STEP U7-Handbook-EN Planning a Straw Bale House

(Solar-)

Architecture

Design

Construction

House Installation

Repairs & Maintenance

CONCEPT

2

Straw Bale

HOUSE

U7 – CONCEPT OF THE HOUSE

CONTENT

U7

TIME

PAGE

U7 Intro: Solar Architecture 3 h 4

European Cahrter for Solar Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning 5

U7 Learning Outcomes 10

Intro: History Passive and Active Solar Architeckture 11

U7 Session 1 : Concept of the House – Basics 2 days 21

Presentation: Design Prorcess & National Standards 22

Info 1 : Architecture Short Course: Designconcept 23

Info 2: : Architecture Short Course: Architectural Concept 24

Info 3: : Architecture Short Course: Building Costs 25

Info 4: : Architecture Short Course: Selectionl Building Materials 26

Info 5: More Architecture Videos 27

Info 6: 5 Prinziples of Sustainable Architecture 28

Info 7: Architects and Visions 33

Info 8: Organic Architecture 34

Info 9: Organic: Straw Bale Building & renewable Materials 36

Lesson: Construction plan Straw Bale House (Sketchup) 38

U7 Session 2: House Technique 11 h 40

Presentation: House Technique 42

Info 1 : Heating and Cooling 43

Info 2: Thermal Solar Devices 44

Info 2: Biomass Heating System 45

Info 2: Heat Pumps 46

Info 3: (Controlled) Ventilation 47

Info 4: Wall- and Ffloor Heating 48

Info 5: Mass Oven and Radiation 49

Info 3: Chimney 50

Info 3: (Elektrical) Installations 51

U5 Session 3: Repairs and Maintenance 4 h 52

Info 1 : Common mistakes 53

Credits and Imprint 56

3

„To survive,

we need to adept

all activities

to the natural rhythm

of the earth.“

Sir Norman Foster

4

INTRO

SOLAR

ARCHITECTURE


Intro: Solar Architecture

INTRO

U7

001

Europ. Charter for Solar Energy in

Architecture and Urban Planning

Roughly half of the energy consumed in Europe is used to run buildings. A further

25 % is accounted for by traffic. Large quantities of non-renewable fossil fuel are

used to generate this energy, fuel that will not be available to future generations. The

processes involved in the conversion of fuel into energy also have a lasting negative

effect on the environment through the emissions they cause. In addition to this,

unscrupulous, intensive cultivation, a destructive exploitation of raw materials, and

a worldwide reduction in the areas of land devoted to agriculture are leading to a

progressive diminution of natural habitats.

The history of man is the history This situation calls for a rapid and fundamental

of energy transformation.

reorientation in our thinking, particularly on the part

Every historical epoch has developed of planners and institutions involved in the process

of construction. The form of our future built

its own energy-harvesting techniques.

environment must be based on a responsible

Today we are on the threshold

approach to nature and the use of the inexhaustible

of a new solar age.

energy potential of the sun.

The role of architecture as a responsible profession is

of far-reaching significance in this respect. In future, architects must exert a far more

decisive influence on the conception and layout of urban structures and buildings on

the use of materials and construction components, and thus on the use of energy,

than they have in the past.

The aim of our work in the future must, therefore, be to design buildings and urban

spaces in such a way that natural resources will be conserved and renewable forms

of energy - especially solar energy - will be used as extensively as possible, thus

avoiding many these undesirable developments. In order to attain these goals,

it will be necessary to modify existing courses of instruction and training, as well as

energy supply systems, funding and distribution models, standards, statutory

regulations and laws in accordance with the new objectives.

5



INTRO

U7

Planners

Architects and engineers must design their projects with a knowledge of local

conditions, existing resources, and the main criteria governing the use of renewable

forms of energy and materials. In view of the responsibility they are thus required to

assume, their role in society must be strengthened in relation to that of nonindependent

planning companies and commercial undertakings. New design

concepts must be developed that will increase awareness of the sun as a source of

light and heat; for an acceptance of solar technology in construction by the general

public can only be achieved by means of convincing visual ideas and examples.

This means:

- cities, buildings and their various elements must be interpreted as a complex

system of material and energy flows;

- the use of environmentally friendly forms of energy must be planned from a

holistic point of view. A professional knowledge of all functional, technical and

design relationships, conditions and possibilities is a precondition for the creation

of modernarchitecture;

- the extensive and constantly expanding body of knowledge about the

conditions governing the internal climate of buildings, the development of solar

technology, and the scope for simulation, calculation and measurement must be

systematically represented and made available in a clear, comprehensible and

extendible form;

- the training and further education of architects and engineers must be related to

future needs and should take place within mutually related systems on various

levels, using the facilities afforded by the new media. Schools, universities, and

professional associations are called upon to develop relevant options.

Building sites

The specific local situation, the existing vegetation and building fabric, climatic and

topographical factors, and the range and availability of ecologically sustainable

forms of energy seen in relation to the duration and intensity of their use, as well as

local constraints, all have to be analysed and evaluated as the basis for each

individual planning project.

The natural resources available in a given location, especially sun, wind and

geothermal heat, should be harnessed for the climatic conditioning of buildings and

should be reflected in the design of their layout and form.

Depending on the geographical situation, the physical form, the material

composition and the use to which a structure is put, the various existing or

emerging patterns of building development will enter into a reciprocal relationship

with the following local factors:

- climatic data (elevation of the sun, seasonal and regional range of sunlight, air

temperatures, wind force and direction, periods when winds occur, quantities of

precipitation, etc.);

- the degree of exposure and aspect of open spaces and the surface of the ground

(angle of slope, form, contour, proportion, scale, etc.);

- the location, geometry, dimensions and volume of surrounding buildings,

topographical formations, areas of water and vegetation (changing patterns of

shade, reflection, volume, emissions, etc.);

- the suitability of existing earth masses as thermal storage bodies;

- human and mechanical patterns of movement; existing building conventions

and the architectural heritage.

6



INTRO

U7

The Materials and Forms of Construction

Buildings and urban open spaces should be designed in such a way that a minimum

of energy is needed to light and service them in terms of harnessing heat for hot

water, heating, cooling, ventilation and the generation of electricity from light. To

cover all remaining needs, solutions should be chosen that meet the criteria of an

overall energy balance and that comply with the latest technical knowledge on the

use of environmentally compatible forms of energy.

The use of materials, forms of construction, production technology, transport,

assembly and dismantling of building components must, therefore, take account of

the energy content and the life cycle of materials.

- Regenerable raw materials that are available in adequate quantities and forms

of construction that have a minimal primary energy / "grey" energy content

should be given preference.

-The recycling of materials should be guaranteed, with scope for eventual reuse

or for ecologically sustainable disposal.

- Load-bearing structures and the skins of buildings must be of great durability so

as to ensure an efficient use of materials, labour and energy, and to minimize the

cost of disposal. An optimal relationship between production or embedded

energy, (also known as embodied energy), and longevity should be achieved.

- Building elements that serve the passive or active harnessing of solar energy

and that can be easily accommodated to constructional, design, modular and

dimensional requirements should be subject to further development and given

priority in use.

- New systems and products in the field of energy and construction technology

should be capable of simple integration into a building and should be easy to

replace or renew.

Buildings in use

In terms of their energy balance, buildings should be regarded as self-contained

systems with an optimal exploitation of environmentally sustainable forms of

energy to meet various needs. They should be developed as permanent systems that

will be capable of accommodating different uses over a long period.

- Functions should be laid out in plan and section in such a way that account is

taken of changes of temperature and thermal zones.

-The planning and execution of buildings and the choice of materials should be

based on a flexible concept, so that later changes of use can be accommodated

with a minimum expenditure of materials and energy.

-The permeability of the skin of a building towards light, heat and air, and its

transparency must be controllable and capable of modification, so that it can

react to changing local climatic conditions (solar screening, protection against

glare, light deflection, shading, temporary thermal protection, adjustable natural

ventilation).

- It should be possible to meet comfort requirements largely through the design

of the building by incorporating passive measures with a direct effect. The

remaining energy needs in terms of heating, cooling, electricity, ventilation and

lighting should be met by active systems powered by ecologically sustainable

forms of energy.

The technical and energy resources used in a building should be appropriate to its

function. Graphs showing the requirements for different user categories should be

reconsidered and, where appropriate, modified. Buildings with special uses, such as

museums, libraries, hospitals, etc., should be considered separately, since specific

climatic constraints exist for these types.

7



INTRO

U7

Signatories:

Alberto Campo Baenza, Madrid E;

Victor Lûpez Cotelo, Madrid E;

Ralph Erskine, Stockholm S;

Nicos Fintikakis, Athen GR;

Sir Norman Foster, London GB;

Nicholas Grimshaw, London GB;

Herman Hertzberger, Amsterdam NL;

Thomas Herzog, München D;

Knud Holscher, Kopenhagen DK;

Sir Michael Hopkins, London GB;

Francoise Jourda, Lyon F;

Uwe Kiessler, München D;

Henning Larsen, Kopenhagen DK;

Bengt Lundsten, Helsinki FI;

David Mackay, Barcelona E;

Angelo Mangiarotti, Mailand I;

Manfredi Nicoletti, Rom I;

Frei Otto, Leonberg D;

Juhani Pallasmaa, Helsinki FI;

Gustav Peichl, Wien A;

Renzo Piano, Genua I;

JosÈ M. de Prada Poole, Madrid E;

Sir Richard Rogers, London GB;

Francesca Sartogo, Rom I;

Hermann; Schröder, München D;

Roland Schweitzer, Paris F;

Peter C. von Seidlein, Stuttgart D;

Thomas Sieverts, Berlin D;

Otto Steidle, München D;

Alexandros N. Tombazis, Athen GR

Source: "Solar Energy in Architecture

and Urban Planning. Solarenergie in

Architektur und Stadtplanung. Energia

solare in architettura e pianificazione

urbana.". Prestel Verlag, Munich;

New York 1 996.

