Circular
Today’s era calls for a new way of consuming, producing, and building. Returning to natural materials—such as wood, lime, or clay—is a time-tested method for sustainable construction.
Sustainability is often associated with modern technologies like solar panels and heat pumps. However, solutions are frequently found in lessons from the past. Traditional half-timbered houses in the South Limburg hills, for example, use construction techniques and materials that are just as applicable in the new context. A house built with wood, clay, lime, flax, and wool meets the same standards as one constructed with ‘conventional’ materials. Natural resources offer a fully viable alternative to concrete, gypsum, or plastic, while having a significantly smaller environmental impact.
Dismantling
The new context demands not only the use of more sustainable materials but also a new approach to design. The building of the future will no longer be demolished but dismantled. Elements from the ‘old’ building will be designed for reuse once the building reaches the end of its lifespan.
Wood, clay, lime, flax, and wool have the same properties as ‘traditional’ building materials but with a smaller environmental footprint.
Elements
In the new context, sustainability is a synergy of natural materials and smart energy use. It’s not a battle against nature or the seasons but a skillful way to harness natural energy sources to your advantage. For example, by minimizing window openings on the sun-facing side of a building, indoor temperatures can be kept lower naturally.
