ELEMENTerial bus stop

Project

267847

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

ELEMENTerial bus stop

Full project title

Description

This small architectural form suggest a possible method or a potential product that would valorise the waste material in timber industry. When cutting out wooden wall elements from plate materials such as CLT (cross-laminated-timber), there are often leftovers like window and door openings. This residual material allows the wood to be seen as mid-scaled building blocks – neither log nor a whole wall, but a new LEGO piece for sustainable zero waste architecture.

Where was your project implemented in the EU?

When was your project implemented?

Has your project benefited from EU programmes or funds?

Which programme(s) or fund(s)? Provide the name of the programme(s)/fund(s), the strand/action line as relevant and the year.

Please provide a summary of your project

This prototype is an investigation into timber house manufacturing leftovers, together with Estonian CLT  manufacturer Arcwood and with the support of Enterprise Estonia (EAS) at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA). The EKA Algorithmic Timber Architecture research group proposed new possibilities for cross-laminated timber production remainders. The aim of the project was to suggest a possible method or a potential product that would valorise the waste material. When cutting out wall elements from plate materials there are often leftovers such as window and door openings. This residual material allows the wood to be seen as mid-scaled building blocks – neither log nor a whole wall. Standard elements were developed that can be cut from average production remainders and offer designs based on these elements in the form of small architectural forms. One specific output is, for example, a bus stop, but it can be developed into a structural facade system.  

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met

Estonia is the biggest timber house exporters in Europe. Our research looked into what is left behind into their factories, which turns out to be 10% of all the materials used. This research project applies circular economy logic to architecture: valorising factories residues.  This prototype uses traditional Japanese method of wood preservation, called Yakisugi. The outer surface and roof of the bus stop is charred, to increase wood durability.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these have been met

ELEMENTerial bus stop challenges the notion of modular construction, providing human scale spatial qualities. This project redefines the building block of future, which can perform as roof, wall, and seating in space, creating openings and spatial patterns for better reading the architecture. 

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion and how these have been met

   ELEMENTerial bus stop promotes the development and advancement of modular timber architecture, towards zero waste and circular economy goals. Bus stop has funcitoned as gathering and meeting place in front of the university building. 

Please give information on the results/impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for

This prototype proved to be a step towards material economy in construction at scale of apartment building. 

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project

Estonia is the biggest timber house manufacturer and exporter in Europe. Residues and material leftovers are about 10% of all the material usage. This project proposed a way how we can reduce the timber burning towards small scale gathering places. 

Please highlight the innovative character of the project

Circular economy in architecture redesigning the factory residues proposing a new language for modular construction emergent of new spatial qualities

Please explain how the project led to results or learnings which could be transferred to other interested parties

This project used algorithmic design tools, which allows inserting material properties and preform structural calculations already in design stage. Proposed modularity could be new approach for modular timber construction, without material residues.

Is an evaluation report or any relevant independent evaluation source available?

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the Awards more than once under the same category and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.