This document was drawn up by Thomas

Herzog in 1 994-95 in the context of READ

(Renewable Energies in Architecture and

Design) project supported by the European

Commission DG XII. The contents were

8discussed and the wording agreed with

leading European architects.

The City

Renewable forms of energy present an opportunity to make life in cities more

attractive. In the realms of energy supply and transport infrastructures, the use of

these kinds of energy should be maximized through the actual form of the building.

The existing building fabric should be used as far as is practical and possible. The

combustion of fossil fuels must be drastically reduced.

The relationship between cities and nature should be developed to achieve a

symbiosis between the two. Alterations and other measures carried out in public

spaces or existing buildings, or caused by new construction, must take account of

the historical and cultural identity of a location and the geographic and

climatic conditions of the landscape.

The city must be comprehended in its entirety as a selfcontained long-living

organism. It must be possible to control the constant changes in its use and

appearance, as well as in technology, in order to ensure a minimum of disturbance

and a maximum conservation of resources. Cities are resources in built form and

have a high primary energycontent. To achieve a closer integration with the

overall balance of nature, their various neighbourhoods, buildings and open spaces,

their infrastructures, and their functional, transport and

communication systems must be subject to a constant process of

modification and reconstruction that follows natural cycles of

renewal.

The form of the urban and landscape structures that man

creates must be governed by the following environmental

and bioclimatic factors:

- orientation of streets and building structures to the sun;

- temperature control and use of daylight in the public realm;

- topography (land form, overall exposure, general situation);

- direction and intensity of wind (alignment of streets, sheltered

public spaces, systematic ventilation, cold-air corridors);

- vegetation and distribution of planted areas (oxygen supply, dust

consolidation, temperature balance, shading, windbreaks);

- hydro-geology (relationship to water and waterway systems).

Urban functions such as habitation, production, services, cultural

and leisure activities should be co-ordinated with each other where

this is functionally possible and socially compatible. In this way the

volume of vehicular traffic can be reduced. Production and service

facilities can complement each other and be used more intensively

and efficiently. Pedestrians, and vehicles that are not propelled by

the combustion of fossil fuels must be given privileged treatment in

urban areas. Public transport should enjoy special support. Parking

needs should be reduced and the consumption of petrol and other

fuel minimized.

An economic use of land, achieved through a reasonable density in

new planning schemes coupled with a programme of infill

developments, can help to cut expenditure for infrastructure and

transport and reduce the exploitation of further areas of land.

Measures to restore an ecological balance should also be

implemented. In the public spaces of towns and cities, steps should

be taken to improve the urban climate, temperature control, wind

protection and the specific heating or cooling of these spaces.

Berlin 3/1996

Alberto Campo Baeza: DBJC House, www.javiercallejas.com

Victor Lûpez Cotelo, Santiago, nuevasarquitecturas.blogspot.co.at

Thomas Herzog, Solarhaus

Sir Norman Foster, Reichstagsgebäude Kuppel (wikimedia)

Nicholas Grimshaw: Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center Hermann Hertzberger, Diagoon Delft (Wikimedia)

Renzo Piano, Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre (Wikimedia)

Gustav Peichl, Haus der Barmherzigkeit, Wien (wikimedia)


LEARNING OUTCOMES

U7

Level 3 (ECVET credit points: 4) / Level 4 (15)

Knowledge

Trainees …

• know about the existing national relevant building

regulations related to straw bale building.

• know the symbols to be able to understand

plans and construction drawings.

• understand the main concept of the building

(purpose, main structure: foundation, walls,

openings and roof).

• know general principles of sustainable design

(location, climate, shape, energy saving, building

materials).

• know general requirements for healthy environment

and inner climate.

• are familiar with different measurement for

environ¬mental impact (ecological foot print,

building biology, life cycle management …).

• know different concepts for sustainable houses

like passive house concept, bioclimatic

house in France, Minergie in CH etc...

• know about solar and internal gains, the importance

of insulation and the different types

of windows.

• know the relevance of wind- and airtightness,

natural or mechanical ventilation according to

national regulations.

• know about thermal protection in summer

and winter and the use of thermal mass.

• know criteria for choosing building materials

(sustainability, embodied energy, CO 2 equivalents,

health, price, cradle to cradle concept,

social aspects).

• know different heating systems, their advantages

and disadvantages (emissions, CO 2

, renewable,

…).

• know principles how to provide inner climate

comfort in winter and summer (cooling systems).

• know principles of house infrastructure (electricity,

water, sewage) and know the specific

requirements for straw bale houses.

• are aware of most common faults of straw

bale construction, its damages and its cause.

• are aware of different life duration of the construction

parts and their maintenance intervals.

Skills

Trainees can …

• read and understand a plan with all technical

details.

• draw and sketch basic details.

• repair damages of the straw bale parts of the

house.

Competence

Trainees can …

• understand, execute and explain general principles of ecological design.

• evaluate and choose suitable building materials and systems and know when and how to ask experts.

• support other experts to reduce the ecological foot print.

• work in teams.

10



INTRO

U7

002

History of Passive and

Active Solar Architecture

The passive solar architecture is not new, it has been used in all parts of the world

for millennia. An example may be ancient Greece about 2,500 years ago, which was

then also in an energy crisis. As a solution to the problem of ever scarcer and more

expensive firewood, the glazed south face with a protruding stem (roof overhang)

has been developed. Socrates described it this way: "In houses facing the south, the

sun penetrates through the vestibule into the living rooms in the winter and warms

them. In summer, however, the roof of the vestibule keeps the sun off and provides

cooling shade. "

The massive walls and the thick slabs of the dark stone floor absorbed sunlight

during the day and radiated it back at night - inventing the 'storage heating system'.

Within only a decade, the new architectural style should have prevailed to the

farthest colony!

In addition, the world-wide clay/earth

construction architecture is connected

with solar energy in more than one form -

after all, the clay bricks are usually dried

and hardened by the sun.

An early form of passive solar use are the

so-called Beehive houses made of mud

bricks, which are used as living and

storage space. Due to its conical shape,

one part of the roof is irradiated more and

more strongly than the other, creating an

air circulation inside, which sucks the

warm air through a hole in the upper part

to the outside. In addition, the thick clay

walls protect from the sun.

11


Intro: Solar Architecture in North America

INTRO

U7

The term solar house (Sonnenhaus) was mainly used for those buildings that cover

both their hot water and their heating energy needs with solar energy. For the

Central European climate energy technologies are only under very favorable

circumstances able, to cover the total heat demand on their own - should things not

be prohibitively expensive. Especially, if the electric current is also to be produced

solar-energetically, it seems to be necessary to interconnect with other systems (heat

pumps, wind turbines, heat recovery, methane gas, etc.). The architectural target

projection then corresponds more to that of an energetically completely selfsufficient

house.

A pioneering designer of passive solar homes in the

1930s and 1940s is the architect George Fred Keck of

Chicago, Illinois. For the 1933 Century of Progress

Exposition in Chicago, he designed the fully-glazed,

three-story, and twelve-page House ofTomorrow to

reflect 'European Modernism'.

Keck notes that the house, clad in aluminum, warms up

enough on sunny winter days, even before the stove is

installed - and begins to incorporate large south-facing

windows into his designs. In 1940, he designed a

passive solar home for property magnate Howard

Sloan of Glenview, Ill. As the Chicago Tribune calls it,

which is the first modern use of the term. Sloan himself

then begins with the construction of passive solar

houses and is considered a co-initiator of a veritable solar house movement in the

1940s.

In 1940, the first reports appeared that the scientific staff of the Massachusetts

Institute ofTechnology (MIT) Hoyt C. Hottel and Byron B. Woertz have been building

a house that uses the sun for heating and hot water. It will be used as a habitable

laboratory for various forms of solar energy production. The water heated by the

solar collectors of the roof called "heat traps" is stored in a large cellar tank. It is

MIT's Solarhouse I, which plays a crucial pioneering role in the development of this

technology.

Even the world-famous Frank Lloyd Wright uses in

some of his designs principles of passive solar

architecture, especially at his built in 1944 near

Madison in Wisconsin Jacobs House II, with his

characteristic quadrant shape with fully glazed, inner

south facade, known also under the name, Solar

Plenary Hall'or' Solar Hemicyclo' (left picture).

The Dover Sun House is the first house built in 1948 to

incorporate flat solar panels and a passive solar

energy concept that will allow the five-room house to

be constructed throughout the year using only solar

energy for heating! Core element is a large-scale 'heat trap', which consists of two

separate glass panes with a black metal plate in between. Here, the air is heated to

around 65 ° C and then distributed by fans in the house. Instead of water, Glauber's

salt (sodium sulfate decahydrate) is used as the heat storage medium.

1 2


Intro: Solar Architecture in Europe

INTRO

U7

In 1973, Vagn Korsgaard developed a DTH energy house at the Danish Technical

University in Copenhagen, carried out simulations, optimized designs and finally

built a passive house that is still used as a university guesthouse, as all passive

systems still work. The active solar technology was not renewed after defects. The

goal zero-energy house at the DTH is later reset in favor of the low-energy house.

