Reciclarq | Investigación

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Triangular Pallet House [download]
Cristian Suau
research done at Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts, NTNU, Norway
registered as patent design in the Swedish Patent and Registration Office

The TPH© appears as a global response against over-packaged architecture, which explores unexpected trails of affordable housing production, providing new flexibility and interoperability by using timber shipping boards, bins and tensile straps. These components are massively manufactured by the packaging industry and each triangular chassis uses basic passive techniques such as orientation, building shape, and colours, local and recyclable materials as skin and insulation, and textile or timber shading devices that improve the indoor comfort. TPH© consists of an elemental triangular structure based on combinations of two Europallets boards that are both connected by metal bins and embraced by packaging straps (metal or plastics) along the panels. On short, this design displays new possibilities as flexible and adaptable housing frame, mainly in developing areas; easy to transport and assemble. This research on experimental housing design is carried as a Post-doctoral investigation at the NTNU (Norway) and UPC (Spain). It also has been registered as patent design in the Swedish Patent and Registration Office.

Autonomous Lightweight Houses: Learning from Yurts [download]
Katarina Mrkonjic
published in the proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Geneva, Switzerland, 6-8 September 2006.

The paper investigates the possibilities and limitations of the interpretation and interpolation of the traditional architectural principles into the contemporary architecture, in order of achieving a higher level of sustainability and autonomy. It is based on a comparison between a traditional (central Asian Yurt) and a twentieth century house (Dymaxion House by R. B. Fuller). The traditional principles can be successfully applied in the new buildings in order to make them more energetically efficient and effective, but some adjustments are needed to be done in order to integrate them in the contemporary building processes and uses.

THESIS

From the Design Science to the Sustainable Architecture
Katarina Mrkonjic
PhD thesis. Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Department of Architectural Design, Thesis Tutor: Prof. Dr. Jaume Avellaneda, December 2008.

The thesis aims to evaluate Buckminster Fuller's concept of Design Science through a search for parallelisms between the contemporary environmental strategies and those of B. Fuller. Using this as a base, a general frame is created and concrete tools for the design of a sustainable architecture are defined and studied. The thesis includes a detailed study of several Fuler's projects with evaluation of their performances from an environmental point of view.

RECICLARQ · Lepant 347, Entlo, 4 · 08025 Barcelona · Spain · tel.: (+34) 93 530 93 54 · email: info[at]reciclarq.org


