Chapter 5 A PROJECT AND SCENARIO_BASED ANALYSIS OF THE CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

l i fe c yc l e asse ssme nt

A P ROJE CT AND SCE NARI O- B ASE D ANALYSI S OF T HE CONST RUCT I ON SYST E M

p refa ce The sc e na ri o -based analysis is i l l ustrate d i n two different s c e na ri o s i n a play f ul manner.

The sto ri e s o f the two building s a re na rrate d by their possible i nha bi ta nts a nd g ive inside why a nd how b ui l ding s might have to c ha nge ove r time.

I n bo th sc e n a r ios, the guidelines a nd the co nstr uction system deve l o pe d i n this thesis were us e d. Th e refore, this chapter s ho ul d pri mar ily test the g ui de l i ne s a nd the constr uction syste m . I n a ddition, it should a l so po i nt o ut the advantages a nd ma ni fo l d options one can have by u si ng them.

I mpo rta nt stages of the bui l di ngs a re illustrated with re nd e ri ngs a s well as f loor plans a nd ove r vi ews of the building s construc ti o ns, which highlight e s pe c i a l l y the possible reuse of t he b ui l di ng mater ial.

94

scenario I

year 2020 A ma rri ed co upl e ha s ma de eno ug h mo ney to f ul f i l thei r drea m o f hav i ng a ni ce ho me i n the fo rest.

A cl ea ri ng a l l ows to avo i d cutti ng down a ny trees a nd g i ves eno ug h s pa ce fo r a n el o ngated bui l di ng . T he da rk a nd ca rbo ni zed wo o d fa ca de rel ates v i s ua l l y to the ba rk o f the s urro undi ng pi ne trees . S ma l l deta i l s i n l i g ht a nd untreated wo o d, a s the wi ndow f ra mes a nd fa ci ng o f the g utter, a s wel l a s the s i mpl e geo metr y wi tho ut ro o f overha ng s ma ke thi s bui l di ng up- to - date.

T he g ro und f l o o r ho us es bathro o m, k i tchen a nd l i v i ng a rea . In the atti c o ne ca n f i nd a ro o my bedro o m a s wel l a s a wo rk co rner.

T he s pa ce under the sta i r a nd a l a rge bui l t- i n wa rdro be i n the atti c prov i des pl enty o f sto ra ge s pa ce.

T he l o cati o n o f the bui l di ng i n the fo rest i s no t o pti ma l fo r s o l a r energ y pro ducti o n. T he el ectri c a nd heati ng energ y dema nd i s therefo re covered f ro m the g ri d by us i ng a renewa bl e energ y prov i der.

97 2020

ground floor

attic

1

2

3

5

1m

4

materials from 2020 materials added after 2020

1 entry + staircase 2 bathroom 3 kitchen

4 living + dining room 5 bedroom

98

structural units

space plan

exterior view

scenario I

year 2028 Back in 2020 the couple was not sure if or when they want to have children. They were also not ready to build an extra room, just in case, as this would have exceed their financial possibilities at this time. But the building was positioned at the clearing in a way, that gives enough room for extension. This was a wise decision, as the couple was discovering later. They got a boy in 2025. The first three years it was no problem to have the child in the bedroom. There was enough space for all. However, as the child gets older the parents want to provide their child an own room.

In the early summer of 2028 starts the construction work for the child room. The used building system gives the advantage that the extension can easily be added. In addition, the building envelope of the initial building can stay closed during the whole construction process, which enables the family to stay in their home without any negative impacts.

The windows and wall materials from the former outer wall can be reused in the new child room again. In this way it was possible to save nearly one quarter of the material costs.

scenario I

year 2028 In l ate s ummer o f 2 0 2 8 the fo ur yea rs o l d boy i s a bl e to move i nto hi s own new ro o m. He i s ver y ha ppy.

T he pa rents a re l i kewi s e ha ppy a s the l ayo ut o f the i ni ti a l bui l di ng ha d no t to be cha nged at a l l a nd a s a l l o f the wa l l materi a l a nd wi ndows co ul d be reus ed a ga i n i n the ex tens i o n, s av i ng a l o t o f wo rk a nd mo ney.