The first eco-house in Belgium was built in 1976 by the

architect and visionary Luc Schuiten to "make it possible

to survive even after the end of the oil and coal". The

Orejona solar wooden house is located in a wooded area

near Brussels. (Photo: www.vegetalcity.net/en/topics/thecarrying-out/)

Still, the high prices of these high-quality and

sophisticated multi-component solar energy systems

prevent a broader application. However, profitability

increases with increasing living space, and in 1973 300

m2 of living space is considered a minimum. Between

1974 and 1977, the number of (simple) solar houses in

the United States rose from just 250 to around 10,000, with half of the builders

receiving public support. The goal is to increase this number to 2.5 million houses by

1985. Meanwhile, the use of solar heating and cooling systems is also being tested

in high-rise buildings, as has been the case to a lesser extent in Jordan and Kuwait.

In Germany, a model house is being built in Walldorf near Heidelberg, where a

reduction of the annual fuel oil demand by up to 75% is achieved, as well as the

solar house of Stuttgarter Energieversorgung Schwaben AG (EVS) with 1 ,100 m2 of

living space in 1977, which already had two winters in 1980 additional energy use is

inhabited. The house has a large earth / water storage for heat energy but is not yet

profitable as a single product. Price advantages would only arise in a series

production.

ArchitectThomas Herzog built a futuristic solar house

with a triangular cross-section in Regensburg from 1977

to 1979, which in addition to the passive utilization also

integrates thermal collectors and solar cells from AEG.

The house is energetically

finely divided into zones:

energy collection zone or

garden zone / distribution

zone / room zone / side

room zone.

The large slanted glazing

in the south for energy

gathering also forms a

buffering transition zone.

Storage mass stores the collected heat and releases it with a time delay. The heated

living area is a compact partial zone to the west, and the east, north and west

facades are heavily insulated. All rooms are open passageways, allowing the air to

circulate as needed. The overheating protection is done by venting - the cut of the

house follows thermal conditions. In addition there is a sunscreen, which prevents

the conversion of sunlight into heat energy in summer.

1 3



INTRO

U7

Already in 1979, the Freiburger Stadtbau GmbH

commissioned the Solarhaus Freiburg as a trend-setting

pilot project for the use of solar energy. In the German-

American demonstration project, solar technologies are

being used for the first time in an apartment building.

Amongst others, vacuum tube collectors from Philips /

Stiebel Eltron and the Corning Glass Works are being

tested.

After 25 years, the solar heating system is still working

flawlessly with continuous operation, with low

maintenance and high yield: Solar heat has saved 65,000 liters of fuel oil during this

period. If the insulation measures are added, the solar house has until 2004, so over

the course of its first 25 years of operation, consumed less than a quarter of a

million liters of fuel oil less than comparable conventional buildings from that time!

Between 1979 and 1985, the first Austrian thermal solar plant in the Neumarkt II

multi-family residential building was erected in the Salzburg's Alpine foothills in four

phases, comprising a total of 11 8 residential units.

There is now a general breakdown that differentiates between four categories of

passive solar energy systems, which are used partly or jointly by solar houses.

These are:

• the direct exploitation

• the thermal storage

• the thermal buffer zones

• the thermal circulation

The techniques generally used in low-energy houses can be summarized as follows,

according to the Gesellschaft für Rationelle Energieanwendung:

• Compact building form

• Particularly high thermal insulation

• Highly insulated windows with high solar energy consumption (passive)

• Temporary heat protection of the windows at night (insulated, tightly sealed)

• Reduction of thermal bridge losses through carefully executed connection

details

• Windproof building envelope

• Ventilation systems with heat recovery

• Highly adjustable, adaptable heating systems with high efficiency

• Active solar energy use (brewing water / heating flow)

• Translucent thermal insulation materials in the exterior wall or roof area

• Ground channels for supplying fresh air at low outside temperatures

• heat pumps (soil / groundwater / outside air)

1 4



INTRO

U7

The largest low-energy house in Europe to date

is built in 1995 in Vienna-Leopoldstadt, it

consists of 333 apartments in two opposite

parts of the building of 8 and 9 floors and has

among other things a sun roof with swimming

pool - although it is a project of social housing.

Designed by the architect Harry Glück, this Alt

Erlaa residential complex has a compact,

energy-saving building form, heat-resistant

windows and a heat recovery system that heats

the process water. Here again, in cooperation

with the Fraunhofer Institute for Building

Physics, a total of 500 sensors are distributed

throughout the complex, registering 1 3

different parameters every 10 minutes.

In May 2006, the solar company Jenni Energietechnik AG built the first exclusively

solar-heated multi-family house in Europe in the Swiss Oberburg. 276 m2 of solar

panels supply their heat to a 205,000-liter solar

storage tank, which stands in the middle of the

building and stores up to 95 ° C hot water for

the winter months. The building does not

require additional heating. In addition to the

central hot water storage tank, the building is

also state-of-the-art in terms of energy

consumption and comfort in the ventilation,

exterior noise and heating sectors. The 100%

solar apartment building was inaugurated in

August 2007.

The Sonnenschiff by Rolf Disch is considered to be the world's first commercial plus

energy service center at its opening in 2006 in Freiburg. On the building, which

stands directly next to the solar settlement

Freiburg (see below), Sunstream is obtained,

and at the nose of the solar ship, a rather

symbolic small wind turbine provides

additional renewable electricity. In addition,

state-of-the-art building technologies ensure

optimal energy savings. The exterior walls,

parapets and ventilation flaps of the office and

commercial building are vacuum-insulated, and

the large mass of the building is used as

storage for heat or cold. The exterior walls are

glazed over a large area with floor-to-ceiling,

highly insulated special windows, and the

ceilings and walls contain additional latent heat

storage (cold accumulators). There is also a

unique ventilation system with heat exchanger.

The solar ship already wins the European Solar Prize 2002 during its planning phase

- followed by five further high honors until 2008.

The Solarsiedlung Freiburg (Am Schlierberg) is considered to be the largest solar

housing estate in Germany with over 210 plus-energy houses and apartments (from

75 m2 to 260 m2 of living space) when completed in 2007.

1 5



INTRO

U7

2007: After being able to speak of the previous years as a beginning, the green,

ecological, adapted or even sustainable architecture is rapidly gaining momentum.

Which also makes the solar architecture more and more conscious of the specialists,

the decision makers and the public.

Nevertheless, these are first and foremost

technological (high-tech) concepts that actively

convert solar energy and make less passive use

of it, and that only partially addresses the need

for a CO2-free cycle economy and sustainable

materials.

The Russel House (also Sliding House) was

developed in 2008 in Suffolk, UK. The biggest

difference can be seen when suddenly the

greenhouse appears, as you can see on the

photos left. Passive heating or cooling saves a

lot of energy. Next door is also a small wind

turbine set up. In contrast to many other projects

this is excellently documented and therefore

also described here.

In June 2010, the first Solar Decathlon Europe

(SDE) took place in Madrid. The rules are based

on the original American competition rules. New

are the evaluation points for innovation and

sustainability of the concept. Team Austria of TU

Vienna won in 201 3 with the passive house LISI,

www.solardecathlon.at

A particular form of solar application in architecture is formed by entire SOLAR

CITIES, which make extensive use of solar and other renewable energies. One of the

first solar settlements was the village of Penzberg, which had already converted to

solar energy in Bavaria in 1980, which subsequently also became the first town in

Germany where - according to Wüstenrot - "no oil was needed at all".

The BedZed (Beddington Zero Energy

Development) community in Hackbridge,

London, is a carbon-neutral planned solar estate

built between 2000 and 2002 by the Peabody

Trust, a charitable foundation and registered

housing cooperative. It comprises 99 apartments

and around 1 ,400 m2 of work space. In addition

to equipping with solar cells and combining

boilers to generate electricity and heat, energy

meters are placed prominently in the house

rather than hidden away from sight. Other

effective steps include extra thick insulated

walls, strategically placed windows to maximize

light and heat from solar energy, and airflow

that eliminates the need for fans or air conditioning.

1 6

Text: AchmedA. W. Khammas, Buch der Synergie (www.buch-der-synergie.de) with

remarks by Herbert Gruber; Photos: Wikimedia (or source mentioned in the text)



INTRO

U7

In Linz, Austria, a new district was

built in Pichling starting in 2001 with

1 ,294 apartments, whose name

solarCity stands for a comprehensive

use of solar energy. This starts with

the planning of the buildings

according to the principles of solar

architecture through the use of

passive and active solar energy. The

individual access to the sun results

from apartments with large

windows, and solar panels on the

roofs contribute to warm water

heating. The 1995 planned city was originally intended for 25,000 people.

After 2001 , a former barracks area in the

Spanish city of Zaragoza is rededicated for

housing, created since 2004, the eco-city

Valdespartera, a municipal funded housing

project with about 10,000 housing units whose

special feature is the adaptation of ecological

housing with the local microclimatic conditions.

The Ecociudad Valdespartera is set up as an

implementation company, of which the city

holds 80%, and the regional government 20%.

The main approaches of the project are the

urban design, which is based on solar radiation

and terrain, as well as ecological materials and logistics concepts. The buildings are

equipped with solar panels, with heat-storing tiles and a good insulation of the

interiors. (Image: vimeo.com/99166929)

Several sets of criteria for ECO-CITIES have been suggested, encompassing the

economic, social, and environmental qualities that an eco-city should satisfy. The

ideal "eco-city" has been described as a city that fulfils the following requirements:

Operates on a self-contained economy, resources needed are found locally

Has completely carbon-neutral and renewable energy production

Has a well-planned city layout and public transportation system that makes the

priority methods of transportation as follows possible: walking first, then cycling,

and then public transportation.

