New Building Material - Hemp

Building with hemp… What is Hemp?

Noun:	1.      The cannabis plant, esp. when grown for fiber. 2.     The fiber of this plant, extracted from the stem.
Synonyms:	cannabis - marijuana – hashish

The Stem clearly visible with fibre on.

• Hemp is categorised as a bast fibre crop.
• It has a stem consisting of an outer skin containing long strong fibres surrounding a hollow wood core.This woody core is of a very open sponge like structure.
• A hemp crop can be grown without the use of herbicides or insecticides.
• Hemp produces up to four tonnes of material per acre per year.
• It is especially suited to organic sustainable agriculture.
• After processing the stems, two materials are produced; hurds and fibres.
• Both hurds and fibres have properties that make them useful in building construction.

 Fibre after processing

Hurd after processing

• Hemp hurds are mixed with a combination of lime products to produce a light weight, insulating, breathing material.
• The mixture of lime to hurds varies with the type of construction application and prevailing climatic conditions.
• This hempcrete is cast around a timber framework.
• This is achieved by tamping down between shuttering, or it can be sprayed against a formwork (permanent or temporary).
• Internally a variety of finishes are possible. In this example the framework has been left exposed and the hempcrete finished with a natural paint.

Here the framework is clearly visible but this can be painted as well.

http://www.hempbuilding.com/construction.shtml 

The benefits of using hemp throughout your building:

• Hemp masonry is naturally fire resistant so you can be sure that your hemp built house is safe and will protect you and your loved ones.
• Hemp buildings are naturally sound proof so you can enjoy the silence in your acoustically insulated home.
• A House of Hemp dramatically improve the air quality inside the building and reduce the amount of airborne moulds and toxins that can cause respiratory disease. This means you can be sure of a healthy environment for you and your family.
• The lime/hemp building material is naturally resistant to rats and miceso you don’t have to worry about pests and diseases.
• Hemp masonry has excellent thermal insulation properties which means you will see lower heating and cooling costs compared to conventionally built properties – more money in your pocket.
• When built to our recommendations, we believe your hemp building is possibly cheaper than the cheapest form of project homes- ie. brick veneer, yet the hemp building is far superior in many ways.
• Our hemp masonry does not need to be subjected to high temperatures. In fact, hemp building with hemp, meaning it takes more carbon out of the atmosphere than it adds.
• Using our hemp building techniques, you will find that the costs of building a house of hemp are much lower because you can use the whole stalk and avoid the expensive hemp fibre separation process.
• Hemp masonry is attractive so you don’t need to render, plaster, paint or insulate if you don’t want to.
• You can grow your own hemp and using only simple machinery, process the stalks to provide enough material to build your own house of hemp only metres away. You do not need to grow to use this hemp building method, but may buy direct from the farmers.

Houses constructed from Hemp:

http://www.gizmag.com/first-us-hemp-house/17115/picture/125345/

"America's first house made primarily of hemp has been built. Using a product known as Hemcrete – a mix of industrial hemp, lime and water – a team of 40 volunteers, sub-contractors and designers have recently completed construction of the hemp house in Ashville, North Carolina. Eco-friendly design and construction company Push Design has gained the support of community members and local officials alike and now plans to build more of these houses, which offer exceptional strength and longevity, breathability, unsurpassed indoor air quality and two-pronged carbon sequestration attributes."

http://www.greenbuildingpress.co.uk/article_print.php?article_id=412

"Houses constructed from straw and hemp could become commonplace following the unveiling of a prototype scheme at the University of Bath. The BaleHaus@Bath, officially opened by Kevin McCloud, is constructed from prefabricated panels made of a structural timber frame infilled with straw bales or hemp and rendered with a breathable lime-based system. It is the creation of White Design in Bristol and Integral Structural Design in Bath and will be assessed by researchers at the university’s Centre for Innovative Construction Materials over the coming year to see if the materials can be used more widely in the industry for housing."

This new technique avoids the expensive hemp fibre separation process… meaning building your own hemp home is more affordable and environmentally friendly than ever!

If this is the case, why are we still constructing the heavy brick buildings of today trying to cut down material costs and 'saving' wherever we can.

I seem to find this very strange that the method has not popped up earlier.

Check this video out that was featured earlier this year on Top Billing revealing South-Africa's first 'Eco friendly Hemp Building'... I was amazed!

