June 17, 2024
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The more environmental issues grow, the more we must focus on sustainability, especially if we are architects. Building materials become extremely important to reduce environmental impact, enhance energy efficiency, and create healthier living spaces. They also help conserve natural resources and build resilient and long-lasting structures. With this article, we wanted to provide a quick guide to some key sustainable building materials and their benefits.
Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be harvested without killing it. This feature makes it a renewable resource and a highly sustainable option for construction. This material is mainly associated with South Asia and South America, especially in constructing houses and bridges.
Renewability: Grows much faster than traditional timber.
The Green School in Bali, Indonesia, uses bamboo extensively, showing its potential in sustainable architecture.
Recycled steel is made from scrap metal, reducing the need for new steel production. According to the Worldsteel Association, “steel is the world’s most recycled material and 100% recyclable,” and in 2021, 680 million tonnes of steel had been recycled. As it can be recycled infinitely without loss of property, it is one of the most sustainable building materials.
The Bank of America Tower in New York City incorporates recycled steel, emphasising sustainability in urban skyscrapers.
Hempcrete is a bio-composite material made from hemp fibres and lime. It is an excellent insulator and can be used to insulate the interior and exterior of existing buildings and fill wooden frames in new constructions.
The IsoHemp House in Belgium demonstrates the practical application of hempcrete in residential construction.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an engineered wood product made by stacking layers of solid-sawn lumber perpendicular to each other and bonding them with structural adhesives. This technique provides strength, stability, and rigidity. CLT is suitable for various structural applications, such as walls, floors, and roofs. The panels are prefabricated and can be assembled quickly on-site, which reduces construction time and labour costs. So, CLT is one of the sustainable building materials. It utilises renewable resources and stores carbon, which means that it contributes to a lower environmental impact than traditional construction materials.
The Stadthaus in London is a nine-story residential building which was constructed using CLT.
Rammed earth is a technique to construct foundations, walls and floors. It involves compacting a mixture of damp soil, sand, gravel, and sometimes stabilisers like cement or lime into layers within a formwork to create building components. This ancient method has been used for thousands of years. The natural aesthetic and minimal environmental impact make rammed earth attractive for eco-friendly building projects.
The Great Wall of China is one of the most historical examples of the usage of rammed earth.
Straw-bale construction is a building method that uses bales of straw, typically wheat, rice, rye, or oat straw. Bales of straws can be used as structural elements, insulation, or both. The technique can involve stacking bales within a frame or using them as load-bearing walls. It can be covered with plaster. This method is accepted as eco-friendly, using a renewable and biodegradable agricultural byproduct. It is also cost-effective, contributing to buildings’ sustainability and energy efficiency.
Fri & Fro (Free and Happy) ecoVillage in Egebjerg, Denmark, is an example of straw-bale construction.
Cork is a natural, renewable material harvested from the bark of cork oak trees (Quercus suber). The harvesting process does not harm the tree, and the process itself allows it to regenerate its bark. The material is highly valued for its unique properties, such as being lightweight, buoyant, elastic, and impermeable to liquids and gases. These characteristics make cork suitable for various applications, including wine stoppers, flooring, insulation, soundproofing, and even fashion and design. Its sustainability and versatility make it an eco-friendly choice for many industries.
Cork House in the UK uses cork as a primary building material, demonstrating its versatility and sustainability.
Incorporating sustainable materials into construction practices is not just a trend but a necessity for a healthier and more sustainable future. Bamboo, recycled steel, hempcrete, cross-laminated timber, rammed earth, straw bale, and cork are just a few examples of how the industry is evolving to meet environmental challenges. By choosing these materials, we can reduce our carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and create more sustainable living environments.
Join us at our upcoming Sustainability Conference to gain more insights into sustainable architecture and explore the latest innovations. This event brings together experts from various fields to discuss cutting-edge developments in sustainable architecture. Learn more about the conference here.
By embracing these materials and participating in events like our conference, you can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future in architecture.
Bamboo and sustainable construction. (2023). In Environmental footprints and eco-design of products and processes. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0232-3
Minke, G., Friedemann, M. (2005). Building with Straw: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture. Birkhauser Verlag AG.
Peacock, A. (2023). Top 10 tallest mass-timber buildings around the world. Dezeen Timber Revolution Series. https://www.dezeen.com/2023/03/29/worlds-tallest-buildings-mass-timber-revolution/
RIBA, (2019). RIBA South Award Winners. https://www.architecture.com/awards-and-competitions-landing-page/awards/riba-regional-awards/riba-south-award-winners/2019/cork-house
Stanwix, W., Sparrow, A. (2014). The Hempcrete Book: Designing and building with hemp-lime. Green Books.
Straw Bale ecoVillage homes. (n.d.). http://naturalhomes.org/timeline/freeandhappyecovillage.htm
Worldsteel Association, (2023). Steel – the permanent material in the circular economy. Retrieved on 21 May 2024 from https://worldsteel.org/publications/bookshop/steel-permanent-circular-economy/?do_download_id=2801be14-8237-4d8c-b52b-d122bc3bfa32
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