Resource conservation—maximizing efficiency of water and energy resources,

constructing a waste management system that can recycle waste and reuse it,

creating a zero-waste system

Restores environmentally damaged urban areas

Ensures decent and affordable housing for all socio-economic and ethnic groups

and improve jobs opportunities for disadvantaged groups, such as women,

minorities, and the disabled

Supports local agriculture and produce

Promotes voluntary simplicity in lifestyle choices, decreasing material

consumption, and increasing awareness of environmental and sustainability

issues

Future Visions of SMART CITIES: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAU85nCfFTA

17


Eco-Cities & Straw Bale Building

INTRO

U7

Lammas is the UK’s first planned Ecovillage. Lammas is a project which began as a

fireside chat (as so many do!) with Simon Dale, Tony Wrench and Paul Wimbush.

Tony Wrench had built a low impact roundhouse which has come to define low

impact living in the UK. Paul

Wimbush had been living in low

impact communities for most of his

adult life and was ready to create a

blueprint from what he had learned.

The houses at Lammas use lowimpact

architecture with a

combination of recycled and natural

materials. The project is essentially

a self-build affair, where nine

families have 5 acres on which to

build a family home, a workshop/shed and animal shelters. There are a combination

of building styles including straw bale, earth sheltered, timber frame and cob. The

houses feature the latest environmental technologies and design techniques. The

dwellings blend into the landscape. Indeed they are largely made from elements of

the landscape (for example turf roofs, cob walls, timber cladding).

http://lammas.org.uk/

The Eco-Village Sieben Linden is a

socio-ecological model settlement

and community in the Altmark

community Beetzendorf (Saxony-

Anhalt). It sees itself as a model and

research project for a futureoriented

way of life in which work

and leisure, economy and ecology,

individual and community,

cosmopolitan and village culture find a balance in small life circles. For Siebenlinden

the architect Dirk Scharmer has planned numerous multi-family houses in straw bale

construction (the first in Germany). http://www.siebenlinden.de

18

Standing for ‘Low Impact Living Affordable

Community’ LILAC is the UK’s first cohousing

project. A community of 20 people are living and

sharing this area in Victoria Park, making the world

a better place for it.

It’s a world away from any of the more modern

buildings in the Leeds area, yet it’s probably the

most ambitious, looking to improve the

environment and make housing more affordable

for the local community. Working with architects at

White Design Associates, the community used the

ModCell system to build their houses using

renewable, locally-sourced materials that help to

reduce carbon emissions by nearly half. Comprising of 20 households, it’s an

important build, because it allows first time buyers to get their foot on the property

ladder with affordable housing that is unconditionally their own. The idea of LILAC is

that you buy shares in the community, splitting the cost of your home with the rest

of the citizens, helping out with building, cooking, cleaning and, well, being nice to

each other. http://www.lilac.coop/


Solar-Architecture & Straw Bale Building

INTRO

U7

With the use of straw bales as insulating

material, in 2007 a further step was taken in the

single-family home of Christian and Barbara

Fink in Graz to reduce the energy required for

the construction of a building. Together with the

timber-framed construction, the use of clay

plaster on the storage walls in the interior and

the energy supply concept, which is 100% based

on renewable energy sources, a building was

erected in Gleisdorf that most convincingly

demonstrates the program ideas of "Energy in

minds!" Designed by architects Hegedys & Ull,

this ecological building material, low energy

demand and the use of solar energy and

biomass make possible a concert ("CONCERTO") of sustainability and cosiness.

www.baubiologie.at/strohballenbau/passivhaus-fink-3/oder

www.aee.at/aee/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=269&Itemid=113

In Tamera (Portugal), two

construction methods have been

implemented so far: clay

construction - based on the idea of

realizing cost-effective alternatives

that use the resources of the

environment - and the multi-zone

architecture that is currently visible

above all through the shadow roof

constructions. The SolarVillage is still

looking for a visionary concept for a

solar architecture of the future. In the

following, the two approaches are

described by the respective

architects: Gernot Minke, former

Professor of Earth Building in Kassel,

Germany, and Martin Pietsch,

designer and master builder, Tamera.

The walls of the auditorium ofTamera tower eight meters high. With 400 seats, the

Auditorium of the Peace Research Center is the largest bale-and-loam construction

in the Iberian Peninsula. The auditorium consists of a wooden framework, which was

bricked up with straw bales and plastered inside and outside with a clay layer. On

the outside wall, lime was added to the clay to protect it from the weather. The

gently sloping roof is overgrown with grass and herbs.

With the help of loans and a donation from its network in 2011 , Tamera was able to

set up a so-called "grid-connected island system": The existing 20kW tracked

photovoltaic systems directly supplies Tamera with electricity, saving the harvested

surplusSince 201 2, Tamera has been able to meet its electricity needs by 60% in

summer and 40% in winter through solar energy. The rest comes from the public

network. For a complete self-sufficiency it would be necessary - not least by the

seasonal fluctuations - to build a very large-sized and expensive energy storage.

For this reason, Tamera is currently aiming for an 80% supply from renewable energy

sources. When this goal is achieved, complete energy can be achieved in the event

of a breakdown or failure of the care systems through behavioral change.

www.tamera.org/

19

HOUSE

CONCEPT

20


SESSION PLAN S1

U7

Session Plan U7-S1 : House Design

Objectives:

• understanding the main concept of the building (purpose, main

structure: foundation, walls, openings and roof)

• knowing general principles of sustainable building (sustainable,

wider context, external influences: location, climate, shape…

energy saving/alternative energy, sources/water, waste, building

materials, everyday use, building surrounding/permaculture),

requirements for healthy environment, inner climate

• being acquainted with different tools to measure environmental

impact (ecological foot print, building biology, life cycle

management systems: LEEDS, BREEM….

• knowing criteria of national standards for sustainable houses,

eg.: passive house concept, bioclimatic house in France, …, solar

and internal gains, insulation, windows, reduction of thermal

bridges, airtightness, natural or MVHR (mechanical ventilation

with heat recovery), shading in summer, use of thermal mass

• knowing criteria for choosing building materials (sustainability,

embodied energy, CO 2

equivalents, health, price, cradle to cradle

concept, social aspects)

• reading plans and technical details (meaning of different line

types, floor plan, sections)

Methods:

• Explanations, discussions, working in groups

• Presentation for the group

• Sketching a basic house design

Theory

Practice

• Main concept of the building (purpose, main structure:

foundation, walls, openings and roof)

• External influences (location, climate, shape …) and

requirements for inner climate

• Principles of national standards for sustainable house, eg.:

passive standard concept: external solar gains and internal

gains, insulation, windows, elimination of thermal bridges,

airtightness, MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery),

shading in summer)

• Steps of designing process

• Building materials (sustainable use, primary energy, CO 2

equivalents, health, price)

• Sketching a basic house design

• Reading plans

Trainer:

Place:

Classroom

Workshop

Duration:

1 day

Equipment:

Beamer

Flip chart

Laptop

Training resource pack

Documents:

Info Sheets:

i1 – Concept of the House

i2 – Sustainability

i3 – Designing Process

i4 – National Standards

i5 – Building Materials

i6 – Understanding Plans

i7 – House Design

Trainer Sheets:

Tr1 Exercise – Sustainability

Tr2 Exercise – Materials

Tr3 Exercise – Sketches

Text Sheet:

Tx1 Concept of the Building

Tx2 Sustainable Principles

Evaluation:

Multiple Choice

Organisation:

• Preparing examples of building materials (2 hours in advance)

21


Session Plan U7-S1 : House Design

INFO S1

U7

22


Session Plan U7-S1 : Architecture Basics

TIPPS

U7

003

Architecture Short Course 1 :

How to Develop a Design Concept

All architecture begins with a concept. If you’re struggling to find one, curious about

what one is, or wondering how architects begin their projects; this short course will

walk you through the process I use and some of the techniques I rely on to develop

architectural concepts all illustrated with one of my residential projects. Design is a

dialogue, and the concept ensures you have something to talk about. In this video I

discuss the precise steps I take when beginning each project and how those steps

lead me to an architectural concept. Before we can develop the concept, we have to

first understand the practical constraints. My design process begins only after

gathering and assessing all the given parameters for a project. Now, this primarily

consists of three types of information. There’s information derived from the site -

things like: local climate, the prevailing winds, the solar aspect, vegetation,

neighbouring structures, the site’s history, and any unique liabilities or opportunities.

The site of course also comes along with legal frameworks for development, which

describe where and what we can and can’t build. The second type of information

we’ll gather is from the client. Every client has a set of cultural beliefs and

preconceptions, preferences and agendas. Of course, we’ll want to determine their

budget, and understand the personality traits and organizational politics which

might also shape the design. The client and the building type together determine

what architects call, “the program” which is essentially a detailed accounting of all

the spaces the building will contain. And the third type of information I gather is

related to the building typology – is it a museum, a home…or a school for example?

To learn about a building typology we often conduct an analysis of notable or

relevant historical precedents. We want to know the essential problems these types

of structures grapple with. Understanding the history of the archetype allows us to

approach a problem from a fresh perspective. All of this is necessary information

that we collect for every project. This inventory can also serve as the progenitor for

the design concept – our seed idea. And, rather than shunting creativity, these

constraints often incite the creative process.

Concept Inspirations Discussed: - Site - Client - Narrative - Materials - Structural -

Mainifestos – Formal

As with a good film, the setting, the characters, the cinematography, and the plot all

conspire to make it what it is. It’s the experience you’ll recall rather than the concept

per se. Sure, the concept sets the film in motion and it’s the starting point for all that

follows. But this concept – the one or two-line description – can’t possible capture

the richness and depth of the finished film…or in our case the architecture. Yet

without it, the work is unfulfilling and so it should be clear that the concept is

necessary for all our work as architects.

