The new generation of sustainable housing
The 2016 Ecobuild conference in London, which runs March 8 to 10, looks at sustainable housing and the next generation of environmentally friendly homes. DW introduces a few green building highlights.
From the ground up
White Arkitekter, a Swedish firm taking part in EcoBuild 2016, won a competition with its concept to relocate the entire city of Kiruna in the Arctic Circle. Kiruna had to move due to earth-shifting caused by iron ore mining, upon which Kiruna depends. White's winning proposal was not only about reinventing the city, but also about making it more energy-smart.
Rethinking a town
For the new Kiruna development, materials from buildings planned for demolition are being reused. The project also includes a master plan on how Kiruna can, over the next 100 years, diversify its economy so as to be less dependant on extraction of iron ore.
Living carbon-neutral
The new Kiruna - which will still be the northernmost town in Sweden - will be built to a carbon neutral agenda, says designer White Arkitekter. The new town will utilize resources efficiently, harnessing the enormous amounts of waste heat generated by mining, combined with wind turbines to produce renewable energy and recycling infrastructure to reduce waste.
In balance with the environment
In Millendreath, a previously neglected valley in southeast Cornwall, England, Flanagan Lawrence Architects used a combination of cantilevering and partially burying houses in a development. This reduces their impact on the site, allowing the natural character of the hillside to drift around the building. Being partially underground also helps to naturally regulate indoor temperatures.
Living by example
White Arkitekter's Humlehaven project in the city of Copenhagen emphasized sustainable design through using all recycled brick, offering more than 60 new apartments and business space for those who prefer lower-impact living and working.
A home to wildlife
The Stackyard House is a private home with strong eco-credentials. Designed by Mole Architects in the UK, the new house is located close to a thatched farmhouse, where once crops were stacked after harvest. The structure features built-in birdhouses and a green roof, encouraging visits from insects and wildlife. Thanks to solar panels, the property runs off mostly renewable energy.
Energy-efficient - and community-oriented
A proposal to build a sustainable 40-home cohousing development in Cambridge sees Mole Architects working together with developer TOWNhus, designing houses to be highly energy-efficient, with comfortable living environments and very low energy bills. The new community development will also include a large shared outdoor area for food growing, play and relaxation.