Cliff House: Life on the Edge

Photo: Andrew Lee

Life on the edge: Cliff House fits seamlessly into its environment amid the rugged Scottish landscape. The house is enthroned atop the cliffs of Galtrigill on the Isle of Skye. It offers a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.
Dualchas Architects have designed a building whose  closed-off façade on one side offers privacy and shelter from the weather. In contrast, extensive glazing on the other side opens things up by filling the house with daylight, merging the boundaries between interior and exterior and providing an unobstructed view of Loch Dunvegan – an inlet on the western coast of the Isle of Skye.

Project data:
Location: Galtrigill, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Architects: Dualchas Architects, Glasgow, Scotland
Project’s architect: Daniel Bär
Structural engineering: IPM Associates
Contractor: James MacQueen
Client: Ian McLean, Robbie Pancics
Living space: 115 qm
Completion: Juni 2013

Photos: Andrew Lee

Photo: Sean Edwards

Floor plan: Daniel Bär

Section: Daniel Bär

by editorial office Detail Daily on 07/23/2014

Rome University takes first place in Solar Decathlon Europe 2014

There were winners and losers not only at FIFA' s World Cup finals in July, but also at Solar Decathlon Europe 2014, which was being held on the same weekend. Rome University took first place at the Versailles competition, followed by Nantes and Delft. The team from Berlin came in fourth.
 

For years the prophets of the heralded ecology age have been drawing our attention to the potential of south European countries in terms of solar energy. Thus it was probably high time that a team from a country bordering the Mediterranean won a Solar Decathlon Europe event for the first time, as happened this year. And never before had it been such a close finish, not since 2002, when the very first Solar Decathlon took place under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. In the end no less than three points – from a total of 840 – stood between the winning team from the Università degli Studi Roma Tre and the squad from Delft University of Technology at third place.

The project, RhOME for Dencity“ was the overall winner in Versailles.

Terrace with photovoltaic panels on the sliding shutters. Photos: Jakob Schoof

For those who have never visited a Solar Decathlon before, the event can probably best be described as a mixture of student workcamp, architecture exhibition and open-air building and construction fair. The unique atmosphere and the opportunity to showcase the prowess of one's university to the world public still motivates countless students and professors to devote two years of their lives to participation in the event. From applying to take part and developing a concept through drawing up the detail design to looking for sponsors and organising transportation, this is how long the preparatory phase takes until the dawning of the two-week on-site competition phase.

This building actually shows an attic conversion. The Rooftop House project by students from Berlin's University of the Arts and its Institute of Technology presents an infill development solution. Photo: Jakob Schoof

Be that as it may, and despite all enthusiasm and the opportunity for public exposure, there has been much pondering in recent times about the meaning of the Solar Decathlon. As is asked, what exactly is so future-oriented about planning and building a detached home for two even if it meets all its energy needs with solar power? Thus it is to the credit of the organisers in Versailles that they modified the competition rules originally formulated in 2002. This time the search was not for single-family residences that generate a maximum of solar power under the climatic conditions of the competition venue, but answers to burning urban development, social and ecological problems in the countries that the university teams hailed from. Moreover the students were to take global, future-oriented sustainable construction issues into consideration, such as urbanisation and settlement consolidation, the interlocking of architecture and mobility, affordable construction and sparing use of resources and energy.

From industrial loft to row house upgrading
The design teams responded to the challenge with a wealth of ideas, whereby the fact that the Solar Decathlon involves ten categories almost became an afterthought – at the presentation of their buildings, few of the teams put emphasis on technology but on architecture and urban development concepts. The houses also called for bit of imagination on the part of the beholder: presented in single-family house format for space, cost and time reasons, the buildings mainly consisted of prototypes standing for a more far-reaching concept.

The winning project from Rome consists of a wooden apartment for the top floor of a multi-family housing project, and if an investor can be found could one day be realised on the periphery of the Italian capital. The runners-up from Nantes, France, presented a concept for breathing new life into a late-19th-century industrial building in the French city's port area with a mix of housing and greenhouse. Delft University of Technology even reconstructed the row house of the grandparents of one of the team members to demonstrate their concept of how buildings could be made more energy-efficient with solar energy. And no less than five teams, including the Berlin one at fourth place, presented attic conversions or roof remodelling solutions for existing buildings.

