The real sustainable CottageArkitektfirma Kári Thomsen ark.MAA, Sigmundargøta 10, FO 100 Torshavn, Færøerne

E-mail: kt@olivant.fo

Abstract

The real sustainable Cottage for artic tourism will focus on the entirety: from the building and interior arrangements of the cottages, the use and possible later reuse of materials, renewable energy and water supply, and to waste and wastewater treatment. Further our proposal encourage to go for a permanent densely building in small groups from 3 to maybe 10 cottages. A basic content is further to present a highly industrialized product fulfilling individual options on materials and interior flexibility, adaptability to local climate and building demands, as to develop a modern design offering association to the origin of the artic. Our proposal is an harmonic and spatial interiored 25m2 cottage which can be extended by an addition to another similar building, and with good adjustments to terrain challenges.

Resumé

Den rigtige bæredygtige Hytte til turismeformål i artisk vil fokusere på helheden: fra opførelse og indretning af hytterne, materialebrug og muligt senere genbrug, vedvarende energi- og vandforsyning, og til affald og behandling af spildevand. Vores forslag opfordrer til en permanent tæt bebyggelse i små grupper fra 3 til måske 10 hytter. Væsentligt indhold er at præsentere et gennembearbejdet industrialiseret produkt, som kan opfylde individuelle ønsker og muligheder til materialevalg og indretning, god tilpasning til lokalt klima og bygningskrav, samt udvikle et nutidigt design med associationer til oprindeligt artisk byggeri. Vores forslag er en harmonisk og rumligt indrettet hytte på 25m2, som kan udvides med sammenbygning med anden hytte, og som let kan tilpasses terrenets udfordringer.

1.Introduction

Our proposal for a sustainable tourism cot-tage shows a basic standard model in 25m2 which to any individual wish can be expanded to a bigger size. As our building model takes advantages from a geodesic plate structure – the socalled Platonic polyhedra, the icosahedron, with its extreme geometric characteristics, we are through development and full scale building con-vinced that this structrure can fulfill all su-stainable demands to a future tourism cottage in artic regions. The product is intended as an individual fitted industria-lized product in order to reach a high buil-ding standard by a simplified, flexible, quick assembelled and userfriendly product offering a comfortable atmosphere as adap-tability to existing local building areas.To support different inquiries on cottage sizes and their interior arrangements our proposal offers options by addition of two cottages partly at same level and partly by two levels with a staircase in between. Certain advantages will be a more comfor-

table stay and even for a longer period. The basic cottage can afford up to 5 people for a suitable stay, and with addition of two cottages other interior arrangements can be done. As we want to regard the sustainability in its entirety, all matters have been taken into considerations. From transportation, with the limits an artic area might offer, our building proposal has no demands for heavy lift or special transport equipment. Further the building structure and construction technique offers an easy and very quick assemble at building site – with regards to weather conditions. No special connectors are needed for assemble of the cottage, though the basement (plinth) will need some steel angels as anchors for insert to ground. We solely propose sustainable building ma-terials (as far as possible) and introduce use of combinations on renewable energy solu-tions also as stand alone systems. Water supply, outlets and treatments are introduc-ed to adjustments to local circumstances and use of all available techniques.

Fig.1: Ground floor interior.

2.0 The Cottage

The cottage is arranged and interiored for stay for a maximum of 5 people. The entrance leads to the main daily room and has also access to the shower and toilet room.The daily room is organized with the minimum required kitchen facilities as a sink, oven with two hot plates and a refrigerator. Cupboards are beneath the surface and shelves mounted to the wall.A small partition wall separates a sofa which also can be used as bed. The dining/sitting area is arranged along the bathroom parti-tion wall with a corner sofa, table and two chairs. In total size the daily room is 16,2m2 net area with a full hight between floor and ceiling in 340cm. As the hight of the room makes a spatial experience and the main window section is organized in front in the lower quadrange and the pentagon above, a satisfying atmos-phere seems to go along with the net floor area. To make full advantage of the spatial building and its hight, a loft room is arranged with a ladder leading up to a two bed sized platform. As to reach a functional and practical interior the ladder as a small wood-burnig stove are arranged between the kitchen area and daily room area. The bathroom is interiored with toilet, handwash and shower. Further are shown a possible washing machine as the 200 litre hot water storage tank.

