PROJECT
The S-House – Planning and building for the future
In 1999, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) launched the research and technology program “Sustainable Development”, which aimed to effectively stimulate the restructuring of the economy towards sustainability. Various research and development projects as well as demonstration and diffusion measures, which give new impetus to innovation in Austria’s economy have since been supported within the scope of a number of subprograms.
The “Building Of Tomorrow” subprogram aims to develop marketable building components and concepts (for new construction and renovation) that meet the following criteria: Reduction of energy and materials consumption, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, using renewable and ecologi-cally sound raw materials, taking into account social aspects, improving the quality of life as well as costs that are comparable to those of conventional building construction.
The building market is a business segment with particularly large volume flows and very high power consumption resulting from manufacturing processes, transportation and deconstruction of building components and structures. Moreover, large quantities of building waste pose a problem and lead to high environmental pollution and are consequently responsible for high cost of their disposal.
Sustainable building concepts follow the idea of re-circulation, which means, the entire lifecycle of materials and structures used and the streams of energy necessary in all life cycle phases must be taken into account while planning and its implementation. Today, it is obvious that, besides efficient utilisation of solar energy, a decisive use of renewable raw materials in the building systems can lead to future-oriented solutions and thereby sparing resources.
Today, there is wide range of products made of renewable raw materials and available to the building market. In this regard, largely native resources can be used that will contribute to the enhancement of regional economic worth. Building materials obtained from renewable raw materials ensure simple rebuilding and optimum reusability after using them for constructional purpose.
| Within the framework of the subprogram “Building for Tomorrow”, the Center of Appropriate Technology (GrAT/Gruppe Angepasste Technologie) at the Vienna University of Technology developed an integrated total concept with its “S-HOUSE” that combines all relevant aspects of sustainable building methods. |
An innovative building project has resulted with the S-HOUSE, which meets the high standard of energy for the passive house technology and also demonstrates the appropriate use of building materials derived from renewable raw materials. In addition, a large number of suitable solutions have been developed that enable problem-free reusability of all building materials used after completion of their lifespan.
Besides wood, straw was used as a building material in particular, the physical properties, highly effective heat insulating ability and burning pattern of straw were tested during extensive studies (within the framework of “Building of Tomorrow” as well). During the entire development of the project, close cooperation between research and practice as well as a number of partners and experts attained major significance. New technical solutions were developed in many fields for implementation in the actual building activities. One of the objectives of the project is also to develop these constructions subsequently into series production.
The S-HOUSE acts as an office and exhibition building and as a turntable for dissemination of information on sustainable building methods. For the project, spreading the know-how and experience acquires much importance. Even during the set-up phase, the results of the planning processes were discussed thoroughly at international forums as well.
The project was presented at the EXPO 2005 in Japan where it received the “Global 100 Eco-Tech Award” as one of the best projects worldwide in the field of resources efficiency and safeguarding the climate. Further international activities such as a design competition are held in Japan.