introduction	initiatives	research	activities	links	about

		español \| català \| english
		INVESTIGACIÓN Y PUBLICACIONES RECICLARQ Design: Architectures for Emergency Fernando Ayala, Cristian Suau Publicado en las Actas de Congreso: 5th International Conference AHRA, University of Sheffield The logics of reusing and recycling of manufacturing waste appear as a visionary field of research, which acquire a strategical role in the design of the built environment, the reconversion of productive and economical models and reshaping of new living forms. This study is a compilation of experimental research by design on eco-compact dwellings applied in different contexts by Reciclarq. Each case study takes into account the following steps: A. Identification of potential obstacles; B. Exploration of feasible space-frames by using industrial junk; and C. Implementation of potential smart technologies applied in both frame and skin. The main characteristics are threefold: lightness, compactness and transitoriness. These design scenarios mainly give a response to mankind or natural disasters and "urban emergency" (i.e.: solutions for migration or low-incomes dwellers). Therefore it is also applicable as housing alternative in slums or emergent urban sprawl.
		Z.E.R.O. ARQUITECTURA = REUTILIZACIÓN + CAD/CAM + D.I.Y Fernando Ayala, Colaboradora: Katarina Mrkonjic Conference Proceedings del Fórum Internacional de Arquitetura e Tecnologias para a Construção Sustentável, Sao Paulo, Brasil, 23-25 de mayo de 2008 Con la finalidad de fomentar nuevas formas de evolución arquitectónica al proyectar tipologías de construcción sostenible, orientado a la disminución radical de emisiones ambientales en el desarrollo de viviendas de bajo coste, este ensayo postula la integración de conocimientos,procesos y herramientas tradicionales del ambiente arquitectónico, con técnicas y tecnologías alternativas basadas en el reciclaje y/o reutilización de desechos y/o residuos urbanos. Tras una simple estrategia de recolección y selección informática, dichos residuos serían optimizados y preparados como material constructivo, mediante herramientas y maquinarias de alta tecnología de control numérico (CNC, CAD-CAM) o bajo premisas del Low-Tech. Se busca reducir al máximo el gasto energético para crear materiales de construcción, al mismo tiempo que se reduce el costo del edificio. El siguiente paso sería la implementación de sistemas y procesos derivados de la ideología D.I.Y. (“do it yourself”; construcción y optimización de productos por el usuario, sin intervención especializada) para la generación de ambientes y elementos espaciales. Mediante conocimientos interdisciplinarios, culturas alternativas, tecnología, prefabricación simple e ingenio, crear proyectos con alto grado de sostenibilidad y economía, similares a las manifestaciones vernaculares de autoconstrucción en países no industrializados, pero adicionando la componente arquitectónica como guía de diseño, desarrollo y optimización.
		(Re)utilización de residuos urbanos en cosntrucción: una alternativa al reciclaje Katarina Mrkonjic, Colaborador: Fernando Ayala Conference Proceedings del Fórum Internacional de Arquitetura e Tecnologias para a Construção Sustentável, Sao Paulo, Brasil, 23-25 de mayo de 2008 El sector de la construcción es responsable de aproximadamente el 50% del uso de los recursos materiales. Fomentar la reutilización de los residuos urbanos para el sector de la construcción puede ayudar significativamente a minimizar el impacto relacionado con los vertederos y a reducir el uso de la materia prima extraída del entorno natural. El ensayo compara el reciclaje y la reutilización en este sector y aboga por el posterior, ya que implica un menor uso de energía y recursos materiales. Se proporcionan tres ejemplos de buenas prácticas de reutilización de residuos urbanos en arquitectura. Se postula por una búsqueda de diseños de objetos de uso cotidiano que permitiera que ellos se utilicen como elementos estructurales o no estructurales en la construcción.
		21st Century D.I.Y. Architecture [download] Fernando Ayala Publicado en Virtual Conference on Sustainable Architectural Design and Urban Planning, September 15-24, 2007 In order to find new terminology in sustainable design, with recycle, reduce but mostly reuse thinking. Trough the analysis of new concepts born within alternative communities (from punk to cyber), and the application of these terms with architectural filters. The focus is in contemporary “do it yourself” culture, ethic, process and tips, and its creative incorporation in academic experiences of architectural self construction. The concept of low energy cost fits really well with the benefits of D.I.Y. techniques, and the diffusion systems of practical learning looks like potential languages of architectural projects, always based in the development of process, sequences and construction (even virtual simulations). The use of manuals and graphical instructions to express the “How to” and the “ready made” buildings elements, make new frontiers to conceptual design in prefabricate free form dwellings. The incorporation of cutting edge technologies in construction and modelling, make easy to experimenting with low cost but non-standard prototypes, eco materials and low energy construction, to reach an environmental zero impact building, from project to construction and use. The rate of energy cost of all the process (project, simulation and prototyping) is controlled and reduced. This study tries to present a glossary of new ways of thinking in architecture; playing to mix, i.e. sequences of How-To manuals, the application of CNC systems and recycle premises. Is important for architecture the fact that modern prefabrication turns digital high technology into potential low cost non-standard design, and the self-construction attitude (urban or rural, permanent or ephemeral) trend to minimizing global amounts, and this terminology reflects that. Is about how some architectural efforts must be “spread” in popular languages, naturally beautiful (without outside experts) and easy self-made. In this study that glossary search begins, in order to find new ways to reduce the environmental impact and those global costs (social, economical, etc) of 21st century home buildings, 21st century techno-architectural schism and helps in 21st century climatic change problems.