Building rehabilitation was also the main focus in the projects that gained second and third place, as seen in the case of a typical Dutch row house by Delft University of Technology (above), and an 1895 industrial building by students from Nantes (below).

Photos: Jakob Schoof

There was no lack of interesting ideas even in the houses that did not make it to the top places in the competition: the students from Chile and Japan examined concepts for housing reconstruction after storm surges and earthquakes, and their colleagues from Mexico City designed a low-budget modular system that takes the particular climate and chronic water shortages of the Mexican capital into consideration for shanty town inhabitants. Affordability was also the main focus of the south European teams: the students from Sant Cugat near Barcelona – winners in the "Architecture" category – presented a very simple building basically consisting of a structural framework system and a polycarbonate skin. After the competition is over, the building is to be placed at the disposal of a community in the Catalonian hinterland, whereupon the residents can then decide on how it is to be used – the structure is so flexible in design it could act as a community centre, supermarket or workshop building.

The team from Sant Cugat del Vallès (Spain) and its "Ressò" house was the winner in the Architecture category. Thanks to its flexibility, the building is as suitable as a youth club as it is for a community centre.

Photos: Jakob Schoof

Regionalism meets high-tech
If Kenneth Frampton had not coined the term "critical regionalism" back in the 80s, someone else would have to do so today to describe the design attitude of the student teams participating in the Solar Decathlon. But only in a very few cases were the projects concerned with a direct reinterpretation of traditional architectural forms. Rather, the regionalism on view reflected a precise analysis of the challenges that cities and rural regions face today in differing parts of the world. And these challenges are completely different to those of 100 or 200 years ago. In this the projects in Versailles breathed new life into the well-worn slogan "think globally, act locally".
The result was a veritable world's fair of young architecture in which rivalry about energy budgets, indeed about the comparability of the houses, faded into the background – and this is to be seen in a very positive light. Yet the organisers ought to put more thought to the public exposure of their event; Versailles may be redolent in history but anyone seeking to kindle mass enthusiasm for green building at the next competition would be well advised to seek a venue with more public appeal, one in a downtown location as in Washington and Madrid in the past.

The Camouflage Look: Pedagogical Centre in Italy

The new building designed by act_romegialli is impressive in its unusual working of the concrete surfaces. The wrinkled texture, developed by artist Velasco Vitali, seems to be a skin made of crumpled metal that has been laid over the gravel-like dividing walls. According to long-proven principles, these narrowly spaced dividers placed at right angles to the edge of the main space carry the weight of the roof construction and thus guarantee support-free interiors and the highest possible degree of versatility.

Architects: act_romegialli, Luca Volpatti, in cooperation with Daniele Vanotti
Artist: Velasco Vitali
Location: Cosio Valtellino, Sondrio, Italy

Photos: Marcello Mariana

Cosio Valtellino is a community of about 6,000 inhabitants in the extreme north of Lombardy. On the edge of the town, the new pedagogical centre forms a harmonious transition to the surrounding area, which is devoted to agriculture.

The client formulated the following goals: along with an office, classrooms and computer rooms, the new building was to have a small workshop, a large kitchen and a multipurpose space for diverse activities. A simple construction should provide versatile, large and open spaces. Furthermore, the architects were charged both with creating a bright, inviting atmosphere and with keeping costs as low as possible by using modular elements.

 

These challenges were realized by means of a simple supporting structure. The architects have connected three pavilions of equal size to create a single complex. Dividing walls were erected on a grid measuring 1.2 metres; via the horizontal sheets of concrete, these carry the burden of the roof construction. Placed at the edges of the building, these dividers guarantee support-free interior spaces 13 metres in length and thus provide a high degree of flexibility. The fact that the concrete components were prefabricated was a real time-saver.

Ground floor plan: act_romegialli

Supporting structure: act_romegialli

Prefabrication of the concrete dividers

The simplicity of the structure calls to mind the venerable architectural element known as the trilith: two vertical posts are connected via a horizontal architrave and thus reinforce each other. It is not necessary to connect these with other building components. In fact, it is the very system that has allowed Stonehenge to stand ever since the Stone Age.

Example Stonehenge: act_romegialli

Constructing the trilith: act_romegialli

Supporting structure: detail

The vertical dividers fulfil more than a static function. Their depth means that they offer sun protection for the adjoining spaces and form a frame for the wide, ceiling-high windows.

