Ecological and environmentally responsible materials for the construction and renovation of homes
As you may already know, for some years now all construction companies , including OAK , have been immersed in the need to introduce new ecological and environmentally responsible materials for the construction and renovation of homes, with the aim of offering clients new ways to understand and enjoy their homes. These new approaches can be linked to the world of trendy materials (due to their high cost, exclusivity, etc.) or simply to their ecological nature ( environmental protection).
Walnut, beech, and cherry wood are becoming increasingly popular among architects worldwide. For example, Michael Green, a renowned Canadian architect, is a great admirer of buildings constructed with wood. Green argues that the skyscrapers of the future will be neither underwater, nor underground, nor made of concrete. In his opinion, wood will be the primary material used to build dozens of structures around the world in the coming years . He recently stated, “I’ve never seen anyone walk into one of my buildings and hug a steel or concrete column, but I have seen them do it with wooden buildings,” Green explained at a TED Talk.
As an example, the following video shows how a building is constructed where a large part of its structure is made of wood :
If we focus on houses designed to be 100% ecological , we must always remember that these are homes that are fully equipped and have everything necessary to live normally, while always protecting the environment .
The main objective of eco-friendly homes is to use natural building materials whose composition does not include elements that could pollute or that have been extracted directly from nature. In the case of wood, many companies use timber from forests specifically created for this purpose and which are reforested according to demand.
Another characteristic of eco-friendly homes is that they often have solar panels , eliminating the need for conventional electricity. This effectively turns the house into a small power plant. Depending on the sun’s orientation, the panels are usually placed on the roof, although sometimes they are also installed in the garden.
On the other hand, eco-friendly homes are also designed to collect rainwater . This water can be used for domestic purposes. Meanwhile, wastewater is treated in a treatment plant, usually installed underground.
We also need to give special mention to the exterior design of eco-friendly homes because the trend is towards green roofs. This means that, in addition to solar panels, we can install grass or other vegetation, making the house much cooler and allowing us to grow a small garden on our roof.
Finally, we would like to end this article with a great example of green building.
Do you want to enjoy a holiday in eco-friendly buildings and houses ? Thanks to Treehotel, we can enjoy the best Nordic architecture on living trees while respecting the environment .
The hotel, with its sophisticated yet family-friendly atmosphere, is located in Harads, near the Lule River in Sweden, a town with a population of 6,000. Featuring contemporary architecture nestled in nature, the Treehotel offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the serenity of the forest while respecting the environment.
Its founders envisioned building a place to enjoy nature among the treetops, a place where values of ecology, nature, comfort, and modern design would merge to offer a unique and unrepeatable experience to each guest.
Currently, this hotel offers 6 unique rooms and a sauna with capacity for up to 8 people, all of them built on centuries-old pine trees between 2010 and 2013.
You can see it at: http://treehotel.se/
And if you want to build your dream home or carry out a complete renovation of your existing property, don’t hesitate to call the experts. At OAK, we are at your service.