A revolution is simmering within the building world, have you ever heard? Whereas conventional ideologies have been cemented in utilizing concrete for its sturdiness, mindsets are seeing a shift. Architects of as we speak are turning their gaze in the direction of sustainable variants.
However whereas championing resilient structure, the query begs to be requested: is it smart to eliminate cement utterly? Possibly not, architects appear to assume. The explanation, they are saying, lies in balancing proportions, figuring out how a lot is an excessive amount of.
On this deep dive, The Higher India takes a have a look at 4 tasks which endorse supplies that declare to be extra sustainable than cement, while additionally exploring their viability.
1. Autoclaved aerated concrete
The fabric fulfils the demand for longevity, insulation (contributed by the bubbles and voids within the materials’s construction) and structural integrity. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is one among architect Vivek Anand’s favourites.
Having beforehand labored with the fabric for one among New Delhi-based REPL’s (Rudrabhishek Enterprises Restricted) tasks, Vivek is in awe of its light-weightness and thermal insulation properties. “Its excessive hearth resistance and sound insulation additionally improve constructing security and luxury,” he says. Research agree.
Concerning the materials: In accordance with a paper printed in Springer, autoclaved aerated concrete is “the lightest masonry materials accessible in as we speak’s constructing business”. When assessed towards conventional concrete, the research discovered AAC to have excessive power per unit weight, lesser density, decrease shrinkage, increased thermal insulation, and higher hearth resistance.
The paper additional mentioned, “Not solely do engineering properties of AAC make it standard within the building business, but in addition its eco-friendly nature; it contributes to the conservation of vitality. AAC produces about 67 % decrease carbon emissions than clay bricks.”
Architects, take notes: Whereas AAC’s porous texture facilitates breathability, Vivek underscores how this additionally necessitates additional care — correct sealing and moisture administration to stop any potential water harm.
2. Inexperienced pavers
Sustainability shouldn’t come on the worth of aesthetics, these architects imagine. Whereas looking out for materials in tune with its terroir, Vivek stumbled upon inexperienced pavers. Think about a sort of pavement that, as a substitute of letting water run off, permits it to move via, thus mitigating city warmth island results. This might be a viable paving various to conventional mainstays of asphalt and concrete, Vivek thought.
Concerning the materials: The model that Vivek urges architects to make use of is inexperienced pavers created from recycled materials. “This may assist in lowering landfill waste,” he causes. “These pavers may also assist vegetation, contributing to greener city environments,” he provides.
Architects, take notes: Whereas inexperienced pavers are versatile to work with and add depth and dimension to the house, Vivek says there are specific issues to remember. “For inexperienced pavers, architects must design efficient drainage programs.” He provides that the recycled uncooked materials ought to be regionally sourced in order to minimise the environmental affect.
3. Orient stranded board
In an age the place modular constructing methods are beginning to achieve recognition, the orient stranded boards present ample scope for experimentation. A kind of engineered wooden panel created from wooden strands which might be bonded along with resin, they add a daring dynamic to the house.
Concerning the materials: Aameer Chauhan, Sustainability Supervisor at Edifice Marketing consultant Pvt Ltd, an award-winning structure design agency, explains, “Orient stranded board (OSB) has a low embodied carbon worth and may be simply recycled into comparable panels on the finish of its life cycle. This makes it a sustainable and handy materials to make use of.” He heroed the fabric in one of many studio tasks.
The selection was really serendipitous, he smiles. “We had restricted choices for modifying the present partitions, and OSB proved invaluable because of its simple and fast set up system.” What the staff additionally found in the course of the challenge, was that the fabric boasted glorious acoustical properties.
“Utilizing OSB wall panels helped us nullify the undesirable refraction and reverberation within the studio. Because the OSB panels will not be as extremely compressed as plywood they’re glorious sound absorbers,” Aameer provides. However the true magic lies within the matrix. “The uncooked end of [OSB’s] wooden strand composition provides a refined texture to the general monochromatic, industrial-themed workplace house.”
