a conversation regarding grocery stores and their layouts and I am interested if that has become its own type of specialization in the architecture discipline yet?

I have observed the urgent need to change the layouts of traditional supermarkets and grocery stores in New York City. The layout is different from store to store and depending on size, customized, but the way its laid out is not 100% applicable anymore given changing consumer demands, changing interests and also regional preferences.

However, I see the need to reinvent supermarkets and also discourage from fully packed shelves, which mostly leads to food waste and their like.

In general, since I am not fully aware, is supermarket design a separate specialization in architecture?

Anyone has some ideas or thoughts to share?

Thanks

Friederike

Butterfly roofs

2022-12-09T14:48:33-05:00

I'd love to hear from designers and builders who have built butterfly roofs at least 5 years ago and how they've held up & resisted leaks or water infiltration issues. I instinctually cringe just a little when I see 2 roofs sloped toward each other.

Construction Advice for a Hillhouse in a Very Hot climate with Moderate Winters!

2022-09-29T20:37:23-04:00

Hello,

1- I'm thinking of building a house in the mountains close to a major
city because the city is unbearably hot in summers with typical
temperatures ranging between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius.

2- The highest elevation that I can find in the surrounding mountains is
4,500ft, which translates into a temperature gradient of around 9
degrees Celsius, so it wouldn't be too bad at 30 degrees Celsius on some
days.

3- I want solid long-term, low-maintenance, aesthetic construction:

1- For construction of the walls, I've ruled put wood even though it is
the best insulator because of issues with maintenance against termites.
I'm in not in favor of bricks because of issues with mold. I've also
ruled out air-concrete because of its poor aesthetics and requirement
for paint or another facing, so this leaves me with sandstone as the
most likely material with a thermal admittance of 1.83 vs 0.14 for wood,
0.73 for brick, and 0.15 for air-concrete. All have a specific heat
capacity of around 10...

Kindly lookup the next post with the additions

2022-09-29T20:24:00-04:00

Please look up the next post with the additions!

1- I'm thinking of building a house in the mountains close to a major city because the city is unbearably hot in summers with typical temperatures ranging between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius.

2- The highest elevation that I can find in the surrounding mountains is 4,500 ft, which translates into a temperature gradient of around 9 degrees Celsius, so it wouldn't be too bad at 30 degrees Celsius on some days.

3- I want solid long-term, low-maintenance, aesthetic construction:

1- For construction of the walls, I've ruled wood out even though it is the best insulator because of issues with maintenance against termites. I'm in not in favor of bricks because of issues with mold. I've also ruled air-concrete out because of its poor aesthetics, so this leaves me sandstone as the most likely material with a thermal admittance of 1.83 vs 0.14 for wood, 0.73 for brick, and 0.15 for air-concrete. All have a specific heat capacity of around 1000 J/...

Durability is Sustainability

2022-09-17T13:03:11-04:00

It seems that there is a lack of discourse around the lifespan of buildings and landscapes. The idea of a building that lasts 50 - 100 years seems so ridiculous. Have we given up on the 500-1000 year lifespan building, and accepted this disposable rapidly changing urbanism? We have an obligation to the future to create places that endure time. This 4th dimension of architecture is so seldom discussed. I just wanted to open the conversation.

Pretty Good House book

2022-07-26T18:09:06-04:00

I'll start with, I got my copy of the book. So far, only done a quick skim through. I'll come back later to give a further detailed response or review. So far, it looks like a very well-prepared book.

Others, feel free to chime in on the book by Michael Maines, Dan Kolbert, Emily Mottram, and Christopher Briley.

I placed the thread in the category Sustainability but fits some of the other categories.

Nuclear energy

2022-03-04T17:22:37-05:00

nuclear energy is the most effective source that we have. Windmills and solar produce more pollution, and have higher carbon footprints pound for pound, and are way way less reliable and productive. It seems much of the problems could be solved by getting over the stigmas.

budget transparency

2021-11-16T16:16:49-05:00

Am I the only one out there who's disheartened by the lack of transparency in terms of budget on built works? Not to discount anyone's efforts but - everything I see is always catering to the neoliberal agenda: build with reinforced concrete, clad with precious wood, huge floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere. I think it's pretty easy to slap on and collage luxury materials, what's hard is making something inexpensive look nice. The average person cannot afford to commission a house like this (maybe only a tiny house). Can anything Instagram-worthy actually be built for under 300K?

Why isn't budgeting ever a topic in our pedagogy? Sure, the devil is in the details, but what about the bank account? Are we to remain pawns to the rich and powerful in perpetuity? Or is this just how things are and have always been?

Solarpunk

2021-09-04T11:19:23-04:00

A friend just introduced me to this term and shared this article: https://www.vice.com/amp/en/ar....

This 8-minute video is a good overview:

I know it may seem naive, but I've been in dire need of some inspiration and this is doing it for me at the moment. Have others heard of this? Thoughts?

Building Energy Modelling + Architecture?

2021-08-14T13:11:00-04:00

Hello folks. In the advent of climate change there will be need for increasingly energy efficient buildings. I am currently working as an energy advisor (Canada specific role, we do energy modelling and compliance on smaller residential buildings) but I have the option to go do a arch masters (I did a design undergrad) and follow the path to registration.

