Building 101
Building 101 · 12. July 2019
Small homes are most likely the answer to the shortage of housing and it is not just an architects topic anymore, it has rather become an open discussion. While some countries find solutions in tiny houses others build multi-functional sleeping and living cubicles. I am not sure about either and I am hoping to find luxurious small and smart home solutions - homes with functional design, driven to achieve effectiveness and sustainability.
Building 101 · 24. May 2019
Passivhaus is truly something to consider not just for a new build home but also when looking at a renovation project. It can not only be good from a sustainable point of view but also money wise as it can help keep running costs downs. So what are the key aspects of a Passivhaus and why am I as an architect for it?
Building 101 · 22. March 2019
Realise your dream of a new home as soon and as sustainable as possible by creating an adaptable home. Here are some examples of how to get the new build thinking process started and indeed realise, one key aspect of sustainable design which is adaptability or you could also call it future proofing our buildings for the changes to come.
Building 101 · 01. March 2019
Micro-Climates should play a big part when considering building a house, but especially when planning a passive or energy-efficient house design. Since I posted my design-process and my first small house designs I received your kind feedback and questions in regards to sorting out or choosing a building plot. You are absolutely right, I jumped right into the designing process but you have to forgive me, as an architect it's just so exciting to get right into the designing process. But of course
Building 101 · 10. January 2019
Looks like it is finally time to say goodbye to the Christmas tree, really? I know I am a bit of a tree hugger and I am sure I have admitted to this before but now that the tree has almost completely lost its fantastic wood smell, it is time to recycle it. Wood is such a great natural material – used for many items in our daily routines it has also been engineered to be a better construction material. As promised I have been working on a small scale building using prefab CLT modules.
Building 101 · 30. November 2018
Sunshine, not just natural light but also amazingly powerful heat!
Yes, it is that time of the year, wind and weather is raging outside and we sun lovers seek to get some warming rays of sunshine. We talked already about natural light sources and I want to revisit this topic and add, how the heat generated has an impact on our living comfort and how it can help to make our buildings more sustainable.
Well, let me show you how we can make it work even with little sunshine during the cold days.
Building 101 · 23. November 2018
Timber, or shall we say wood, one of the warmest materials available for finishes and building construction is also easily one of the most sustainable materials in the world – because it naturally grows and can be forested as required … as it just keeps growing back if managed properly.
With new tools, like cnc cutters, and top notch craftsmanship there are also many new opportunities to give this very traditional material a new shine.
Building 101 · 09. November 2018
Yes, here we go, the fifth post to my little 'Home Building 101' is coming right up.
Indeed I promised and as things are, it is important to not just build but to build a home and if I might add build everything as 'green' as possible. So lets dive right into the massing of a building. I will be using sketches and design ideas we explored in my previous posts but it is for illustration only. You could, if you have, use your own house drawings and sketches and apply the following considerations
Building 101 · 19. October 2018
Dream houses are everywhere or so it seems, when starting an adventure like this it is often overwhelming and everywhere you look you find things you would like to include in your house. Well, let me just say there is nothing wrong with a good big dream, nothing wrong with taking this as an inspiration but designing to your needs, to suit your lifestyle and requirements can't stop there. Here is some guidance to the design of your house so it becomes your dream home.
Building 101 · 21. September 2018
Just looking at the definition of the word sustainability - it is defined as the ‘avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance’. Over the coming months I am going to share some tips and tricks relating to making the most of sunlight, energy efficient building forms, using thermal mass, smart materials, renewable energies and so on. First up, how to design your building with sun and daylight in mind!