Discover projects that invest in saving water and energy, reducing waste emissions and other sustainable solutions
Submitted at Mar 16, 2021, 2:00 AM
(André Pinheiro/Divulgação/CASACOR)
Sustainability is no longer a differential in architectural projects and has reached a new level of importance. Called sustainable constructions , more and more engineers, architects and designers prioritize, in their work, good ideas that contribute to the preservation of the environment, but without leaving aside aesthetic and functional aspirations.
The success of the construction method is mainly linked to the advantages it offers. According to engineer Luiz Henrique Ferreira, director of Inovatech Engenharia , “ sustainable constructions are cheaper, require less maintenance and are built more quickly, with greater planning and with better levels of comfort for users”.
As the largest exhibition of architecture, design and landscaping in the Americas, CASACOR could not fail to contribute to a more sustainable future. At the end of 2015, the brand made a commitment to sustainability and, in partnership with Inovatech Engenharia, defined objectives that seek certification of the event within the ISO 14.001 standard
In 2016, the partnership resulted in the first edition of Casa Sustentável . At CASACOR São Paulo , engineer Luiz Henrique Ferreira and architects Rodrigo Mindlin Loeb and Caio Dotto designed Casa AQUA . The idea was repeated this year, this time signed by the architect Mariana Crego. Other editions of CASACOR in Brazil also invested in this construction method, such as Rio de Janeiro, Paraíba and Minas Gerais.
The success of the initiative motivated the creation of the CASACOR Sustainable Home Challenge . Participants will have to create a project for the CASACOR São Paulo 2018 Sustainable Home , which could serve as inspiration for the construction of a space in the show, if there is one, at the end of this year. competition, availability of area and also a sponsoring company that intends to subsidize the construction. Registration is now open and can be done until November 13th.
To inspire projects and motivate participation in the challenge, we selected 10 buildings from around the world that combine design excellence with eco-efficiency. Check them out:
Casa AQUA demystifies the concept of sustainable housing and shows that “it is possible to combine aesthetics, design, functionality and eco-efficiency , within competitive cost standards”, as argued by engineer Luiz Henrique Ferreira, director of Inovatech Engenharia.
The consulting firm was the one that conceived the project, which took shape in the hands of architects Rodrigo Mindlin Loeb and Caio Dotto, at CASACOR São Paulo 2016 .
The starting point was to create a house that would suit the needs of a family. Construction in modules with four independent volumes was a perfect fit, as the modules can be assembled and disassembled as time passes and needs change.
Occupying an area of approximately 50 m², the construction was completed in 10 days, the common masonry was replaced by prefabricated concrete slabs that facilitate transportation and dismantling.
To ensure thermal comfort, the project relied on a system of ventilated facades and green roofs. In addition to these, other solutions were used, such as the use of photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and the installation of a meteorological system for irrigation and use of water. rainwater without using pumps.
In Singapore, Astrid Hill oozes personality. Straight lines, green roofs, vertical gardens and wooden slats create the look of the project, which is divided into two interconnected open-air volumes.
Designed by the Tsao-McKown office, the construction arose from the challenge of reinterpreting a Chinese home with a contemporary look, and went beyond that, proving that sustainable design can be beautiful. Different sectors make up the residence, each of the volumes has divisions smaller areas that include work, entertainment and residential areas.
The segmentation system allows for greater energy savings, since when unoccupied, the spaces can be turned off independently. The large glass panels allow for the use of natural light, while the green roofs and gardens help to cool the interiors and are integrated into the rainwater collection system.
The UK’s most sustainable home is in West Kirby. Architect Colin Usher set out to design a simple home that would be low-impact and cost-effective.
The main idea was to create a place with lots of light and space to hang his wife's artwork. The building exceeded all expectations, winning the national award for Best New Domestic Building at the Swig Awards in the energy efficiency category.
The most incredible thing is the cost of maintaining a home: homeowners spend the equivalent of just R$7 per month on energy. The secret lies in paying attention to detail.
Many windows provide natural lighting during the day, and their position was strategically established, taking into account the rotation of air masses to ensure ventilation. Finally, they received a triple layer of glass and thick frames to prevent loss of light. of heat.
The wooden coverings , to guarantee thermal insulation, the roof made with photovoltaic panels and the LED lighting complete the package.
The Earthships proposal seems almost impossible: to live autonomously, without depending on external energy and water sources. But the ecological house model created entirely with recyclable materials is real.