For those more experienced industry practitioners, do you believe there is an added value in employing an architect who also understand and utilizes building energy modelling/simulation tools? I understand it is typically performed in schematic design or later by engineering consultants, but I think there is value in using it during early design to vet decisions regarding massing, program, envelope, orientation, glazing, etc.

On a related note, anyone here has gotten Passive House certified as an architect in North America? Any additional benefits?

various questions about compatibility and efficiency (resolved)

2021-05-20T14:36:00-04:00

Edit: all questions have resolved, thanks to those who read

CPDs to encourage sustainable design

2021-05-06T14:04:00-04:00

Hi All,

I work for an architect's office in the UK and I help organise the CPDs. I want to use them to help encourage sustainable design but I am struggling to find suitable ones. I am looking for help in the form of ideas as to what sort of CPDs I can find that would do the job?

Thanks, Si

Ecocide movement

2021-04-07T15:31:28-04:00

https://www.google.com/amp/s/insideclimatenews.org/news/07042021/ecocide-should-destruction-of-the-planet-be-a-crime/%3famp

This is something I can definitely support

Wall Assembly Crit

2021-03-21T00:48:35-04:00

Hello,

I’m working on a home design and wanted to ask for any constructive comments the community might have. We are looking to build a very well-insulated envelope with a straightforward process that most building crews could implement. Cost is not the primary factor, insulation-value and durability is. This is in climate zone 5.

I’ve attached my first pass at a shingle roof (RF-1) and stucco wall (PL-1). The basic concept I am working with is that the exterior Zip sheathing on walls/roof is our weather barrier that will dry to the exterior. The interior side of sheathing and framing would be coated in a generous pass of closed-cell spray foam, creating an impermeable air layer. This prevents the condensation issue of interior vapor reaching the exterior sheathing. Extra space in the cavity would be filled with readily available batt insulation.

Walls get Zip R12-Sheathing for the thermal break. The roof gets a layer of rigid foam on the interior side for a thermal break...

How to design and build a compression ring truss structure

2021-01-20T12:26:00-05:00

I am building a passive solar round house and would like to use a compression ring truss structure but can't find a truss company, architect, or structural engineering firm that is familiar with the concept. Is there anyone that can assist or point me in the right direction?

Passivehaus Certification

2020-12-09T08:16:47-05:00

Anyone of the regulars out there obtain it? Our company supports getting LEED certified, however I've always been leery of the "applique" nature of their system (largely performative check-boxes that seem to be primarily in the pursuit of a plaque rather than getting actual measureable benefits). I'd like to see if there might be a way of convincing the powers-that-be of allowing PH certification in lieu of LEED, however i also just saw that the cost is about 4-5x the cost, which i imagine is a non-starter in the current conditions.

Also, the nature of my portfolio of work probably does not lend itself to good/effective use of PH - I imagine it would be difficult to incorporate into anything that isn't primarily residential or certain light commercial/educational.

(Shout outs to MM/Wood Guy + similar that I know are deep in the world of 'actual' green design - would love to hear your thoughts on this)

Thanks

People who ask things 'for their own edification' in meetings, why?

2020-11-08T17:16:30-05:00

why not just ask your question? i don't need to hear your purported motivation for asking.

thanks

Nice Gehry project in Iowa

2020-08-12T01:47:33-04:00

https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?events=775545098&family=editorial&sort=newest#license

Residential Architects: Is radon real?

2020-08-07T10:25:00-04:00

I'm buying a new (old) home and it's the first time I'll have a basement in 15 years. Our radon test came back high. Is radon real?

I mean, I know it's a real thing, but the hysteria over radon mitigation makes me think 20 years ago someone said "Hey I can make a ton of money telling people they have cancer-causing air in their basement then selling them "mitigation services" and how will they ever know any better?"

Am I just being a conspiracy theory weirdo about this?

Here's Brad Pitt building a house as a thank you for your advice.

Saving vegetation on site

2020-07-17T12:32:00-04:00

Is there a sustainable option to saving trees on a site, if you're absolutely forced to cut down some? One of the options I came across is transplanting them in a different location. I would like to find out if there are more options to look into.

Bartlett Hacks: Climate solutions in a time of pandemic 24 – 26 June 2020

2020-06-01T08:57:21-04:00

Great hackaton for those who want to give it a go - No entry fee - BARTLETT HACKS

Sustainable Environment Design(SED) at berkeley

2020-05-10T22:26:00-04:00

Hi,

My daughter has got into the SED undergraduate program at UC Berkeley. She also has a place in the school of architecture at University of virgina. How do the 2 compare especially as she wants to also major in Math?

Thanks

Feasibility of project?

2020-05-07T14:00:00-04:00

(not the actual location, but similar terrain)

Hello all,

I figured this could be a place to give/receive feedback about such concepts - in this case, about the materials needed and the general feasibility.

Only beginning my education on construction materials/technique, blueprint notation, designing for load, etc.

Ideally, it would be something of a laboratory, and I am particular interested in sustainable/efficient construction methodology (reusing discarded materials when possible; perhaps making the insulation, depending on how manageable that is, etc.). I am also inspired by the aesthetics and ideologies of compact architecture.

Regarding structural materials, another aspect, ideally, of this project would be a minimum, if not total absence, of wood. I had in mind using steel beams to construct cube frames in something of a modular fashion. Learning how to weld when necessary, but, if possible, leaving the panels accessible/removable.

In theory, pretty much the whole thing w...