Best Practices

Abstract

This chapter presents examples of innovative and sustainable use of bio-based products in building façades. Selected cases represent best practices implemented all over the world are presented from the perspective of art and innovation. Cases and examples incorporated in this chapter are indexed and summarized in a form of portfolio. Short description regarding materials, building function as well as motivation of architects to design certain objects is presented. Buildings presented here may inspire new generation of architects to successfully implement biomaterials-based solutions in their future projects.

Form must have a content, and that content must be linked with nature.

Alvar Aalto

The design of a building is an important process affecting its operational performance. Sustainable, safe, and comfortable built environment is particularly essential in present day, when a majority of people spend most of their time in offices, factories, or homes. Buildings are gradually becoming people centric. The focus on the occupant well-being and comfort as well as on flexible, collaborative, and adaptable spaces has become a concern of architects, designers, and developers (Jadhav 2016). New materials, design tools, and building technologies encourage buildings to be more responsive to their occupants and the environment. By using renewable materials in buildings and adopting sustainable design practices, we can contribute to human health and well-being. Nowadays, contemporary architectural practice is driven by the innovation of materials. Advanced, smart, responsive, and biologically inspired materials are gaining popularity in architectural design (Aksamija 2016). Wood and other bio-based building materials have gradually become more important, especially in the context of CO₂ neutral economy. None of the other materials can be utilized in such numerous ways as wood, as it is remarkably versatile, aesthetically charming, and, at the same time, entirely recyclable. The examples presented in this chapter display the wealth of innovative and sustainable use of bio-based products in building façades. The products used include modified wood, engineered timber products, as well as certain exploratory solutions incorporating bio-based energy harvesting systems. The function of selected buildings was not limited to the physical space they offer.

We would like to present the following case studies (Figs. 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, and 4.24) with the aim to demonstrate how buildings interact with the occupants and what motivated architects along the design process. The knowledge-based implementation of bio-based materials in architecture is restricted only by the imagination of designers. We sincerely hope that buildings presented here may inspire new generation of architects to successfully implement biomaterials-based solutions in their future projects.

Fig. 4.1

Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center

Fig. 4.2

Bibliothèque nationale de France

Fig. 4.3

BIQ building

Fig. 4.4

Cafe Birgitta

Fig. 4.5

Chapelle de St-Loup

Fig. 4.6

European Council and Council of the EU

Fig. 4.7

Market Hall in Ghent

Fig. 4.8

Parkeergarage Laakhaven

Fig. 4.9

Pavilion of reflections

Fig. 4.10

Sampa Pauma House 6

Fig. 4.11

SunnyHills at Minami-Aoyama

Fig. 4.12

Tietgenkollegiet—student housing

Fig. 4.13

Wälder Haus

Fig. 4.14

Yokohama Ferry Terminal

Fig. 4.15

Photograph courtesy of Kebony

Kreod pavilion.

Fig. 4.16

Photograph courtesy of Paolo Grossi

Rotho Blaas SRL headquarters.

Fig. 4.17

Photograph courtesy of Rory Gardiner

Barangaroo house.

Fig. 4.18

Photograph courtesy of Accsys

1500 West Alabama office building.

Fig. 4.19

Photograph courtesy of Accsys

Misono branch of the Hekikai Shinkin bank.

Fig. 4.20

Photograph courtesy of Milad Pallesh

Amsterdam Marine Base.

Fig. 4.21

Photograph courtesy of Createrra

Unique loadbearing strawbale dome.

Fig. 4.22

Photograph courtesy of Romano Magrone

MAI housing module.

Fig. 4.23

Photograph courtesy of Veronika Kotradyova

Duna—bird watching tower.

Fig. 4.24

Image courtesy of Aleksander Ostan (outdoor image) and Jure Kravanja (indoor images)

Observation tree house.