VIDEO-TIPP

https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=k4dVgbuxBAw

30X40 Design Workshop

23



TIPPS

U7

004

Architecture 2: Developing

the Architectural Concept

Developing the architectural concept into floor plans, designing the form, and

refining the spatial ideas are all covered in part 2 of our architecture short course.

The first step in making the abstract concept real is to sketch a floor plan and then

give that plan a three-dimensional form. A floor plan is a quick way of describing the

hierarchy and relationship of spaces and it begins fixing their real physical

dimensions and shapes. Throughout the design process architects must continually

consider the design in both the plan, or overhead view, and the sectional, or

volumetric view. The easiest way I’ve found to do this is to begin by sketching a plan

and then construct a three-dimensional version of that plan either in model form or

by sketching. In order to get to three dimensions, we have to make some decisions

about form, space, and order. When we speak about form we’re referring not only to

a building’s shape but also to its size, scale, color, and texture…basically, all the

visual properties of an object. Form has a direct relationship to space in that it

influences both interior and exterior rooms. And lastly, order is how we choose to

orient and relate the forms and spaces to each other. This directs the inhabitant’s

experience of a place.

VIDEO-TIPP

www.youtube.com/

watch?v=U2W5Wmp1 5YA


24



TIPPS

U7

005

Architecture 3: Building Costs

as a creative constraint

Building cost has a direct impact on our design and it's one of the most basic and

obvious concerns for architects and clients. In this video I'll show you how I use it as

a creative constraint that informs our building design. Building cost is divided into

two general categories: soft and hard costs. Soft costs are the indirect cost of design:

architectural fees, consultant fees, permitting, financing, and legal fees. Hard costs

are all the cost directly attributed to the construction of the physical building. Early

on in the design process we know little about the building and so we use square

footage as a means for estimating the building's cost to construct. But square

footage alone won't provide all the information we need to properly describe the

cost of a structure, some spaces cost more to build than others. Factoring the square

footage provides an added level of precision and allows clients and architects to

better plan how design affects the overall budget. Planning for unforeseeable

conditions is important as well and I describe how much of a contingency to add to

the project at each phase of the work. Cost considerations are crucial to realizing

both our client's project and our vision for the work in the world and this video

shares the framework I use to get there.

VIDEO-TIPP

www.youtube.com/

watch?v=oZbd-S7WcwU


25



TIPPS

U7

26

006

Architecture Short Course 4:

Choosing Architectural Materials

A primer on how to choose architectural building materials. In part 4 of the

architecture short course I share my personal system for selecting materials and I

walk you through the selection process for the case study residential project we've

been following.

The lesson is divided into five general categories: 1 - Physical characteristics

2 - Context, 3 - Experiential qualities, 4 - Cost, 5 - Manufacturing concerns

Each category can be thought of democratically, that is, none is necessarily more or

less important than another. Your design will begin to suggest what materials best

represent your ideas. Study the work of architects like Tadao Ando, Louis Kahn, Peter

Zumthor, LeCorbusier or Aalto – and witness the depth of knowledge and skill they

deployed using a relatively limited set of building materials: wood, concrete, glass,

and brick. You can say quite a lot using a very spare palette of materials. The real

lesson here is that the material selections were a result of intentionally considering

all aspects of the experience I wanted to create for our client as well as the necessity

of building something durable and meaningful here in an extreme coastal

environment. It has to look good and tell the right story. It has to comfort and

shelter, reduce and minimize our impact on the site and recreate - in an abstract way

- the quiet of the forest in the new place we’ve created. It’s a tall order, but by

following a process which prioritizes the most important characteristics for each part

of the architecture you can find a methodology for choosing wisely. Material

selection requires you to be an observer and student of the built world. Study

buildings you admire and note how the material qualities effect how you feel there.

Choose a few simple materials and get to know them deeply. Concrete and wood are

excellent places to start. And if you’re like Tadao Ando, perhaps make a career of.

Learn to exploit their inherent qualities: heavy and light, cool and warm, malleable

and permanent. Use these as a basis for your own explorations and tests to make

your designs more truthful, more beautiful and more interesting.

VIDEO-TIPP 30X40 Design Workshop: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcbgDFpfScY



TIPPS

U7

007

30X40 Design Workshop:

More Videos

Floor Plan Design Tutorial (8:36)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7YxG4nsqeg

In this design tutorial I'll show you how I develop and sketch floor plan ideas quickly.

From diagram to rough sketch and on to more formalized plan layouts, you can

follow along as I show you everything you need to draw a floor plan using one of

our new residential projects as an example. I discuss in detail: - why you should start

with diagrams (and not floor plans) - information you'll need before drawing - tools I

use and recommend - tips for developing better ideas - form, space, and order (of

course) - using grids - scale - and what I listen to when designing...

How to Find Architectural Ideas (10:48)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqQumzZVa1 U

Eight strategies I use to find architectural ideas. Do you find the blank page as

terrifying as I do? I'm starting a new project and I thought I'd use this video to talk

about how I deal with this and precisely how I search for new ideas for my

architecture. I discuss in detail: - Bisociation -Trusting the design process -

Embracing constraints - Inventing deadlines - Doing the opposite (anti-project) -

Subtracting to solve - Stealing (like an artist) These are just a few of the design hacks

I use to help grease the creative wheels and instill the confidence I need to keep

moving forward. What's great is these techniques work for a whole host of

disciplines and creative fields, it isn't exclusive to architecture.

Draw like an Architect - Essential Tips (11 :51 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24rnfO8s0hU&t=1 3s

In this video I share my tips for improving your architectural drawing technique. I'll

walk you through a detail sketch, a basic section sketch and then transition into a

few of my CAD working drawings to illustrate how a simple toolset can produce a

range of drawings. Important concepts discussed: - Lineweight (and the pens I use) -

Atmospheric perspective - Drawing technique - Corners - Iteration - Foreground,

middle-ground, and background -The 'squint' test - Shade + shadow - Entourage

(http://www.mrcutout.com/ , http://skalgubbar.se/ , http://pimpmydrawing.com/ ) In

the end, it’s not about copying my drawing style or anyone else’s. It’s about

developing your own and the best way to do that is by seeking out the architectural

drawings you like and try and duplicate their results. Study their commonalities,

how do they differ from the way you draw? Some of my favourites are found in the

Detail in Contemporary Residential architecture books or Detail magazines…all the

German stuff.

How to Choose the Right Projects + How to Say No to the Wrong Ones (An

Architect's Guide) (7:37)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUlJoiOWhqE

Often our first inclination is to accept every opportunity that presents itself, but -

somewhat counterintuitively - saying no can actually help your business grow

buying you freedom and helping you build a stronger brand. In this video I list the

questions you should ask when deciding which projects to take on and how best to

determine which ones to decline. I share the framework I use when choosing which

clients my small business can collaborate with. Be sure to watch the end where I

describe the benefits and a methodology for saying, "No..." Although these

questions specifically apply to a residential design practice, they can be applied

more broadly to many facets of life helping you to focus on your priorities and goals

rather than the priorities of others.

27


Session Plan U7-S1 : Sustainable Architecture

TIPPS

U7

008

5 Prinziples of Sustainability in

Architecture (Frey Architects)

Ecology, economy, society, creative will and incentive: these are the five principles

of sustainability for the architect Wolfgang Frey. With his five-finger principle, he

makes clear that an isolated consideration of individual aspects is not sufficient and

rather a holistic planning approach is necessary to build ecologically, economically

and socially sustainable.

1. Ecology in architecture

The use of abundantly available cheap materials and construction models often runs

counter to the intelligent use of resources. It takes both: the development of

concepts that lead to intelligent and viable solutions, also helping to raise the awareness

of those who stand to benefit from these solutions. In addition to ecological

architectural designs, we focus on the economic and social aspects of housing

development. Only taking account of all these aspects can lead to lasting changes.

Energy-optimized

A building should preferably not consume energy, but instead produces an energy

surplus (so-called ‚positive energy house’). Energy efficiency is not only about the

energy consumed in the building, but also the energy that has been used in

materials to construct the building.

28

Modern architecture: energy-saving and energy-efficient

Ideally, a building does not consume energy, but it produces an excess of energy, as

in the case of the Plus Energy House. Saving energy and using regenerative energy

costs less and has no negative impact on the environment. Knowledge of state-ofthe-art

technologies and their use as well as existing environmental standards are

the planning basis for realizing sustainable buildings.



TIPPS

U7

The long-term protection of the environment and climate, not least as a habitat for

humans, is one of the most urgent goals of modern, sustainable architecture. The

construction of energy-saving and energy-efficient buildings and the further

development of corresponding concepts in architecture is therefore of particular

concern to us.

The Resources

It is common practice to use materials whose production consumes a lot of energy

to build houses that are supposed to be very energy efficient once occupied. For

instance, the manufacturing of cement or the firing of roof tiles (this is also true for

those that ensure high degrees of insulation) requires extreme amounts of energy

and results in massive CO2 emissions.

Also materials containing asbestos are admittedly cost-effective but will also cause

major liabilities. Natural building materials are easier to process even after decades.

Renewable materials need less energy to be manufactured. They don’t produce

waste and therefore have no negative effect on the energy balance. So wherever it’s

possible we only apply renewable resources and equipment.

Healthy materials

Environmentally harmful materials also have impact on people’s physical and

emotional well-being. That’s why we do not use materials such as PVC, solventbased

paints and lacquers or herbicide agents.

2. Economy in architecture

We recognize the responsibility of architects in both structural and financial

planning. Just as it is necessary to plan the dimensions of a building, it is also

necessary to work out various financing alternatives, with the aim of arriving at an

alternative that is optimally cost-effective and ideally matches the interests and

capacities of owners and users.