		Waste Paper and Cardboard as Building Construction Materials Fernando Ayala and Katarina Mrkonjic published in the proceedings of the Fifth International Fair Trade and Congress forWaste Management, Recycling and Environmental Technologies - Waste Tech, Moscow, May 29th - June 1st 2007 The research examines the possibilities of waste paper use for construction purposes. The starting premise is that material cycles and flows should be established between different production sectors in order to achieve the mimicking of natural systems and thus eliminate the concept of waste. Furthermore, the research explores and evaluates some practical solutions of how to achieve this goal by connecting the paper waste streams with the necessities of the building construction sectorl. The research gives an overview of several case studies that use paper and cardboard as non structural material and structural material, comparing them to their conventional counterparts of similar performance characteristics and evaluating the possible assets achieved in the overall material flow in the two sectors.
		TYRESPACE: Elastic Building Frames Applied in Urban and Rural Environments [download] Fernando Ayala, Cristian Suau, collaborators: Ines Barata, Carmelo Zapulla published in the proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Geneva, Switzerland, 6-8 September 2006. The purpose of this new research is to provide resources for ecological designers creating new building frames or landscape products made of whole disused tyres and by-products. This preliminary study provides information on the geodesic prototype and textile free-form system, its structural, constructive and technical characteristics of the design system and the potential applications as dwellings and urban games. It is also a design patent that makes use of the unique properties of tyres, tyre shreds, and rubber sheets applied for archirectural and urban environments. Low cost prefabrication, environmental recycling, and low energy systems, are keywords in the construction of experimental prototipes, both virtual and real ones. For more information see www.tyrespace.com
		Cubic Pallet House [download] Cristian Suau research done at Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts, NTNU, Norway This research on experimental housing design has been carried out at Chalmers University of Technology. It also has been registered as patent design in the Swedish patent and registration office. It constitutes a continuation of post doctoral study on potential wooden architecture since 2001, by using disused or recycled pallet boards as wood-frame systems both in dwelling framing and mobile furniture. PHS© shows new possibilities for flexible housing systems easy to transport and assemble. Since 2004, an advanced research on potential wood architecture and PHS© project is taking place at the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts, NTNU, Norway.
		Triangular Pallet House [download] Cristian Suau research done at Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts, NTNU, Norway registered as patent design in the Swedish Patent and Registration Office The TPH© appears as a global response against over-packaged architecture, which explores unexpected trails of affordable housing production, providing new flexibility and interoperability by using timber shipping boards, bins and tensile straps. These components are massively manufactured by the packaging industry and each triangular chassis uses basic passive techniques such as orientation, building shape, and colours, local and recyclable materials as skin and insulation, and textile or timber shading devices that improve the indoor comfort. TPH© consists of an elemental triangular structure based on combinations of two Europallets boards that are both connected by metal bins and embraced by packaging straps (metal or plastics) along the panels. On short, this design displays new possibilities as flexible and adaptable housing frame, mainly in developing areas; easy to transport and assemble. This research on experimental housing design is carried as a Post-doctoral investigation at the NTNU (Norway) and UPC (Spain). It also has been registered as patent design in the Swedish Patent and Registration Office.
		Autonomous Lightweight Houses: Learning from Yurts [download] Katarina Mrkonjic published in the proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Geneva, Switzerland, 6-8 September 2006. The paper investigates the possibilities and limitations of the interpretation and interpolation of the traditional architectural principles into the contemporary architecture, in order of achieving a higher level of sustainability and autonomy. It is based on a comparison between a traditional (central Asian Yurt) and a twentieth century house (Dymaxion House by R. B. Fuller). The traditional principles can be successfully applied in the new buildings in order to make them more energetically efficient and effective, but some adjustments are needed to be done in order to integrate them in the contemporary building processes and uses.
		THESIS From the Design Science to the Sustainable Architecture Katarina Mrkonjic PhD thesis. Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Department of Architectural Design, Thesis Tutor: Prof. Dr. Jaume Avellaneda, December 2008. The thesis aims to evaluate Buckminster Fuller's concept of Design Science through a search for parallelisms between the contemporary environmental strategies and those of B. Fuller. Using this as a base, a general frame is created and concrete tools for the design of a sustainable architecture are defined and studied. The thesis includes a detailed study of several Fuler's projects with evaluation of their performances from an environmental point of view.
RECICLARQ · Lepant 347, Entlo, 4 · 08025 Barcelona · Spain · tel.: (+34) 93 530 93 54 · email: info[at]reciclarq.org