In order to give the concrete sheets a special look, the architects consulted their friend, artist Velasco Vitali. He was inspired to cover the concrete with silicone matrices as it was being poured. The result is a surface covered in wrinkles. From a distance, this creates the impression of crumpled metal. Only a second look solves the riddle of this material: concrete that looks like metal- a new creation.

Entrance at night

The few materials used here were selected both consciously and carefully: concrete and wood are marvellously harmonious and form a close connection to the surrounding landscape. Larchwood, used for the flooring, doorways, window frames and fittings, warms the interior spaces. The ceilings are clad with sheets of composite wood shavings and cement. They contribute to soundproofing and conceal the electrical installations of the building.

A recessed sitting area in larchwood

A recessed sitting area in larchwood

With its simplicity of construction and sleek palette of materials, the pedagogical centre is a credible example of refined work with details.

Client: private
Period of construction: 2012-2013

Soft building skins: Rubber sheeting and architectural carpeting for facades

With their muted edges and unusually soft surfaces materials such as rubber sheeting and architectural carpets are creating new design possibilities as building skins. While the materials are widely known as truck tarps or shoulder bags, or are often encountered as artificial turf at sports grounds or in the design of interior spaces, their use as weather-resistant façade coverings is something new. Gasser Fassadentechnik of St. Gallen, Switzerland, is now offering rubber sheeting and architectural carpeting as sustainable facade materials. 

 

 

EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) is an extremely versatile and flexible material. Not only is it weather-resistant and suitable for sealing purposes, it also remains a valuable proposition over decades, offers lasting UV resistance and has fire class B1, meaning it is difficult to ignite. The synthetic rubber material can be recycled without any difficulty – after its use phase it can be shredded into granules for further processing into other products.

 

In the opinion of the planners at Gasser Fassadentechnik, EPDM rubber is thus an ideal material for facades, inspiring them to various design associations. Whether in the classical design of truck tarps or in the form of simple black sheeting with visible fastening elements, the material opens up creative new design dimensions. EPDM rubber is produced in roll form and with a thickness of 1. 3 mm. The sheets can be up to 2 metres in length, thus enabling seamless, homogenous surfacing. In façade use, the rubber is cut to shape in the factory and then mounted on site. In order to achieve facades with an upholstery effect, welded rubber sheeting is fixed to the building or substructure with clamp devices.
 

A further unaccustomed facade look can be achieved with artificial turf. While textile facades are basically nothing new, a facade that has the look of a big comfy cushion is nevertheless quite unaccustomed. So far classic green artificial turf has been used for sports grounds or indoor solutions, but now this sturdy surface covering can be used in the design of indoor and outdoor spaces in horizontal and vertical applications. The architectural carpet in fresh new colours by Tosca Tiara is the first artificial turf to also offer expanded possibilities for façade design. The 32 mm-thick artificial turf covering is weather-proof, extremely durable and UV-resistant. These two "misappropriated" or "new-use" materials give rise to the hope that they will soon be finding more interesting applications than use as roofing membranes or at sports grounds.

Holiday home in Croatia

In transforming a former agricultural structure into a holiday home, Proarh Architects have concentrated on purist use of the materials straw, wood, glass and stone.

Architects: PROARH, Zagreb
Location: Kumrovec, Croatia

Photo: Damir Fabijanic

Sitemap: PROARH

Photo: Damir Fabijanic

An archaic-looking object attracts attention in the green, gently rolling landscape near the Croatian village of   Kumrovec. What would seem a sharp-edged bale of straw at first glance turns out to be a carefully restored building on closer inspection. The transformation of the former agricultural structure into a holiday home has been effected by equally simple and precise means.
Taking cultural heritage into consideration, Proarh Architects have pursued an approach that retains the original shape of what had become a dilapidated building while making purist use of the materials straw, wood, glass and stone.

Photos: Damir Fabijanic

 

 

Ground floor plan: PROARH

Upper floor plan

Section 1-1

Section 2-2

Photos: Damir Fabijanic

Konzept: PROARH

Photos: Damir Fabijanic

Roofing and walls, diagram: PROARH

Construction works: Damir Fabijanic

Construction works

Site area: 3.865 m²
Gross floor area: 230 m²
Living space:  163 m²
Timber construction: R.T. Commercium d.o.o.