New design idea - World's most unusual houses

What do you consider an unusual house design...?
Is that the house with no front door, the one with funny shaped windows or is it just a den under the ground that makes you feel stuffed and suffocated with no light or ventilation and a serious lack of oxygen...
This is the question I kept on repeating to myself while scanning through these wonderful but weird designs. These few designs are only a few that made the top 10 most unusual houses in the world.

The Haines Shoe House, Hallem, Pennsylvania, USA

This house was built in 1948 by Mahlon N. Haines; also known as the 'Shoe Wizard of York' or the 'Shoe House'. This was a great example of mimetric architecture.

"Mimetric Architecture - Novelty architecture is a type of architecture in which buildings and other structures are given unusual shapes as a novelty, such as a shoe"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimetic_architecture

Haines was born in Ohio in 1875 and later in his twenties moved to York.

From small beginnings he built a shoe sales chain of more than 40 stores. He died at the of 87 in 1962. Haines was an enthusiastic philanthropist and lived by the mantra "I came into this world with nothing and I'd like to leave the same way." 

On his death Haines left the property to his employees who sold it in 1964 to Eleanor Hallman who ran it as an ice cream parlor for over 20 years.

The Hermit's Castle, Achmelvich, Scotland

The beautiful beach at Achmelvich on the Assynt peninsula of North West Scotland is worth a visit for the unspoilt scenery alone.

This tiny concrete castle - said to be Europe's smallest - was built by architect David Scott. Inside is one small room with a single concrete bed and fireplace, now occasionally used as a bothy by walkers. The building clearly held little allure for Scott - he left the area shortly after its completion.

* * * * * * * * * *

The Hermit’s Castle was built around 1950 out of concrete and was reputedly built by an artist from the south of England to use as a retreat. From the outside, the castle looks a bit like the concrete pillboxes that you see dotted around the coastlines of Britain. It seems to grow out of the surrounding rock and could easily be overlooked if not for the distinctive windows and chimney stack.

Takasugi-an Tea House, Chino, Nagano, Japan

The literal translation of this statuesque building designed by Japanese architect Terunobo Fujimori is "a teahouse [built] too high". It is six metres above the ground, atop two chesnut treetrunks - once you make it up of the ladders, it's a peaceful place to drink tea and watch the world go by.

Following the tradition of tea masters, who maintained total control over the construction of their tea houses, Fujimori designed and built the structure for his own use.

The interior is covered with plaster and bamboo mats.

The academician and architect, Terunobu Fujimori, has observed that a teahouse is “the ultimate personal architecture.” Its extreme compactness, which would at most accommodate four and a half tatami mats (2.7 square metres) or even just two tatami mats (1.8 square metres) of floor space, makes it feel as though it were an extension of one’s body, “like a piece of clothing.”

The tea masters traditionally maintained total control over the construction of these “enclosures,” whose simplicity was their main concern. They therefore preferred not to involve an architect or even a skilled carpenter – an act considered as being too ostentatious. Following this tradition, Fujimori decided to build a humble teahouse for himself and by himself over a patch of land that belonged to his family.

His interest as an architect, however, lay more in pushing the limit and constraints of a traditional teahouse rather than pursuing the art of tea making, and as a result, he has created a highly expressive piece of architecture.

To see more about these unique designs follow the link provided below:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertypicturegalleries/9313950/Are-these-the-worlds-most-unusual-buildings.html?frame=2240605

http://www.dezeen.com/2009/03/12/takasugi-an-by-terunobu-fujimori/

Building Product - Everite roof sheets

Looking into the ‘knowledge’ of what and how to specify products on architectural plan submissions I am without a doubt stunned by how many gets this right!

Previously I have mentioned ‘asbestos’ making its appearance amongst my plans and I’m even more stunned to reveal that ‘yellow dakseel’ has returned as well! These are products that 'replaces those asbestos...

EVERITE Nutec Bigsix sheets are very durable lightweight sheets that can be used in all sectors in the building industry, varying from roofing i.e. sheets, slate tiles as well as cladding, ceiling boards, rainwater goods.

Nutec Bigsix sheets are supplied in their natural grey colour. Enhancing the aesthetics of the product – it can be painted with 100% acrylic PVA after installation. Painting not essential will further enhance the durability of the product, especially in highly polluted areas or chemical abrasive applications. In areas of high fungal growth, paint will reduce the frequency of routine maintenance. Paint can be applied by brush, roller or sprayed on.