2.1 Building structure

The building structure is, as mentioned, a geodesic plate structure developed through studies and practical experiments on the Royal Danish Academy of Arts, School of Architecture, during the 1970´ties. Here common issues were research and experiments on many sided Platonic poly-hedra with extreme geometrical characte-ristics (Ole Vanggaard, adj.prof. Inst.2 1) Best known geodesic constructor is Buckminster Fuller, american architect. The basic system is the triangling structure derived from the icosahedron – the fifth of the socalled Platonic polyhedra. This system is widely used in building bigger dome-structures and have both advantages as disadvantages. First it takes weeks and months to erect a triangled structure – with demands to climate conditions. Next special connectors are needed. The structure is stable itself compared to the plate structrure which has got the character as a truncated icosahedron.Advantages in our proposal to make use of a plate structure is first the preproduced building sections ready for mounting and without use of special connectors. Next the assemble takes a few hours and will then be ready for outside climate membrane finish, mounting of windows, doors and so on.Disadvantages are the limits for how big a section will be made as the size and weight can become too big.

Fig.2: Vertical cut A-A

2.2 Cottage construction

The cottage contains 21 load sections made in pine edgetimber covered with 15mm waterproof plywood. Next three sections are for establishing the entrance part. All building sections are preproduced and have drilled holes for mounting the sections with 10mm iron bolts. When mounting is done the construction is adjusted to the plinth/basement and connected with iron bolts to the upper beam of the plinth.

Fig.3: The load construction

The load construction stands in 10 hexagons, 6 pentagons and 5 quadrangles.

The construction and the final building is calculated to stand within windspeed at 100m/sec. with one meter of wet snow on roof laid with 15cm of turf.For building in artic climate we suggest the basement made as a wood construction with an upper beam and posts to each corner. As the basement geometry is an 10edged figure with similar sections we suggest this material preproduced as to reach a quick and easy assemble. Climate conditions have influence on building houses, so an outside finish with mounting of the windows and aluminum coverage lists will always be a good start of the work. Windows are in mahogany with thermo energy glass. The quadrangle is arranged with two window sections for opening. All other windows are locked. Other preproduced building materials are the aluminum lists preventing water -rain to enter the construction. The lists are mounted along each edge between the roof, walls, basement and windows. When the lists are mounted the roof and outside walls can be finished. These are arranged as an ventilated construction in 55mm to roof and 22mm to walls.

Fig.4: Vertical cut B-B

The roof is laid with 12mm plywood on 45x45 laths and welded with asphalt-paper. Next a plastic membrane is laid beneath the final 15cm of turf. Other outside roof coverage materials are also useable. The turf is prevented from slipping off the roof by edgetimber laid on iron angels screwed to roofplate and edgelaths.The walls can be covered with reinforced cement boards or different types of plate structures. Our proposal is here to use the sprucetimber Superwood which is impregnated with a new technique and contains no artificial or toxic substances.The timber boards are mounted on 19x100mm framework with 3mm mazonite distance lists underneath.

2.3 Other works and materials

When load construction and all outside works and coverage has been done with a sealing and climate membrane, the building owner can go inside to finish the cottage.As the intention is a building with an energy use as low as possible within reasonable levels, we here suggest a 400mm insulation for walls and roof sections as for flooring.To achieve an easy and smooth inside workmanship preproduced building section in 45x45mm edgetimber with similar geo-

metry as the load sections are mounted to the load construction with 12mm plywood in a 400mm distance. The inside sections will after insulation and installation of cables and pipes be covered with a moisture tight membrane and the finish with a 12mm interior quality plywood. The floor can be laid with 25mm massive oak boards on 45x195mm beams. To achieve a desired 400mm thickness of the insulation the underneath layment is a 25x100mm framework cc300mm with both a moisture membrane as a windtight 6mm plywood coverage.

Fig.5: Kitchen interiorPartition walls are 70mm wood construction covered with profiled spruceboards and 70mm insulation.

Fig.6: Heat and hot water.