For us, it is far better to ask the right questions instead of avoiding them. Questions

like: How should we approach the execution of these details? What distinguishes this

variant? What would it cost? The answers to each question can shed light on various

aspects of the task. And finally, it is worthwhile to cultivate a culture of discourse in

the interest of arriving at common solutions.

Management Control System

Over the years we have developed a management control system that monitors the

budget of a project. The systems works with construction index figures relating to

work sections.

Affordability

Affordable building costs guarantee affordable financing costs. If the building costs

could be limited to the necessary expenses and remain low, these savings can be

passed on to the residents. For instance: the approach to building an apartment

house is based on the identification of a group of homeowners whose members can

join forces to reduce the costs of construction.

Financial modelling

In order to achieve new ideas we also had to develop new financial models that fit

the projects, which otherwise wouldn’t been possible. One example is ‘pro scholare’

– a non-profit organization that provides rental payment guarantees to protect both

owners and tenants.

29



TIPPS

U7

3. Realizing Shared Visions

Architecture and city development always entail a certain shaping intervention in the

lives of people. It is incumbent on those who are involved in the process of city

development to recognize and embrace the responsibility attached to the authority

invested in them. After all the decisions they make will lead to abiding states of

development that can have a major impact on people’s life.

Political will

All municipalities have a certain societal responsibility. The municipalities

themselves usually define the value of the fulfillment of their responsibility to the

public. Municipalities often have the power to shape planning laws. They can pass

project-specific development plans, issue calls to tender for development proposals

relating to property that was formerly not available for development and so on. We

have over 40 years of experience in municipal constructions and offer consulting

services for municipalities.

Aesthetic design

While the development of urban environments requires the possibility of securing

both commercial and socio-cultural interests, the challenges of modern city

development, especially in connection with these societal usage structures, can only

be met with the people who live in the city. City development depends on initiative

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF BUILDING IS

TO CREATE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS.

and liberty. The environment should meet the

interest of the people in order to achieve

identification.

Legal framework

Development in sustainable buildings always implies that the legal frame has to be

revised or new implementation needs to be developed. One example took place in a

traditional nursing centre where residents were not allowed in the kitchen. Working

together with the political authorities, we found a solution that permits the residents

of small communities to access in the kitchens.

4. Society and Architecture

Sustainable architecture intends to create living places wherein social integration

takes place. Sustainable urban planning includes human dignity, need for security,

public facilities and much more. This distinguishes the task of designing residential

buildings from other architectural tasks because all people need a place to live.

Other buildings are designed to certain functions. In case of residential buildings, the

focus is solely on people and their existential needs. Everyone needs a place to live,

and their homes should be as individual as the people who live inside.

We firmly believe that a comfortable and appropriate home is a potential source of

peace and inspiration and that this peace and inspiration are a part of the foundation

of a flourishing society.

Integrative

People have always lived in groups together. The more individual the members, the

more viable the group.

30

Safety aspects

We make a difference between “active” and “passive” safety aspects. One of the

passive measures is to create guidelines of sight and create visual references in

order to avoid unexpected and overwhelming contact. Through this disorientation of

the individual is avoided and therefore the risk for potential aggression is reduced.



TIPPS

U7

Reducing the anonymity is one of the active measures. This increases the

responsibility of the residents, thus arise the willingness to actively participate in the

community. Participation is an important factor to ensure security of all. Measures

from the aspect of architecture design are, for instance, turning corridors into

welcoming meeting rooms and building communicative entranceways.

Public Spaces and encounters

The public space is an important factor to improve the communication of residents.

However, it doesn’t mean the purely physical encounters that are restricted to the

anonymous meeting of requirements. Dignity is preserved only when people

actually recognize the humanity of those they encounter. This is an area where

architecture can help. If the architect takes the dignity of people into consideration

and such people feel that they have been taken into consideration, then they will be

more inclined to respect their fellow human beings.

Urban development

If city developers succeed in increasing the attractiveness of the public spaces

around us, then people will be encouraged to spend more time outdoors. This

highlights the importance of paying careful attention to the appeal of the residual

space around the structures, so that people will experience them as pleasant, both

on account of and despite the weather. This task of offering people opportunities to

spend time outdoors usually requires relatively little structural expense. The creation

of a partially sheltered transition zone between indoor spaces and outdoor spaces,

for instance, offers a pleasant place to stay, come rain or shine.

5. The incentive systems for sustainable architecture

Motivation is also a crucial factor because while many people may readily grasp the

importance of sustainability, they will not necessarily feel capable of acting

accordingly when it comes to making the big and the little decisions. It is a matter of

supplying people with the motivational content they need to act in the manner that,

all things considered, is right.

Energy Contracting

The owner of the building is usually responsible for installing heating systems in

apartment buildings. However, the installation of heating systems is usually not

something that has a direct impact on the owner’s interests. Building owners who

invest in intelligent engineering systems face increased up-front costs and no

possibility of refinancing.

Therefore the model of energy contracting is used in the apartment buildings

designed by Frey Architekten. According to this model, an independent contractor is

responsible for the heating system of the building. This contractor also assumes

responsibility for procuring and supplying the required energy, which is then

invoiced exactly in proportion to the amount of heat supplied. The tenants therefore

no longer pay for consumed oil or gas, but instead according to certain kilowatt heat

rates for the heat they’ve actually used.

Public Private Partnership

The task of achieving common goals requires the introduction of incentives that tend

to unify the interests of those involved. Public private partnerships (PPPs) represent

one such model. One particular model includes the architect as building promoter.

Thus, the financial responsibilities become a personal commitment. As owners,

they’re responsible in finding the optimal solutions for top quality at low cost.

31



TIPPS

U7

Shared Use

In urban centers with densely built-up areas, the combined and share uses are

feasible and meaningful. For example, the sharing of underground parking lots

saves investments and operating costs while increasing the usable floor space.

Added value through additional uses

Additional options can generate more value and are thus sustainable. For example,

roof surfaces can be rented for solar panels installations. For the owner, this results

in incomings and a better

weather protection against rain,

UV rays and heat. Other

elements can also be added

around a compact building envelope to give shape to the building and its setting.

Such elements may also serve various practical functions that enhance the

experience of those who spend time in or around the building.

IF WE ONLY DO WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW,

WE ONLY ACHIEVE WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED.

Ownership

In our “motivation through ownership”-concept, the craftsman becomes owner in

the condominium he builds. Our approach is to involve the skilled craftsmen as

stakeholders. This gives us access to a tremendous amount of knowledge that is

relevant to the building process and that is not only free of charge, but saves money

and leads to higher quality work. This sort of optimization lowers the construction

costs and the refinancing costs to the point where the revenue drawn from the

rental payments suffices to cover the total investment and more.

Source/Quelle: http://www.freyarchitekten.com/en/sustainability/

Heidelberg Village in Germany will be part ofthe world's largest passive housing

complex when complete. Designed by Frey Architects

32


Session Plan U7-S1 : Sustainable Architectural Visions

TIPPS

U7

009

Architects & Visions

Video-(TED)Tipps

Cameron Sinclair (Architecture for Humanity) at TED2006:

A call for open-source architecture

www.ted.com/talks/cameron_sinclair_on_open_source_architecture/

We founded "Architecture for Humanity" with $ 700 and a website. And Chris

somehow decided to give me $ 100,000. So why not so many people? Open source

architecture is the way. You have a diverse community of stakeholders - and we do

not just talk about inventors and designers, we also talk about the funding model.

My role is not that of a designer, it is a channel between the designer and the

humanitarian world. And what we need is something that replicates me globally

because I have not slept for seven years. Second, what will that be? Designers want

to respond to humanitarian crises, but they do not want any company in the West to

take their ideas and make profits from them. So Creative Commons designed the

Developing Nations license.

Designer Alastair Parvin / WikiHouse: Architecture for the People by the People

www.ted.com/talks/alastair_parvin_architecture_for_the_people_by_the_people

When we use the word "architect" or "designer", we usually mean a professional,

someone who is paid. We tend to think that these professionals will be the ones who

will help us solve the really big systemic design challenges like climate change,

urbanization and social inequality. That's our way of thinking. But it is wrong.

Jeanne Gang: Buildings that blend nature and city

www.ted.com/talks/jeanne_gang_buildings_that_blend_nature_and_city

I am a "relationship builder". When you think of Relationship Builder, don't you

automatically think of architects? Probably not. That's because most people think

architects design buildings and cities, but they actually build relationships because

cities are about people. There are places where people meet for all kinds of

exchanges. In addition, urban silhouettes are very specific urban habitats, with their

own insects, plants and animals, and even their own weather.

Marc Kushner at TED201 4: Why the buildings of the future will be shaped by ... you

www.ted.com/talks/marc_kushner_why_the_buildings_of_the_future_will_be_shaped

_by_you

"Architecture is not about math or zoning - it's about inner emotions," says Marc

Kushner. In a rousing - often witty - lecture, he zooms through the last thirty years of

architecture to show how the public, once separated, has become an integral part of

the design process. With the help of social media, the feedback reaches the architects

years before a building is created. The result? Architecture that will do more for us

than ever before.

33


Session Plan U7-S1 : Organic Architecture

TIPPS

U7

010

Organic Architecture

Biomorphism

What is the charm of a hobbit cave? Why does it seem idyllic? Pastoral? Sublime?

