Build Simply
Linking the future of construction with simplicity in the sense of reduction and robustness - this is the approach of the BUILD SIMPLY research group at the Technical University of Munich under the direction of Prof Florian Nagler.
Six principles of simple building represent the current result of their research. They are clearly summarised in a guideline and are useful for all players in the construction sector (in German).
The six principles of simple building
A comparison of a city flat with a tiny house in terms of living and envelope space shows that a city flat with four times the floor area has around 50 per cent less envelope space. Building simply means building compactly, in concrete terms:
- Reduce the envelope area
- Increase structural density
How big does the window have to be to provide the room with the same amount of light with different types of glass? Building simply means avoiding windows that are too large:
- the ideal glass area of the windows corresponds to 10 - 15 per cent of the room area to be illuminated
- Do without solar control glazing
How much energy is needed to heat the room air or the components surrounding the room? Building simply means taking thermal inertia into account, in concrete terms:
- A heavy construction stores the temperature
- Night ventilation cools the thermal mass
A comparison of the environmental impact of different ventilation systems clearly shows that, despite all their advantages, centralised ventilation systems with heat recovery also require more materials. Building simply means that the technology installed must be particularly durable, specifically
- Use robust and reduced technology systems
- take user behaviour into account
A look at the service life of the component layers shows: The use of a building changes after around ten years and its technical systems change every 20 years. In contrast, the average service life of the building structure is 100 years. Building simply means thinking about the future of the building, in concrete terms:
- Think about future uses, plan for variants
- Separate technical systems from the structure
Solid wood, masonry, lightweight concrete - every building material can be used optimally or less optimally. Building simply means building with the right materials, specifically:
- Using a few, single-variety component layers and
- into robust and durable structures
Background knowledge
Why does building need to become simpler? Because of high costs and high demands, because of complicated regulations and overburdened stakeholders. The requirements for heat, fire and sound insulation in buildings have been steadily increasing for decades. In addition to the optimisation of building materials, the increased use of technical systems is the main way to achieve the high targets: Saving energy (in the form of heating energy) and ensuring year-round comfort for users.
Can it be simpler?
As a result, the share of technical installations in construction costs has risen considerably in recent years. The Federal Government's Building Cost Reduction Commission came to the conclusion that cost group 400 (technical building equipment) is primarily responsible for the increase in construction costs.
Furthermore, this leads to a large number of regulations and technical rules that often overwhelm planners and clients. Errors in planning, execution and operation are the result.
Research focus on BUILD SIMPLY
Against this backdrop, the BUILD SIMPLY research focus has been established at the Technical University of Munich. The team of architects, civil and environmental engineers, led by Prof. Florian Nagler, asked themselves how architecture can be optimised with structural means so that as little technology as possible is required to create a pleasant indoor climate. And it posed the question of their longevity: how do such simply built houses compare with standard residential buildings or low-energy residential buildings in terms of environmental impact and life cycle costs over a period of 100 years?
In the research project "Simple construction - integral strategies for energy-efficient, simple construction with timber, lightweight concrete and highly insulating masonry - investigation of the interactions between space, construction and building technology", funded by the Future Building Research Initiative (BBSR), fundamental principles of simple construction were investigated over a period of two years.
Exemplary residential buildings
The measures developed were implemented by Florian Nagler Architekten in three research houses made of solid wood, masonry and lightweight concrete in monolithic construction. Using these exemplary residential buildings, the guide explains the six principles derived from the work of the EINFACH BAUEN research group.
The authors are aware that they cannot provide a universally valid building concept with this guide. Rather, they want to provide an impetus for an iterative process that becomes simpler, more sustainable and more optimised - in short, more holistic - each time.
Conclusion
Building simply means protecting the environment throughout the entire life cycle of buildings. The result is residential buildings that are easy to build and easy to use.
Further information:
This knowledge was donated by:
Laura Franke M.Sc. Chair of Building Technology and Climate-Friendly Construction - Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Auer
Zsofia Varga M.Sc., Stephan Ott M.A. Chair of Timber Construction and Building Design - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Winter
Fabian Diewald M.Sc. Chair of Materials and Materials Testing in Construction - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Gehlen