3.0 Renewable energy supply

Our proposal for energy supply both for heat and electricity is based on solely use of two renewables – the sun and windenergy.The potential for harvesting solar energy for heating purposes should be rather good in most of the artic regions. Conditions with ice and snow influence the energy efficiency by reflection of the sunlight, but in general there is more solar radiation from ”all directions” compared to i.e. scandinavian countries. Because of the degree of latitude in northern regions the angel of solarpanels will be higher and produce even upp to 20% more energy on a vertical panel compared to lower degree of latitudes.The solar radiation i.e. Sisimiut is in general approximate 1160kWh/m2/year. (ARTEK/-Nukissiorfiit, nov.2006 2)The windpotential for utilizing its energy for electricity production is different from northern artic regions to southern parts. Also influences are from a cold and heavy air across icecaps as a complex topography. Windmeasurments have to be made for each building site, but here we choose to make use of statistics from Danish Meteorological Institut (DMI 00-18 3) where an average windspeed at 8,4m/sec. has been registered in south of Greenland.

3.1 Sun and wind in combination

Efficient technology for utilizing the sun producing heat for space and hot water seems to be vacuum tubes rather than plane collectors. Our proposal has an installation of two vacuum panels each 2m2 (net area). Each panel is mounted on the hexagons on both sides the main window section.

Fig.7: Front to the south

This means that one panel faces 36° to the east from south direction and the other panel 36° west from south direction. The vertical angel is 79,2° from horizontal which will increase energy production efficiency.Average radiation in one year in Greenland is approximate 830kWh/m2.

Fig.8: Added cottages, same level

With an 80% energy production efficiency from vacuum tubes reduced by approximate 10% by southfacing 79,2° tilted surface might produce 600kWh/m2 or for the cottage approximate 2.400kWh. Energy demands for heating purposes occur even in summertime in Greenland. The level is approximate 15% from winter period demands.The at present calculated energy demands for space and hot water supply for one cottage is approximate 30kWh/m2/year. This will in total be close to 750kWh/year or 30% of average yearly production.Figure 6 is a diagram showing the primary devices for space/floor heating and hot water supply. The floor heat is in one section as we think separate sections for shower / toilet room and entrance will not be neces-sary.The heating system is fully computerized with sensors in the floor and on the wall as electronic thermostat on the machine opera-tor.To prevent an summer time overheating of the system we will expect in- and outlet walves installed for security.In winter the solar collector will not be able to fully supply the heat demands, and therefor we suggest an 9kW electrical heater connected to the water tank.

As we have mentioned 3 to several cottages arranged in small groups, one windturbine is intended for electricity serving both traditional demands for light and oven as the heat insert for the water tank.

Gridconnection might be available for some locations, but in case of stand alone systems one 5kW windturbine will be able to produce a maximum of 17.000kWh/year. With an turbine efficiency at 40% this amount of electricity can feed all necessary needs. Winter periods have more wind and less sun, so the sun / wind combination will fit through a year. A stand alone system will need one common inverter as 4-6 batteries (200A) for each cottage.

Our proposal for interior arrangements show a small norwegian wood burning stove in 3-5kW. The installation can make a cosy atmosphere and even become a solution in case of breakdown of the energy system.

Other high technological devices are available even the costs are quite high at moment. Stand alone systems with windturbines feeding an electrolyser and compressed common hydrogen storage can be arranged with tubes to each cottage feeding 2-3 kW PEM fuel cells. Here both electricity and heat demands can be fullfilled. We will not go into a detailed explanation for high techological installations, but different heat pumps and micro hydropower utilities are also possible.

Wintertime low temperature causes troubles on water supply, outlets and wastewater treatments. Here our opinion is that surplus energy shall be used for keeping pipes and installation at a few plus degree.

Fig.9: Added cottages, two levels

4.0 Comfort and cottage climate

It is vital that both interior comfort as climate conditions are properly arranged to have a comfortable and healthy stay.All building materials are intentionally choosen to achieve a good climate i.e. the plywood covering the dome are certified for inside coverage and without formaldehyde emission. Insulation is suggested in flax, sheepwool, paper or similar nature products, and all ceeling and finish will be made with approved material.

Fig.10: Daily room

Weather and climate conditions in artic demand proper use of moisture membranes, and the best constructive solutions will in most cases be ventilated walls and roofs.Where cables and tubes are laid through the moisture membrane, it is important that a sealing is made to have full tightness.To avoid heat energy loss it is further important that the building is as windtight

as possible. All joints between the plinth and the construction, the windows and posts, as firetube, cables and tubes are sealed with rubber.