Conceived in the 1970s, the project revolves around four main objectives: to create sustainable architecture, to rely solely on natural energy sources, to be economically viable and to be able to be built by anyone. The base of the residences is made from recyclable materials, such as PET bottles, together with tires filled with soil, which create a thermal mass capable of balancing the ambient temperature, keeping it always pleasant, come rain, sun or even snow.
Each Earthship has a water harvesting system divided into three stages: first, the water is collected from the rain and filtered, then it is used for conventional activities, except in the toilets; then it is drained through containment systems, treated and reused in the toilets; finally, the water is filtered and taken to the botanical cells, outside the residence, and used in the plantations that produce food for the residents.
Waste House is the UK's first permanent building constructed from waste. The building serves as a research facility and design workshop for the University of Brighton's Faculty of Arts, and is located on the university's campus.
The project was designed by East Sussex studio BBM in partnership with undergraduate students and was built over the course of a year, between 2013 and 2014. Its foundations were made from granulated blast furnace slag – a material with low environmental impact – and are supported by in a structure made of plywood.
The columns and beams were made from wood salvaged from a demolished house. Around 20,000 toothbrushes, 4,000 DVD covers, 2,000 floppy disks and 2 tons of jeans were used to make the walls as insulation. The materials can be be seen through transparent cuts. In addition, 2,000 carpet tiles were applied as a weatherproof coating on the outside of the house.
Two years ago, in 2015, Muji , a Japanese retail company, created a collection of three prefabricated sustainable homes. With minimalist features, they were designed by renowned designers: Naoto Fukasawa, Jasper Morrison and Konstantin Grcic.
The residences are easy to transport and were inspired by tiny houses , a type of mini-housing that is common in Japan. Each model has its own peculiarities, but they all invest in ecological solutions. In Gric's construction, natural lighting is the strong point, the large The windows allow light to flow throughout the space. Fukasawa decided to give his creation a country feel, so he invested in a glass wall framed with rustic wood on the inside and black on the outside, as well as a cast iron stove.
Finally, Morrison designed a cork house with a wooden interior. The houses can be purchased at the store itself, and prices range from $25,000 to $40,000.
The geometric and futuristic architecture of The Crystal in London draws attention for its unique features. The angles and inclined walls, covered in large panes of glass, go far beyond the visual aspect, they guarantee natural lighting and, through a mechanism of controllable façade, which has 150 openings, allows for an effective ventilation system without wasting energy.
These are just two of the features that make the building the only construction on the planet to receive the highest rating in two of the largest sustainable certification systems – LEED Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding.
The space houses the Siemens Global Center for Sustainable Urbanism and is used to organize events and conferences on the development of sustainable cities.
Close to the London Array offshore wind farm, much of the energy used comes from renewable sources, to complete the system, the project also has photovoltaic and solar panels installed on the terrace.
As a result, The Crystal consumes 46% less energy and emits 65% less carbon dioxide than comparable office buildings.
The second tallest building in New York City is also the most sustainable skyscraper in the United States. The 365-meter-tall One Bryant Park, made up of 55 floors, is home to the Bank of America. The building was the first to receive the LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council .
Most of the raw materials used in the construction came from renewable and recyclable sources, obtained within a maximum of 500 kilometers of the city. Furthermore, the concrete used was composed of 45% waste and 55% cement, eliminating part of the CO2. emitted in the production of the material.
The concepts of biophilia guided the design of the space. The idea was to create a modern workplace with natural light and fresh air. To achieve this, the walls were covered with large panes of glass with heat-reflecting ceramic frit.
The building also incorporates systems for capturing and reusing water, and green roofs. One of the biggest differences of One Bryant Park is that it works as a large air filter, putting into practice the ideals of cyclical sustainability: the building filters the air delivered to offices, cleaning 95% of impurities, and returns that cleaner air to New York.
Traces of classical architecture blend with the modern mirrored façade of JK 1455 in São Paulo. The imposing building, located on Avenida Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek in Pinheiros, was the first Brazilian building to achieve LEED gold certification, in November 2012. To achieve the title, two years of renovations were necessary until the structure met the LEED EB O&M requirements and could be considered sustainable.
Under the management of Cyrela Commercial Properties , several techniques were applied to reduce the environmental impact of the space, including solutions to reduce electricity consumption and make better use of water, which began to be reused in the bathrooms.
Changes in the cleaning strategy, reducing the use of chemical products, and an educational program aimed at promoting practices were also part of the action plan developed.
Discover this and other sustainable practices on CASACOR's Instagram: @casacor_sustentavel