103 2028

2050

ground floor

extension

windows reused

attic

wall materials reused

6

1

2

3

initial building

5

1m

4

materials from 2020 materials added after 2020

1 entry + staircase 2 bathroom 3 kitchen

4 living + dining room 5 bedroom 6 children's room

104

extension

initial structure

space plan

exterior view

scenario I

year 2050 With the years the boy grew up. The living in the forest awakes his interest for animals and plants early in his childhood.

It is therefore not surprising that he decides to study biology after he has finished school. This means consequently that he has to move out of his family home and has to go to the capital, Riga.

In Riga, he finds soon his girlfriend under his fellow students. They married after some years in 2049. With both their studies finished they want to move back to the countryside and build their own house.

The parents want to support their child and his wife as good as possible. But their own house needs a lot of repair.

The wood facade and the window frames are worn off over the years. Moreover, they get older and want to make their home more accessible.

Therefore, they decide to renovate and rebuild their building and at the same time give all the material which is still useable but not needed anymore from them to their child and support his house construction in this way.

scenario I

year 2051 T he chi l d ro o m wa s removed a s wel l a s the atti c. T he wo o den studs a nd bea ms co ul d be ea s i l y di s a s s embl ed a nd ca n be us ed fo r the co nstructi o n o f the chi l d’s own ho me. A l o t o f i ns ul ati o n materi a l , es peci a l l y f ro m the ro o f ca n be pa s s ed o n, a s wel l .

Fo r thei r own renovati o n new o pti o ns o ccured, a s a new wi ndow prov i der ha s o pened nea rby. He o ffers l a rge s ca l e g l a zi ng a nd a l s o mo re ex trava ga nt but affo rda bl e pro ducts . T he co upl e deci des to us e thi s new o pti o n to i ncrea s e the co nnecti o n between thei r ho me a nd the s urro undi ng nature. T hei r g rowi ng a ge i s a l s o no t preventi ng them f ro m fo l l owi ng the newest trends . In l i ne wi th the co ncurrent rev i va l o f mo derni s m they cha nge the a ppea ra nce o f thei r ho me.

A s the atti c i s removed, l a rge do me wi ndows ca n prov i de a ddi ti o na l l i g ht a nd v i ews i n the ro o ms beneath. T he bedro o m i s moved at the pl a ce o f the fo rmer sta i rca s e a nd i s therefo re way mo re a cces s i bl e.

109 2051

initial ground floor

2073

new floor plan added: new windows new facade layer

materials from the disassembled extension and part of the roof are used in a new building

6 inner wall materials reused

1

5

2

2

3

3

inner wall materials reused 4

1m

4

materials from 2020 materials added after 2020

1 entry + staircase 2 bathroom 3 kitchen

4 living + dining room 5 bedroom 6 children's room

110

material for a new building

disassambly disassambly

new roof

scenario I

year 2073 S a dl y, af ter l i v i ng 5 3 yea rs ha ppy a nd to gether i n thei r ho me, the hus ba nd pa s s ed away. T he wi dow i s no t wi l l i ng to l i ve a l o ne at the fo rest g ro und a nd wo ul d prefer to move to a cl o s e s ma l l town. T here, o ne co ul d f i nd pl a ces fo r a s s i sted l i v i ng .

S he tri ed to s el l the bui l di ng , but the dema nd fo r pro perti es at the co untr ys i de i s ver y l ow.

However, the bui l di ng ca n sti l l be di s a s s embl ed a nd the materi a l s ca n be s o l d fo r reus e i n o ther bui l di ng pro j ects . Es peci a l l y the wo o d co nstructi o n a nd the wo o den co nstructi o n bo a rds a re i n a go o d co ndi ti o n. In thi s way, s he ca n ea rn a bi t o f ex tra mo ney a nd o ther ho me bui l ders pro f i t f ro m l ow- co st but go o d qua l i ty bui l di ng materi a l s .

scenario II

year 2020 A yo ung co upl e wi th a l i ttl e g i rl wa nts to l i ve i n nature.

A s they o nl y recentl y sta rted wo rk i ng they ca nno t affo rd to bui l d a f ul l s i ze ho me f ro m the beg i nni ng . S o, they sta rt wi th a s ma l l hut i n 2 0 2 0 , whi ch i s sti l l prov i di ng a l l neces s a r y l i v i ng f uncti o ns .

In the s ma l l s pa ce o ne ca n f i nd a l i g ht ro o m wi th the k i tchen a nd a di ni ng ta bl e.

