The architecture sector is particularly important and very active among the many initiatives designed to preserve and improve the environment. This was not always the case. In fact, buildings, houses and other infrastructures have had a significant impact on the environment, which still exists in many cases. To move forward in a diametrically opposite direction, numerous public and private initiatives have come out, with the commitment to new building materials and innovative construction processes. شقق للبيع في قطر
In the Balearic Islands, one of these interesting initiatives is found. 14 houses were built in the town of Sant Ferran, on the island of Formentera. Its creators have combined the use of new materials with the rediscovery of traditional building techniques. The result is beautiful homes that have reduced waste and emissions from buildings. The secret: the use of algae as a system of isolation. The project was designed by a team composed of Carles Oliver, Martín, Joaquín Moyá, Reina and Garcías and was the national winner of the Low Carbon Green Solutions Awards 2017.
This project belongs to another project called Life Reusing Posidonia. One of its main goals is to show the feasibility of building a multi-family building which will reduce the ecological footprint associated with this. Therefore, with this model, we want a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions during construction, a 50 percent reduction in waste production, energy use for home heating and cooling, and water use, 75 percent. Just a few, very ambitious goals. The Institute for Social Housing (IBAVI) and the University of the Balearic Inseln (UIB) and the Directorate-General for the Environment, Environmental Education and Climate Change also participate.
Posidona Life Reuse
The building of the first 14 homes was the pilot project of a plan that is to go farther. This first step was apparently a success. In its development the life cycle of all the used components was given strong attention, resulting in a housing complex consisting of two separate blocks. There are six apartments in one block, while there are eight in the other.
Each also has access to the street and an airy private area. In addition to the promotion of ventilation and health, all homes have a double-sided interior ventilation.
A number of highly innovative technological solutions were applied in the project to achieve the objectives throughout the entire process. However, the reuse of Oceanic Posidonia, a very common Mediterranean plant, is one of the most interesting and promising. It was necessary to perform a natural drying process to be able to use it as thermal insulation for the ceiling.
"We propose a paradigm shift: instead of investing in a 1500-kilometer long chemical plant, we invest the same budget in local untrained work, which will extend Neptune grass to dry under the sun and compact it into pallets with a roof insulation of 15 cm. It also shows that sea salt acts as a natural biocidal product and is totally organic," says IBAVI.
The project is funded by the EU and received a grant of EUR 754,012. As its promoters point out, the project aims to be an efficient building model to achieve the Europe 20/20/20 strategy objectives. This and other measures were undertaken by the public administrations to move forward in the sense that all of their buildings are almost consumed at zero. An interesting project, without a doubt, that can help to overcome the important environmental challenges facing us.