Part of its attractiveness lies in the architectural fusion of habitable structure and

existing landscape. This approach summarizes the design aesthetics of organic

architecture. Among the most recent examples of organic art of the 21 st century are

the art of Andy Goldsworthy and the fashionable interior accessories that you can

find at Ikea orTarget. However, the design aesthetic of organic architecture emerged

from a special style of early 20th century art that sought to translate the forms found

in nature into unique works of art.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, artists have begun to accept the principles

of natural form as a particular aesthetic. The style gained ground in the 1930s when

artists rejected the inspiration of science and technology and the aesthetics of plastic

and metal that were seen in earlier forms of modern art. Instead, artists began to

engage with both inspiration in nature and the general trend of abstract art. Artists

who adopted the philosophy of biomorphism attempted to translate the principles of

natural form into their work by channeling the appearance of organic objects and

mimicking the flow of natural currents such as water and wind.

Video-Tipp:

Study.com/Ivy Roberts: The Impact of Organic Art on Architecture & Sculpture

study.com/academy/lesson/the-impact-of-organic-art-on-architecture-sculpture.html

34



TIPPS

U7

011


Video-Tipps

Antti Lovag: Maison Bernard - The Approach

https://vimeo.com/101 275024

Antti Lovag has a unique vision of architecture. To underline

the unconventional dimension of his approach, he defines

himself as a "biologist". He does not care about architecture

as such, but focuses on humans and their habitat to create

a shell that encompasses human needs.

Friedensreich Hundertwasser – 3:40: Hundertwasser Art

Centre, Whangarei, New Zealand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PmONVJyVsI

Whangarei, the gateway to New Zealand's beautiful north,

has the opportunity to build the world's last authentic

Hundertwasser building. Designed by the artist in 1993 and

taken over by the Hundertwasser Non Profit Foundation in

Vienna, the iconic and unique building is nearing

completion.

Ross Lovegrove: Organic design inspired by Nature

www.ted.com/talks/ross_lovegrove_shares_organic_designs

Designer Ross Lovegrove explains his philosophy of

"grease-free" design and gives insight into some of his

exceptional products, including the Ty Nant drinking bottle

and the Go chair.

Javier Senoisiain: Organic Architecture/Bioarchitecture

spanish with engl. subtitles:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rCKzi3Cusc

spanish: vimeo.com/229654910 or vimeo.com/220527737

Javier Senosiain is a Mexican architect who is celebrated as

a key figure and discoverer of so-called organic

architecture. He is currently Professor of Architecture at the

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Javier

Senosiain's architectural creations - such as the well-known

Shell House - have attracted both comment and

controversy. A house in Vista del Valle, north of Mexico City, sits on a hill overlooking

the city and is built in the shape of a shark. It is a reinforced concrete structure

coated with polyurethane and UV-resistant elastomeric sealant. Inside is a complex

labyrinth of rooms and interconnected carpet tunnels.

35



TIPPS

U7

01 2


with Straw Bales & NAWAROs

Michel Post/Orio Architekten: Ontwerp Aardewoning Slijk-Ewijk

orioarchitecten.wordpress.com/201 7/06/30/ontwerp-aardewoning-slijk-ewijk-krijgtsteeds-meer-vorm/

Wood construction (CUT technique) with curved frames. StrohNatur

(www.strohnatur.at) has already proven that such organic constructions are also

suitable for straw bale construction and can also do without cement sprayed plaster

and steel, with the OrganiCut technology, see image series below:

36



TIPPS

U7

Schilf/Reed: Reviving an Ancient Technique in the Iraq Marshlands /

©TraceyShelton2011 www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXjNTEVwxQA

With over 4,000 years of history, the ancient craft of the Mudhief or Reed House still

has its place of cultural, social and political importance in the Iraqi swamps, but

these ancient architectural creations are now known to few aging craftsmen, slowly

fading with time. Near the town of Chabyish on the edge of the central swamp, the

Nature Iraq team has launched a pilot project to revive this ancient style of

construction.

Marcel Kalberer and others have modernized the technology with reed, bamboo and

other fast-growing "canias". A sturdy shoring that can also be insulated with straw

bales, as Okambuva has proven: Taller de cañas y paja - Benidoleig 201 6

(www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mOL5e0LpXU)

37


Session Plan U7-S1 : Sketchup Lesson - Construction Plan

TIPPS

U7

38


Session Plan U7-S1 : Sketchup Lesson - Construction Plan

TIPPS

U7

Sketchup - Import Floor Plan:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=paXB5_tNTUA

39

INSTALLATION

40

Straw Bale

HOUSE


SESSION PLAN S2

U7

Session Plan U7-S2: House Installation

Objectives:

• Knowing about different heating systems, their advantages and

disadvantages (emissions, CO 2

, renewable, …)

• Knowing principles how to provide inner climate comfort in

winter and summer (cooling systems)

• Knowing principles of house infrastructure (electricity, water,

sewage) and know the specific requirements for straw bale houses

• Being aware of integration of other trades and service installation

of the house (plumbing, electrics, etc.)

Methods:

• Explanations

• Presentations

• Demonstrations

Theory

Practice

• different heating systems, its advantages and disadvantages

(emissions, CO 2

, renewable, …)

• basic rules of stove and chimney construction in complete

safety

• principles how to provide inner climate comfort in summer –

cooling systems

• necessity of air ventilation and know how to provide it

• principles of house installations (electricity, water, sewage,

ventilating system)

• techniques of fixing installations in straw walls

• regulations and norms

• good execution of installation (water, sewage, ventilating

system) – airtightness, water proof, wind proof, acoustic

insulation, fire protection

• integration of other trades and service installation of the

house (plumbing, electrics etc.)

• fixing sockets and cables in straw walls

• fixing heating tubes in straw walls

• fixing tubes for a wall heating

• provide air tightness (tape or mortar)

Organisation:

• Preparing the walls for demonstrations and installation materials

(2 days before)

Trainer:

Place:

Classroom

Workshop

Duration:

2 days

Equipment:

Beamer

Flip chart

Documents:

Info Sheets:

i1 - Heating and cooling

i2 - Ventilation

i3 - Installations

i4 - Health and safety

i5 - Stove and chimney

Trainer Sheet:

Tr1 Exercise – sketching the

house design

Text Sheets:

Tx1 Heating and cooling

Tx2 Ventilation

Tx3 Health and safety

Other document:

Project of installations

Presentations:

Slide show:

Ppt1 Installations

Photo documentation:

Wall Heating (good)

Electric Installation (good

and bad)

Evaluation:

Multiple Choice

41



INFO S2

U7

42



INFO S2

U7

01 3

Renewable Energy

and its forms

Currently, we cover our energy needs mainly from fossil energy sources. The energy

sources coal, oil and gas are extracted from the depths of the earth and used.

Originally, they were also created from biological sources, eg. by deposition of

algae. But the time of their creation is so long back (millions of years) that we can

not simply renew it.

Renewable energy sources are therefore those that are available again at least in the

temporal context of a human generation.

There are only a few sources of energy, these are our sun, our earth and also our

moon. Strictly speaking, the energy of the earth and the moon comes from the

formation of our solar system.

How much energy does the sun provide to the earth? The radiant power of the sun,

which strikes the earth, is the so-called solar constant and amounts to 1 367 W / m2.

Accordingly, the power constantly radiating onto the projected surface of the disc is

approximately 1 75 PW. This results in the energy of 5.5 * 1024 Joule over one year.

The total technical energy turnover of humans is currently around 500 EJ. This

means that approximately 10,000 times our technical energy requirement is radiated

by the sun.

The earth itself continuously supplies a heat output of approximately 63 mW / m2 to

its surface. This power is composed of roughly equal parts of radioactive decay

processes in the Earth's interior and stored in the earth's crust heat from the time of

Earth's origin. Summed over the entire earth's surface and a year, this gives the total

energy of about 1 * 1021 Joule, twice the total energy needs of people. In other

words, together with solar energy, our energy supply would be more than

sufficiently ensured.

43



INFO S2

U7

01 4

How you plan a

Thermal Solar Energy Device

In order to plan a thermal solar system, the hot water demand and - in case of a

supporting heating system - also the heating demand must be determined. Basically,

the size of a solar thermal system depends on the desired solar coverage, but the

existing available space (roof, facade) and the static limits the space.

Another important parameter is the orientation of the system. For solar panels, roof

pitches between 20 ° and 60 ° are optimal, with shallower roofs (between 20 ° and 30

°) more favorable in summer and steeper roofs (50 ° to 60 °) in winter. (Austria Solar)

The guideline value for a 4-person household for domestic hot water heating is 1.5

m2 of collector surface per person with a solar storage volume of 0.3 to 0.4 m3 and

an annual average coverage of 50 to 60% (Lenz et al., 2010). For systems with

additional heating support, 8 to 1 6 m2 are dimensioned, combined with a water

storage tank of 1 ,000 liters.

In the case of energy-efficient buildings, 20 to 30% of the total heat demand can be

covered with a collector area of 10 to 20 m2 and a storage volume of 0.7 to 2.0 m3

(Lenz et al. 2010). Ideally, family houses in passive house quality can cover the total

heat demand of solar energy. Essential for an efficient operation are the quality of

the components (collector, heat exchanger) the optimal design and combination of

collector surface, storage (buffer storage, stratified storage tank), dimensioning of

the piping system.

Video-Tipp Thermal Solar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0FAqkfBLZ0, 1 :1 3 min

44



INFO S2

U7

01 5

Selection and Dimensioning of a

suitable Biomass-Heating System

All forms of wood fuels - firewood, wood chips and pellets - can now be incinerated

(thanks to the technological developments of the past 20 years) with low emissions

and high efficiencies.

Which wood fuel or wood heating system is the right solution for a building depends

on various factors:

How big is the heat requirement?