'EVERITE's comprehensive range of Nutec fascias and barge boards have been designed to suit virtually any roof, whether slates, tiles or sheeting. They provide a functional finish by protecting the underlying timber structure from the elements, as well as adding visual impact to the building'

Typical Everite Nutec Bigsix Roof sheets specification :

Everite Nutec Bigsix roof sheeting with 875mm cover, fixed at a pitch of ___ ° to 50 x 76mm timber purlins at 1350mm centres with 90mm drive screws with Everseal washers at second and fourth crest of each sheet and minimum of 50mm from edge of sheet with mitred corners as required with minimum 225mm end laps, all in accordance with the manufacturer`s recommendations.

All specifications from the Auto spec website:

http://www.autospec.co.za/browse.php?id=1937211778

Start loving Nutec people... it's not that bad! Prove that Nutec roof sheets can look good.. When installed perfectly and according to specifications the aesthetics of this little one "Nutec Roof Sheets" can do wonders..

Also amongst them are the 'cladding and rainwater goods'. Here are some pictures showing the cladding look on industrial buildings as well as some fascias and gutters.

As seen above this product has a variety of functions and used in all building sectors. 

Another familiar face to the Everite range is the slate tile. Also looks neat when installed correctly and aesthetics is not bad at all. This house reminds me of a typical ship-lap beach house!

Typical Everite Slate Tile specification : 

Everite Nutec Black plain mitred roof slates, manufactured in accordance with SANS 803:2005, size 610 x 406 x 5mm thick, fixed at a pitch of ___°, each slate twice nailed with 40 x 2,8mm galvanised clout nails (Code : 605-133) to 38 x 38mm sawn softwood battens at 250mm c/c to 38 x 38mm counter battens and 12mm thick chipboard with (Sisalation® 405 Multi-purpose grade reinforced aluminium foil insulation double sided, light grammage, durable, reflective foil laminate incorporating layers of aluminium foil) with 100mm end and side overlap, between battens and counter battens, fixed to trusses with slates fastened together with copper disc rivets (Code : 605-011).

Nutec Tongue and Groove wood-grain textured flat sheets are manufactured from a combination of Portland cement, silica and organic fibres, and do not contain any asbestos fibres. These materials have considerable strength in their own right and will not deteriorate with age.

Tongue and Groove Textured Boards are of a medium density composition. They are supplied in a natural grey colour and can be varnished with wood stain to simulate timber. Various paint techniques achieve a realistic wood look at a fraction of the cost of timber and provide a pleasant aesthetic finish. The product is ideal for ceilings, internal & external wall panelling, door panelling and garden sheds.

All these product are available on their website : http://www.everite.co.za/portal/everite/Everite.aspx?PCID=88

For your interest - Energy Efficiency Link

Hi everyone,


I believe that the new Energy Efficiency in buildings, named the SANS 204 Part XA has been more than a challenge for some.
I have had a few test runs myself trying to convince myself if the calculations are right.
Being the Plans Examiner @ the NMBM, I came across a few handy documents that would help you out when doubting those very long and lengthy calculations.
Unfortunately I can not put the document on the blog because you will have to purchase this from the 'author' himself. a Demo version is available on request. 
So... all the architects following my blog here goes:

Send your purchase request to The Drawing Studio at:  drawingstudio@afrihost.co.za  or fax them at: 086 649 7887. You are also welcome to visit the "smart glass" website for their fenestration schedule. To purchase the full SANS document visit the SABS website at the following link: https://www.sabs.co.za/webstore/standards/product.php?id=1400025022

New design idea - Complex With Swimming Pool Balconies

I was amazed by an email a received from a friend. Yet again this was a creation from the East. These guys always surprise me by their creativity in design. The latest way that the super-rich are living better than all of us? They're getting swimming pools that also function as balconies. Some 3D shots to explain the "swimming pool balconies".

- A planned 37-story apartment complex -

"Ultimate urban luxury is the goal with these incredible suspended balcony pools. They are part of a conceptual apartment development for Mumbai, India designed by the James Law architecture firm. 

The pools appear to float out from each apartment's balcony, suspended seemingly in mid-air thanks to their transparent sides."

The pools may look enticing but, given the altitude, it might be best to avoid any raucous games of Sharks and Minnows. At least that's the concern of Gizmodo writer Jesus Diaz who called Hong Kong architect James Law's swimming pool-studded design a "deadly accident waiting to happen," The Daily Mail points out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/aquaria-grande-mumbai-apartment-complex-swimming-pool-balconies_n_1403741.html

"Although the balcony pools are certainly the most striking element of this design, the additional features of the two apartment towers are impressive as well. 

