An overview of sustainable low-tech buildings: realised examples, innovative approaches, principles and systemic solutions
This study takes a closer look at approaches to low-tech buildings, documents them in detail, assesses them in terms of sustainability criteria and identifies potential for further development. The aim is to process and utilise the current state of engineering and existing know-how and knowledge on the basis of realised examples. The result is a knowledge base that provides recommendations for further research into sustainable low-tech buildings.
Duration: 1 September 2015 - 31 August 2016
In recent years, building technology has developed from a low-energy to an active building concept within a short space of time. Numerous technical innovations and concepts in the field of energy conversion (solar, PV, geothermal, etc.), storage, control and regulation now enable construction concepts and buildings that produce more energy than they consume over the course of a year. Some aspects of this rapid development have taken place in isolation and almost exclusively within purely technologically orientated sectors. The fact that some areas were unable to keep up with this rapid progress led to a lack of balance between energy savings - costs and user comfort. It is still difficult to guarantee the appropriate quality assurance during the construction phase. The service infrastructure for the operation of the buildings (maintenance) is not yet sufficiently developed as a service offering to be managed economically. In addition, the actual usage behaviour cannot be planned with certainty in advance.
It would therefore seem expedient to take a closer look at approaches to less complex building concepts that are geared towards automation and mechanisation and to use these to prepare a knowledge base for sustainable low-tech buildings. A recent preliminary study by the University of Liechtenstein entitled "Sustainable Low-Tech Buildings" is probably the most up-to-date compendium on the subject of low-tech architecture. Building on this theoretical framework and the planning criteria defined therein, realised buildings will be examined in depth, documented and researched with regard to their potential for sustainable building concepts.
Methodological approach: In a first analysis step, a broad knowledge base on low-tech buildings and innovative approaches is created from specialised source and data material. The results will be discussed and evaluated by a panel of experts and a representative selection, the 10 most innovative "best-practice" examples, will be chosen for further documentation and processing.
These selected projects or solutions will be presented in a standardised and clear form in text, plans and images. In the elaboration, the researched results are linked with existing knowledge from previous research projects and thematically related scientific results and further research needs for further development are presented. The aim is to prepare the current state of engineering and the existing know-how and knowledge on the basis of realised examples and make them usable.
FH Campus Wien Research and Development GmbH