We could suggest a ventilation arrangement for fresh air with a heat exchanger, but as the cottages are rather small we will guide to an effective ventilation for the bathroom and kitchen/daily room with two small ventilators. Building demands are an air change at minimum 0,35litre pr. sec./m2. The 25m2 cottage will by this need an air change at approximate 8,8litre pr. sec. or 31,5m3/hour. Small low noise ventilators manage 80m3/h and are to our experience very useable for this purpose.As mentioned previous two windows in the quadrangle are for opening and will supply with fresh air. 5.0 Water supply and outlets

Wintertime low temperature has great influence on supply of water, outlets of water and wastewater treatments. Sanitary installations and water supply are arranged different from bigger settlements (cities) to small villages, and will we suggest the most appropriate solution to any actual location and its circumstances. If water supply services are organized by a local regulation from authorities common rules are in present.

Fig.11: Vertical cut two levels–

If an independant water supply has to be arranged for a group of cottages, other solutions have to be made with water reservoir, filter body, main pipe and branch pipes to each cottage.

Another practiced possibility is water supply from a truck. Here each cottage can have arranged a tank underneath the floor in an insulated box secured form freezing tem-peratures. Common rules are stated on how such arrangements and installations shall be made.

For water outlets and waste water treatment similar arrangements and rules from authorities are in force. The actual location for a cottage area will most likely be arranged as a common project with septic tank, branch pipes and main pipe. It might become necessary to add an sedimentation tank before final outlet can be done – most likely to a main pipe leading to a common outlet into the sea, or first a purifying plant. As the general challenge is to secure water supply, alll outlets and treatments free from freezing temperatures, good possibilities should be available securing any damages or troubles on the system with the great amount of surplus

energy produced from both solar collectors as the windturbine.

First all common rules from authorities have to be fullfilled with heatcables to all pipes, next a more detailed calculation has to be made on how much energy is available for this purpose, and which computer program might be available for authomatic regulation by sensors on all pipe- and tank tempera-tures.

Fig.12: Mountain cottages

Fig.13: Front to the south

6.0 Conclusion

Our idea and visions for a future sustainable tourism industry in artic region has the point of origin to regard a development in its entirety. To our opinion the discovery of an artic sustainable tourism cottage has to focus on all aspects: from preparations to achieve an industrialized simplified product fulfilling all demands on a strong and effective construction which is easy to handle and transport, quick and easy to erect and finish, and has got a design fitting to both traditiones as a modern look offering a comfortable and interesting stay for visitors.

We have choosen to go for an advanced construction in easy modelling nature materials and take advantages of years of research and developments by engineers and architects. From full scale building examples in harsh mountain terrain, years of tests have proven a liability in a high quality product fulfilling all nowaday demands on building standards.

Our proposal goes for a rather small cottage which even can be extended for other wishes to tourist comfort. We expect the stay inside to go primary for evening and night/sleep purposes as an artic tourism might focus on nature travel and outdoor experiences.As to show combined solutions and possibilities for adjustment to terrain, we present two dome-added examples which also offer more comfort.

All materials are shown as nature products -as far as possible. We have also focused on materials which in their preproduction have a low energy demand and solely energy based on renewables. Further our choose of building materials are based on a future recycle without unneces-sary use of energy or damage to nature or environment.

Vital to reach a good and satisfying comfort is inside climate, as to secure a full energy supply for all needs – both spaceheat, hot water, electricity as the certain artic demands for securing water supply and all outlets.

As the level of content (use of time for development) of this proposal can not go into small detailes, we are convinced that this basic platonic structure can fulfill all demands on a sustainable tourism cottage as go for other visions on tourism expan-sions in artic regions.

7.0 References

1.Ole Vanggaard, adj.prof.rådg.ing.FRIHårbøllevej 644792 Askeby

2.ARTEK/Nukissiorfiit Nov.2006Center for Arktisk TeknologiForprojekt

3.DMI Technical Report 00-18Klimaobservationer i Grønland 1958-99

Structural Order in SpaceTure Wester, civ.ing.

Royal Academy of ArtsSchool of AchitectureDep. of building techniqueCopenhagen