The project is known as Aquaria Grande, probably because of its use of water as a central element.

A common pool area gives residents a place to congregate while swimming. 

After pool time is over a communal and sustainable podium garden provides another relaxing recreation area."

"Each apartment unit – there will be over 200 in all – is designed to allow for three-way cross ventilation and plenty of natural sunlight. The buildings’ energy-efficient glass facades are meant to reduce energy consumption and increase the overall eco-friendliness of this impressive residential development."

http://dornob.com/floating-jewels-ultra-luxurious-suspended-balcony-pools/?ref=search

* * * * * * * * * * 

Some more design with similar swimming pool balconies.

All glory to the architect, James Law himself... An amazing creation but always considers the fact that 'seeing is believing' ... I'm waiting for my invite cause this one I want to experience!

Signage... do we design around them or include them?!

Signage … how much thought is put into signage when designing architectural ‘featured’ buildings.

These days, signage takes over. My question to those doing signage applications daily is:

Do you design your building taking into consideration where the sign would be placed, or do you design a building out of signage?

I came across a few interesting photos of signage that took over the building… if I can state it this way. 

"In These Stones, Horizons Sing’. Written in both Welsh and English, this sentence makes a bold statement on the facade of the Wales Millennium Center in Cardiff."

"The Minnaert Building, designed by Neutelings Riedijk and added to Utrecht University in 1997, uses the letters in ‘Minnaert’ to form columns, making them essential structural supports for the section of the building that juts out over a bicycle parking area."

"Fukutake House, a project started by seven of Japan’s leading art galleries, brings art to rural communities that tend to be isolated from it. Occupying a new location each year, Fukutake House reinvents itself annually, but its 2010 incarnation was more stunning than ever with a typographic installation covering the facade of the elementary school that the festival temporarily occupied."

"Though it may seem a bit sensationalistic, the word ‘TERROR’, which features prominently on the building’s overhanging roof, is a fitting name for a building with a horrifying history that is unfortunately all too real. Budapest’s House of Terror occupies 60 Andrassy Street, a building that was once leased by Hungarian Nazis and also housed two Communist organizations. All three used the basement as a torture chamber, and many people died there. When the sun hits it just right, the cutout in the metal overhang casts a sobering reminder of the building’s history upon its facade."

These are some of the buildings featured on the web page and is really something to look at.

Next time, take a few minutes before slapping a signage board on a prominent facade.

They made the marriage between signs and buildings possible so why can't we do the same.

http://weburbanist.com/2011/05/13/signs-of-the-times-13-architectural-signage-designs/?ref=search

New design idea - Under water hotel

If we stop for a minute to think about this, it sounds outrageous! Maybe land is not enough... think about taking the extra step...?
I was amazed by the new proposal of an underwater hotel in Dubai. Seems to me like a 'Sponge BoB Story' or another idea coming from some cartoon but after reading this I have to reconsider.

Plans have emerged for the construction of an underwater hotel in Dubai. The "Water Discus Hotel" would allow guests to sleep below the surface of the sea, offering a view of underwater life.

http://www.deep-ocean-technology.com/home/projects/underwater_hotel.html

The Water Discus Hotel would feature large disc-shaped buildings both above and below the water.

The underwater section is be 10 metres below the surface and would consist of 21 hotel rooms, a dive centre and a bar.

The hotel's "legs" would actually be lifts, transporting guests between the two sections.

The proposal is still in its infancy, but don't hold your breath - the hotel may never see the light of day. A similar project, entitled Hydropolis, was conceived in 2006, but no construction ever occured, while the "Poseidon Undersea Resort" (artist's impression, pictured) was due to open in Fiji in 2008, but plans appear to have been scrapped.

The Rangali Island Resort in the Maldives boasts an underwater suite and restaurant - and offers underwater wedding ceremonies.

And the Huvafen Fushi resort - also in the Maldives - has an underwater spa.

http://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/huvafen-fushi-resort-maldives

The argument still continues... When looking at the pictures above it is clearly visible that there was no dispute for the prime spot, perfect elevated erf or the beach front lot itself. 

Unfortunately this is a challenging one, I always considered the sea a 'no-mans-land'...

So how would we go about to do this or is it also just a pretty picture?!