Architects, take notes: Whereas OSB does handle to lend some bespoke detailing to the constructing, it’s inclined to moisture absorption. This, says Aameer, can have an effect on its dimensional stability and efficiency over time. One other factor to remember since OSB is procured from timber, he says, is to “confirm the particular environmental certifications and sustainability attributes of the OSB product getting used.”
4. Compressed Stabilised Earth Bricks (CSEB)
As a research underscored, “Compressed stabilised earth bricks (CSEBs) are good candidates to exchange fired bricks because of the decrease quantity of vitality required for his or her manufacturing, decrease price and decrease carbon footprint. In comparison with cement concrete, CSEBs additionally require much less embodied vitality, with some authors indicating that just one % of the manufacturing vitality of cement concrete is required.”
Concerning the materials: When architects Rahul Kadri, Nithin Hosabettu, Sahil Bipin Deshpande, Viraj Naralkar, and Aakash Shrivastav of Mumbai-based IMK Architects have been tasked with designing the SUHRC Symbiosis College Hospital and Analysis Centre, Lavale, Pune, utilizing compressed stabilised earth bricks, they have been enthusiastic.
As they found, not solely do the bricks add a daring dynamic to the construction however additionally they boast 80 % much less vitality consumption whereas reaching thermal consolation. The architects share that the bricks they used have been made utilizing a pure mixture of purple soil, sand and murum (crumbled rock) stabilised with 5 % cement. This ensured their sturdiness.
To increase the challenge’s scope of sustainability, the architects ensured that the bricks have been made on-site through the use of a block-making machine, thus slicing the emission of carbon, whereas additionally using native labour to solar dry as a substitute of kiln-fire the bricks.
Architects, take notes: Not all soils could also be appropriate for CSEB. Keep away from utilizing topsoil and natural soils. The kind of stabiliser that must be added to the combo will rely on the soil in query. Cement works greatest for sandy soils, whereas lime works greatest for clayey soils.
5. Acetylated wooden
Wooden, as a building materials, attracts issues for its responsiveness to environmental variables. So, think about quite a lot of wooden that performs effectively no matter the environment; one that may tolerate excessive temperatures in addition to endure water publicity! When architect Vijay Dahiya found acetylated wooden, he was excited to attempt it out in one among his tasks, ‘Mehra Residence’, in Delhi.
Concerning the materials: Other than the preliminary price, Vijay says there are solely benefits: “When mixed with water-based, low-VOC (risky natural compounds) finishes, it maintains the eco-friendly integrity.” Along with this, acetylation enhances the wooden’s resistance towards fungal decay, a research discovered. When the environmental impacts of acetylated Scots pine, tropical hardwood (Azobe), and non-renewable supplies (metal, concrete) have been in contrast, the outcomes confirmed that acetylated wooden has a significantly decrease carbon footprint than metal, concrete and unsustainably sourced Azobe.
Architects, take notes: Contemplating the fabric is wooden, Vijay cautions that it ought to be sourced from sustainable forests. “Bushes are pure carbon sequesters, and when utilized in building, wooden can additional lock in that sequestered carbon for many years. If sourced from fast-growing species like spruce or pine, and sustainable, replenishable forests, it’s a win-win.”
Edited by Arunava Banerjee
Sources
Utilization of Stable Waste within the Manufacturing of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete and Their Results on its Physio-mechanical and Microstructural Properties: Different Sources, Characterization, and Efficiency Insights: by Worldwide Journal of Concrete Constructions and Supplies, Printed on 8 February 2023.
In the direction of the event of performance-efficient compressed earth blocks from industrial and agro-industrial by-products: by Science Direct, Printed in April 2024.
Environmental Impression of Constructions Manufactured from Acetylated Wooden by Analysis Gate, Printed in August 2016.
