Earthships: sustainable housing alternative

Freney, Martin

doi:10.1504/ijsdes.2009.028885

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Michael Reynolds back in 1972, built the Thumb House, the first of several homes built on throughout his career. The architect explores a new living concept focused on resource self-sufficiency (materials, water, and energy) and uses waste from nearby landfills as construction materials [43]. Furthermore, research groups such as Vandkunsten Architects [44], Arup -Global Advisory, Design, Planning & Engineering[45], University of Brighton [46] have been working on full-scale prototypes and new practices of re-using building components and materials according to the principles of reversible construction.…”

Section: Upcycling Waste and Byproducts As Construction Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Methodology to Qualitatively Select Upcycled Building Materials from Urban and Industrial Waste

Parece¹,

Rato²,

Resende³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The growing concern about climate change and the recognition of the planet’s limits led society to look for alternatives that promote the balance between the natural and the built environment. The circular economy emerges as an alternative to the linear economic model, inspired by natural metabolisms, by circulating resources in continuous loops, where their intrinsic value is maintained and improved. This research proposes a closed-loop strategy in the built environment by studying innovative constructive solutions that aim to find use, value, and inspiration in what is considered waste. A literature review is conducted on the circular design strategies, re-use and recycle typologies, and waste transformation processes. Then, the development of a methodology for qualitative evaluation and selection of re-used and upcycled construction materials from post-consumer waste and by-products is presented and then applied to thirty-five cases of constructive solutions from plastic, wood, paper, steel, aluminium, and agricultural waste. The research reports that the developed framework is adequate. The analysed alternative materials have good environmental performance and can be used as building materials despite their functional limitations, reflecting the enormous potential of waste as a resource for the construction industry.

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Section: Upcycling Waste and Byproducts As Construction Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Methodology to Qualitatively Select Upcycled Building Materials from Urban and Industrial Waste

Parece¹,

Rato²,

Resende³

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…John Harbraken overcame the design limitation and the original function of products on re-use. Harbraken developed a beer bottle that could be re-used after consumption as an affordable house-building brick [46]. Michael Reynolds, back in 1972, built the Thumb House, the first of several homes built on throughout his career.…”

Section: Upcycling Waste and By-products As Construction Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Methodology to Qualitatively Select Upcycled Building Materials from Urban and Industrial Waste

et al. 2022

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The rising concern about climate change and other challenges faced by the planet led society to look for different design solutions and approaches towards a more balanced relationship between the built and natural environment. The circular economy is an effective alternative to the linear economic model inspired by natural metabolisms and the circular use of resources. This research explores how innovative strategies can be integrated for evaluating local urban and industrial wastes into sustainable building materials. A literature review is conducted focusing on circular design strategies, re-use, recycle, and waste transformation processes. Then, a methodology for the selection of upcycled and re-used building materials is developed based on Ashby’s method. A total of thirty-five types of partition walls, which include plastic, wood, paper, steel, aluminium, and agricultural wastes, are evaluated using a multi-criteria decision aid (M-MACBETH). Among these solutions, ten types of walls show high-performance thermal and sound isolation, fourteen types are effective for coating, and two exhibit structural reliability. Regardless of their functional limitations, the proposed solutions based on waste materials bear great potential within the construction industry.

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“…Freney's comprehensive research on post-occupancy evaluations of the architecture of "earthships" provides scientific evidence and environmental credentials for building with waste [39]. Earthships are earth-covered autonomous houses that are constructed with waste products like discarded tyres and bottles made of glass or plastic.…”

Section: Regenerative Development and Building Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Highlighted in Freney's research are thermal performance and climate resilience when using post-natural building material. Tyres are filled with non-combustible compacted earth mixed with waste and then covered with earth or lime plaster, which enhances the fire resistance [39].…”

Section: Regenerative Development and Building Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They noted that they used little or no energy to warm or cool their buildings in extreme temperatures. Numerous studies also show the robustness of tyre buildings in withstanding floods and limiting damage in earthquake-prone areas [39]. Natural-disaster teams, trained in the compacted-tyre and earthship methods, responded by building emergency housing in earthquake-prone places such as Haiti, Guatemala, California, New Zealand and Japan.…”

Section: Regenerative Development and Building Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Informal Settlement Upgrading in South Africa: A Preliminary Regenerative Perspective

2019

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Informal settlement upgrading is commonly practised worldwide, but often in technical ways, paying little attention to the physical environment. Regenerative development provides an ecological response and emphasises human development concerns. In this paper, we adopt a social constructivist approach to investigating the meaning of construction processes and the value of regenerative development in an informal upgrading process in South Africa. We used data from 18 projects and five in-depth interviews. Our findings show how waste can be used in this process, and that regenerative development delivers houses that are better insulated and avoid some of the risks associated with houses constructed by informal settlers. The value of the project lies in the acceptance of eco-building and the development of an attachment to the physical environment. Regenerative development facilitates self-help, which in turn supports the user value of these houses. We found considerable human development linked to regenerative development. Our findings show that, in addition to providing shelter, regenerative development encourages artistry and imagination, gets members of the community to work together, promotes social empowerment, improves physical and mental health, and fosters enjoyment.

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Earthships: sustainable housing alternative

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

A Methodology to Qualitatively Select Upcycled Building Materials from Urban and Industrial Waste

A Methodology to Qualitatively Select Upcycled Building Materials from Urban and Industrial Waste

A Methodology to Qualitatively Select Upcycled Building Materials from Urban and Industrial Waste

Informal Settlement Upgrading in South Africa: A Preliminary Regenerative Perspective

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