Detached house, multi-family house, public institution etc.

New building or inventory

Space heating or central heating

What about the local availability of wood fuels?

How big is the need for comfort?

How much space, especially for fuel storage, is available?

Wood heating systems can be used in both new construction and renovation. The

only exclusion reason would be that there is no storage space available for the fuel

in the existing building and also that there is no possibility to build one

retrospectively. It should be noted that after thermal renovation of a building, the

heating load must be redetermined. The new biomass boiler can often turn out to be

much smaller in terms of its rated power.

45



INFO S2

U7

01 6

Air-Water, Earth-Water, Water-

Water Heat Pumps

A heat pump is a work machine that raises heat from a lower to a higher

temperature level with the help of high-quality drive energy (electrical energy). Heat

is extracted from a heat source (eg, outside air, geothermal, groundwater, or waste

heat) and used to produce the desired indoor air temperature in a building.

The compression heat pump is the most common type. A refrigerant moves in a

cyclic process and repeatedly changes the state of aggregation between liquid and

gaseous:

1. In the evaporator, the refrigerant evaporates at low pressure, absorbing energy

from the heat source.

2. The compressor compresses the refrigerant, increasing pressure and

temperature. This requires high-quality (usually electrical) energy.

3. In the condenser (condenser) the refrigerant condenses again. Energy is

released via a heat exchanger to the heating water.

4. In a throttle body (expansion valve), the refrigerant is relieved to the (low)

outlet pressure, while it cools down.

Thereafter, the refrigerant is returned to the evaporator, the cycle starts from the

beginning.

46

Video-Tipp: "Die Funktionsweise des Wärmepumpenkreislaufs", 0:39 min.

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=orAjaSibepg



INFO S2

U7

Heat recovery ventilation systems/units

1 ) inventer - decentralized ventilation directly

through at least two units mounted in the

wall. They work together, switching the

opposite direction. Heat recovery is done

through ceramic element.

2) De-centralized unit - small unit is usually

mounted in the room and serves to one – to

max.3 adjacent rooms. Volume of exchanged

air is max.100 m3/h (50 Pa).

3) Centralized unit - can be of different size, the heat recovers in one unit and than is

distributed in the whole house by tubes, or by cascading system, just through gaps

or holes with small vents.

4) Hot air solar panel AIR-INVENT

Works only on solar energy, pushing inside the warm air heated by sun in the solar

panel fixed on a façade.

017

(Controlled)

Room-Ventilation

Ventilation is needed to provide oxygen for metabolism and to dilute metabolic

pollutants (carbon dioxide and odour).

It is also used to assist in maintaining good indoor air quality by diluting and

removing other pollutants emitted within a space but should not be used as a

substitute for proper source control of pollutants.

Good ventilation is a major contributor to the health and comfort of building

occupants.

Recommended air exchange

nA=0,4h-1 according to EnEV 2002 and DIN4701 V-10

Possibilities to ventilate a house:

Opening windows and doors regularly

Through micro ventilation in windows

Automatic window ventilation

Extract ventilators

HRV (Heat recovery ventilating units)

Ventilation by opening windows increases the energy needed for heating or cooling,

however heat recovery ventilation can be used to mitigate the energy consumption.

47



INFO S2

U7

018

Heat distributors: Mass Oven vs.

Wall- and Floor Heating Systems

Depending on the way in which the heat energy is distributed in the building and

brought into the room, different climatic conditions develop in the rooms.

A pleasant and healthy indoor climate depends on several factors:

• the room air temperature

• the temperature of the surrounding components (walls, floor, ceiling + furniture)

• the relative humidity

To feel comfortable in a room, the room air temperature should be about 20 ° C. If

the temperature of the surrounding areas is also at least 20 ° C, the air temperature

may even be lower than 20 ° C without making us feel uncomfortable. This increases

the relative humidity, which is much healthier for the respiratory tract and mucous

membranes.

With reference to a healthy indoor climate, it can be listed as follows:

48

1. Mass Oven

2. wall heating systems (under plaster)

3. Floor Heating

4. Open fireplace

5. radiator heating

6. Luftheizungsöfen

7. Air heating via Ventialation systems



INFO S2

U7

019

Mass-(Tiled) Furnace:

Radiation from a large surface

It is possible to cover the heating demand of modern buildings with a relatively low

heating load (up to approx. 8 KW) exclusively with a mass furnace.

However, when planning such facilities, there are some important points to keep in

mind:

•The heating load should be determined relatively accurately in order to design the

dimensioning = performance of the furnace accordingly

•The space for storage of the determined amount of timber must

be planned

•The location of the furnace system is to be optimized with regard

to room layout and heat distribution

•The builders must be aware of the need to heat at least 1 -2 times

a day to maintain the appropriate temperature level

• Domestic hot water production should be electrically secured

with solar support

In addition, it is possible to introduce part of the heat generated in

the mass furnace via absorbers in a water circulation system, and

to provide heat energy to remote areas, or to support the hot water

system. In this case, the intervall for heating new wood in winter

can increase to 8 hours, synonymous with 3 times heating

throughout the day.

Picture left: Basic diagram ofmass furnace with absorber system

49



INFO S2

U7

018

Types of chimney and Selection of

the matching fireplaces

The chimney is required for the safe discharge of flue gases from fireplaces inside

the building. For this, the chimney must fulfill primarily 3 tasks:

1. Ensure that all exhaust gases are permanently discharged safely into the

atmosphere (gas-tightness, resistance to temperature and acids!)

Especially with vacuum systems additionally:

2. Apply so much force = delivery pressure that all resistances in the furnace are

overcome

3. Aspirate the air required for combustion

There are many different types of chimneys: brick edged, bricked round, made of

metal or ceramic, single-walled or multi-walled, 2- or 3-shell, with or without

insulation, ...

Each design has both advantages and disadvantages and must ultimately be

evaluated according to the following criteria: insulation, mass of the inner shell,

smoothness of the inner wall.

Hints for choosing the right chimney:

50

•The hotter the exhaust gases from the stove go into the chimney, the easier the

function of the stove will forgive a poorly insulated or too high chimney.

•The better the efficiency of the fireplace, the colder its exhaust gases and the

more important are good insulation, low mass and suitable cross-section.

•The larger the amount of flue gas in the fireplace (for example, in very high

power appliances), the larger the cross section of the chimney must be.



INFO S2

U7

019

Electrical installations:

take care of air-tightness

Electric cables are laid either in specially designed installation levels (for example

3.5 cm Heraklith BM) or in armored pipes on the surface of the straw bale wall. They

can be fastened with a clamp made of 3 mm copper wire which is inserted into the

bales of straw approx. 10-1 5 cm deep.

When the armored pipes are plastered over, they disappear completely into the

plaster level (loam/clay), which also guarantees fire protection.

Only flush-mounted boxes (for sockets and light switches) completely break through

the plaster level, which is why additional air-tightness must be ensured here.

Sockets can be installed airtight, if

under the flush box a continuous layer of plaster is available (to the straw

something hollow (alligator, electric fox, kitchen knife), lubricate plaster into the

recess and put the box in the still damp plaster.To guarantee fast durability, the

box can also be attached with a quick cement.

the flush-mounted box is mounted on a Fermacell (cellulose-reinforced gypsum

plate) or wood plate piece (screwed on) and this is then plastered over, the plate

can be provided on the back with a wooden skewer, so they can be better fixed on

the straw wall holds (skewer also screw).

external penetrations (such as façade or garden lighting are best laid through the

bales during filling, but holes can subsequently be drilled in the bales afterwards)

If the pipes penetrate the plaster layer, they must be provided with cuffs

(adhesive tapes) for the air tightness. These must not stick to the straw surface

but to the cable or the armored tube, for which the airtight tape should be

plastered over, the same applies to water connections in the garden.

51

REPAIRS

& Maintenance

52


SESSION PLAN S3

U7

Session Plan U7-S3: Repairs and Maintenance

Objectives:

• Awareness of most common faults of straw bale construction,

their damage and cause

• Knowing steps and principles how to repair most common faults

and damage of straw bale construction

• Awareness of different life duration of the construction parts and

their maintenance intervals

• Repairing common damages of the house

Methods:

• Explanations

• Presentations

• Demonstrations

Trainer:

Place:

Classroom

Workshop

Duration:

1 day

Equipment:

Beamer

Flip chart

Theory

• Most common faults of straw bale construction, their

damage and cause

• Steps and principles how to repair most common faults and

damage of straw bale construction

• Different life duration of the construction parts and their

maintenance intervals

• How to repair common damage of the house

Documents:

Info Sheets:

i1 – Damage

Text Sheets:

Tx1 Damage

Tx2 Repair and

Maintenance

Presentations:

Slide Show:

Ppt1 Damage

Evaluation:

Multiple Choice

• Repair and maintenance

Practice

Organisation:

53



INFO S3

U7

54



INFO S3

U7

55

STEP – Straw Bale Training for European Professionals

UNIT 7 – Concept for the House (201 7)

Editor/Tipps: Herbert Gruber (ASBN)

Coworkers: Helmuth Santler, Karsten Bäsmann, Zuzana

Kierulfova, with texts from: 30X40 Design Workshop, TED,

TU Vienna - e-genius (Haustechnik), Buch der Synergie

(buch-der-synergie.de). Design: Herbert Gruber (HG);

Fotos: HG, Wikimedia, Pexels, Sol Power: Prestel (U4);

Illustrationen/Icons: Michael Howlett (SBUK)

Dieses Handbuch bases on the

Handbook of the Leonardo-

Group STEP (201 5)

56

STEP U7-Handbook-EN Planning a Straw Bale House

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