T he s o fa o ppo s i te the k i tchen i s us ed a s the pa rents bed. A bove i s , l i ke a bunk bed, the s l eepi ng s pa ce o f the chi l d. T he bathro o m i s l a rge eno ug h fo r a s ma l l bathtub a nd a wa s hi ng ma chi ne. T he sto ra ge ro o m hel ps to keep the s ma l l l i v i ng s pa ce cl ea n a nd us ea bl e.

T he s eco nd chi l d wa s bo rn i n 2 0 2 3 a nd a s eco nd bunk bed wa s a dded a bove the co uch af ter a whi l e.

115 2020

floor plan

2

5

3

1m

4

materials from 2020 materials added after 2020

6

1

1 entry + cloakroom 2 bathroom 3 kitchen

4 living + dining area 5 storage 6 sleeping area

116 structural unit

space plan

exterior view

scenario II

year 2025 A f ter f i ve yea rs l i v i ng i n the s ma l l hut the fa mi l y co l l ected eno ug h mo ney to ta ck l e the bui l di ng s ex tens i o n.

To s ave co sts , the hut wi l l be to ta l l y i nteg rated i n the new bui l di ng . In a ddi ti o n, the k i tchen a nd bathro o m wi l l rema i n at the s a me po s i ti o n to avo i d co sts f ro m a l teri ng the water co nnecti o n a nd water pi pes .

T he way o f co nstructi o n a l l ows here a s wel l to l i ve i n the bui l di ng duri ng the who l e bui l di ng pro ces s .

scenario II

year 2026 A f ter o ne yea r o f mo stl y s el f- bui l di ng the ho us e i s f i ni s hed. T he fo rmer wo o d cl a ddi ng a nd s o me o f the wi ndows a nd wa l l materi a l s co ul d be repo s i ti o ned. A straw fa ca de l i nks the bui l di ng to the s urro undi ng a g ri cul tura l g ro unds .

T he s unny l o cati o n i s perfect fo r us i ng pa s s i ve s o l a r heati ng thro ug h the g l a zed s o uthern fa ca de a nd el ectri ci ty a nd ho t water ca n be pro duced by s o l a r mo dul es o n the ro o f.

T he cha nges i ns i de the s pa ce pl a n o f the ho us e i ncl ude the ex tens i o n o f the k i tchen a nd l i v i ng s pa ce. T he sto ra ge ro o m i s now l a rger a s wel l a nd the pa rents a nd the chi l dren have s eperate ro o ms i n the atti c. A bove the di ni ng a rea i s a cei l i ng reces s whi ch co ul d be ea s i l y cl o s ed a nd us ed to prov i de a no ther s ma l l ro o m, i n ca s e i t i s needed. In ca s e even mo re s pa ce wi l l be needed i n f uture there i s the o pti o n to ex tend towa rds the no rth o r ea st.

121 2026

2033 ground floor

2

5 1

original building dimension 3

inner wall materials reused

windows and studs reused

4

attic

facade material reused

6

7

1m

ceiling recess can be closed to add another room

materials from 2020 materials added after 2020

1 2 3 4

entry + cloakroom bathroom kitchen living / dining area

5 storage 6 bedroom 7 children's room

122 structural units

original unit

solar panels exterior view

shading

scenario II

year 2033 T he fa mi l y i s ha ppy wi th the s pa ce they have a nd i t wa s no t needed to ex tend the bui l di ng o r to cl o s e the cei l i ng reces s , thus keepi ng the ni ce s pati a l qua l i ty o f the two - sto r y di ni ng s pa ce.

B ut i n 2 0 3 3 , the fa mi l y ha d s aved a ga i n eno ug h to upg ra de thei r ho us e i n a L atv i a n way by a ddi ng a co untr y- s peci f i c s a una to thei r g ro und.

T hey have pl a ns to a dd f urther bui l di ng s wi th ti me.

At the mo ment the co upl e ca nno t deci de i f i t s ho ul d be f i rst a l i ttl e wo rks ho p s pa ce o r a henho us e.

epi l o g u e The impact of climate change can already be seen, yet, much stronger and harder to predict impact is to see if the global warming will not be limited to 2°C. Worldwide policies and regulations have been put in action to prevent the crossing of the 2°C border. Nevertheless, the current policy state and progress of fulfillment is not enough. As a result, much stronger restrictions in future can be predicted. As such, the most climate influential sectors such as the building sector, where the tightenings in policies are occurring and will continue to happen, can impose high challenges on countries with lower income levels. The relevance of this thesis is high in terms of assessing the topic in a form of ensuring that no one is left behind in the sustainable development.

By working on this thesis we have tried to provide suggestions and methods on achieving sustainable residential architecture that can be accessible to every Latvian inhabitant, regardless of their income level or availability to technology.

The aim of our study was to research if and to show how limited income does not prevent but can even enhance the sustainable development. Moreover, to raise awareness of the urgency of the topic by providing knowledge and a basic toolset.

And, at the same time, to show how many advantages can be found and taken from sustainable building for one’s own benefit.

The research part of the thesis was done with the intention of having as holistic approach to the topic as possible by looking at a global, Europe- and country specific context. Yet, with time, many further topics would need to be added and the existing ones reviewed since the relevance of some will change and new ones might appear. This could not be foreseen at this stage of work as it deals largely with future social, economic and other developments and the new knowledge that arises from them.

For the developed guidelines our hope is that the provided information will be put to test and practice and can assist in the planning process. At the same time, this leads to the next point of future update of the work. The current guide has been developed based on research and theoretical design. It is hard to predict if the suggestions would work in practice as expected at this stage. We also have to clarify if the chosen representation is easy enough to understand for people without background in architecture or sustainable planning and how we might communicate the work even more accessible. Therefore, our plan is to continue working with the material even after the submission of the thesis, to improve and update the work, so that it could become a well functioning manual and source of information.

Similar intentions apply also to the possible construction system. Our aim was to develop a building system that can be used by every Latvian inhabitant no matter of their income or access to specific tools. As such, it should not be predefined in its appearance by us, rather able to take any size and shape that is needed and able to adapt and change over the building ’s lifetime. At this stage of the work we have been developing the system theoretically and have had some feedback from people around us on the possibility of the system implementation. Yet, we wish to transfer this information from theory to practice. Therefore, much further discussion with builders would be needed to avoid steps that might overcomplicate the building stage. Additionally, also this point would require test buildings and constructive feedback. Even more, not only feedback after the construction phase but also feedback after certain time steps as 10, 20 or 30 years of use when the building has been tested on its adaptability and ease of change.

To sum up, we have been dealing with a process and not one perfect, finished building. We have tried to represent this in a more playful manner in the fifth chapter with scenarios on the building ’s lifetime. Along with the tests, we have identified points of difficulties when it comes to certain technical systems. These are usually perceived as rather static and preplanned. And, therefore, the question stays, if it is worth to provide redundant space in a single family house for a case that typically does not occur and what are the limits of the adaptability of a building. Additionally, we have been dealing with design for disassembly which involves not only the respective house owner but also the market and further protagonists who take into use the available parts. As such, the system needs to be tested in practice, to understand the market and products which lose their value after years of use and require downcycling and which are still attractive for new buyers.

Nevertheless, we hope that with this work we have been able to start a discussion for an approach that looks at buildings over their lifetime, considers the benefits of the local context and therefore enhances the sustainability of a building beyond its energy efficiency. We hope that architects and planners will feel engaged to use our provided information and guidelines, to test and give feedback. Moreover, in the best case they will become inspired to develop own building systems and approaches that deal with the challenges and provide solutions. Our vision is a built environment which does not conflict with the surrounding, nature or the building culture, rather enriches and enhances it.

chapter V

b i b l i o g ra p h y

128

P HOTO GRA P HS cover page P. 93- 94 P. 125- 12 6

open so urce , https:/ / mom e nti .l v/ open so urce , https:/ / m om e nti .l v/ open source , https:/ / m om e nti .l v/

5 th c ha pte r o f : A C C E S S I BL E SU STA I N A B I L I T Y FOR L AT V I A : res id e n tia l b u ilding in r ur al c onte xt M a ste r the s i s i n Susta i na bl e Arc hi tec ture by : Fl o r i a n B etat & Ma ri j a Katri na Da m be s up e r v i s o rs : Pa si Aa l to & Tom my Kl ei ven N TN U, D e pa r tm ent of Arc hi tec ture a nd Tec hno l ogy Jun e , 2 0 1 9