Eco-friendly Habitat: from architecture to planning (Pascal Rollet)

The need for an R & D

Experiences and previous research we have identified some major issues that have priority attention. To capitalize on the knowledge accumulated over several years while integrating the work of other researchers, we have opted for a type of research and development. We believe that a whole section of conducting research in architecture by synthesizing project development should complement the approaches of the sciences related to architecture - the basic research on the subject, building physics, research on the perception of space and the history of cities - to allow the development of devices and constructive space - architectural - that respond to the most appropriate possible new conditions. This approach development in the real architectural principles identified as potential carriers of such responses is the approach traditionally used R & D by industry. The development of these "projects" requires intermediate stages of testing and verification before the devices developed can not be generalized or applied in other situations. The reason and the lessons of history, command us to be careful implementing specific solutions careless too innovative or too out of step with the expectations of society, whether social, economic or technical. So there is a field of R & D in architecture to explore and grow for the good of society as a whole. Our team is part proactively in this type of approach.

An approach based on experimentation

Prototypes of full-scale habitat from a constructive idea is innovative and space, for example, a form of experimentation to verify if the assumptions are based and if the construction process has all the imagined performance initially. A prototype is currently under construction in the territory of Saone et Loire, and three more are planned for 2010 in Madrid, Chambéry and again in Saone et Loire. These prototypes will be instrumented to collect objective data rich teaching staff on their behavior over time in response to changes in external conditions. These data also adjust the level of accuracy of our simulation tools developed according to theoretical models. Finally, the actual physical presence of a spatial device allows to compare the pre-vision - that of the design architect - with reality. Feedback from three-dimensional and multi-sensory is crucial because it allows a further seizure of the object being designed. This information may help to correct, revise and to change certain aspects of the design at the same time they come to consolidate and legitimize others. They also check that the perception of the object is shared by others, including those that may be required to use the object from the end of the experiment. This iterative and interactive process has become essential to address the complexity of factors that combine to make a living space tailored to the specific conditions of its environment. It is important to emphasize that in our approach, experimentation does not replace the other tools of architectural design as such, the simulation, but rather a complement. It is found in the real mirror elements of the concepts and assumptions manipulated in the virtual. This is to compare the research to action and feed them in a reflexive and reciprocal.

A consideration of urban and territorial scales

Finally, the research unit of eco-friendly housing to build "sustainable" and cheaper, should also capture other degrees of complexity by addressing the scale of the city, territory and landscape. It is therefore important to treat the size of the resource territories (materials and sectors, cultures qualifications of the industrial, craft and business. But still the question of urban densification in order to limit the spread of the built and to reduce travel (energy). So what are the solutions to be developed between horizontal or vertical densification better value for the space provided? How to preserve natural areas? How better to capture more solar energy by solving a paradox morphological which implies a spread instead of surfaces? What should the new system of spatial organization of these other scales also foster greater social mix (autonomy, solidarity, social harmony)? These are questions that the research program of the unit seized under its approach mobilizing experimentation and R & D.

The creation of design outl

Seeing how it becomes essential to establish a database essential to informed choices and allow to design a habitat reaching energy independence in a very economic research closely related to teaching and focus primarily on the creation of a database as a tool for the design very cost housing, was undertaken with the support of the Rhône-Alpes, with the help of professional experts in green building (Jusselme Thomas, Jean-Christophe Fluhr and Laurent Tochon) research centers (including CSTB) and industry. The objective is to facilitate the prospective study and exploratory students, help them to be later, once in life, relevant architectural and urban innovation, but also to strengthen their ability to understand the complexity, to think more generally, to outline the problems and issues in a less "naive" and design with different scales (architecture, town and country), or anticipating the accompanying socio-economic and territorial.

- Innovative Structures (Olivier Baverel):

The aim of the research is the study of innovative construction systems in civil engineering and construction. The search for lightweight structures where various aspects are slim to explore. The first aspect concerns the search for forms of structures with specific assemblies such as Nexorades. Specific methods have been implemented to solve difficult problems in geometry. The second aspect deals with innovative concepts of composite structure such as grid shells, bow string bridges, gateways with support for préflexion tense. This aspect deals with the material. The third aspect concerns the structure and eco-design or the analysis of life cycle, reuse of materials. Research is structured into three parts: geometry, materials and eco-design. It is from these three themes will be developed for future research in the next four. To build in a rational way in the 21st century, it is indeed necessary to control the geometry, knowledge of materials and their impact on the environment. Future research will be physical and multi disciplinary.

- Production of building and social development (Alexandre Doulin):

Nearly half of the world population (source UN) lives in a habitat made of local natural materials, or clay, stone, wood and other resources easily accessible. In the poorest countries (south), in rural and suburban areas where we work on applied research projects, we find that the vast majority of that population occupies this habitat by default and without investing in its maintenance and improvement, contributing to a deterioration of living conditions. The image that restores the habitat endogenous face new urban models built in industrial materials (concrete, steel, concrete block), is negative and associated with poverty. Yet, historically, the production of human settlements was a vehicle for development of local companies (creation of knowledge and know-how at the heart of diverse cultures constructive, of crafts and economy), and habitat was also one of the essential representations of cultural identities "territorial" (anthropological report on "place") in which people recognize themselves, maintaining a sustainable balance of relationship with their environment. The research focuses on understanding the rejection of the habitat of traditional materials, particularly among young people for whom a form of "mental and cultural migration" is often very advanced (loss of knowledge and know-how, cultural practices and social issues related to housing). Thus, with local communities, we try to reverse the negative perceptions of this habitat endogenous, analyzing aspects of constructive strength / vs / imagination of fragility, health / vs / image of inadequacy, and aesthetics / vs / image of ugly, that to restore a recognition and respect of cultural heritage, to better perceive the intelligence of local cultures constructive answers likely to convey updated and integrated in the middle. Once people became aware of the heritage value of their living space, then, suggestions for improvement from conventional innovation (R & D) and applied research that have been developed by researchers of the unit can be put in work. This research is also extended to the didactic to rethink training as a means of rehabilitation and social reintegration, which implies the development of methods and training tools also incorporating considerations other than only technical but also social in nature: relearn "all" training on construction sites, trades that convey cultural values ​​and social cohesion, respect and mutual trust, pride in work well done and creative, essential to investigate an integrated local development corporations. Find intelligence assets in the service of improved living conditions. The next four will analyze a large corpus of projects developed in recent years, particularly in Africa, to be able to return for new teaching methodologies and "situated", to better disseminate the responses that contribute to social development based on production and improving the quality of housing economics.

5.1.3.2. Risk Management Program and Reconstruction

It accepts two scientific projects:

- Atlas of constructive cultures of risk (Oliver Moles):

This research project was undertaken in the last four is to document and analyze the history of local cultures of risk in regions exposed to natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, cyclones). The research was supported by a scientific partnership with the European University Centre of Cultural Heritage (CUEBC) from the University of Naples, Ravello, Italy (Prof. Feruccio Ferrigni) which is the origin of the concept of local cultures risk based on the discovery, in areas at risk of a rich historical and vernacular built heritage including the provisions providing constructive and specific morphological responses to prevent or reduce hazards. The true culture of para mount claims is the result of a memory geomorphological and meteorological events recurring. Based on historical research (the study of archaeological, architectural and urban areas at risk), and on many projects in areas at risk (prevention and management of post-emergency) for studying the local built heritage, the aim of this project is to systematically identify what can be considered as "anomalies" constructive frame of these areas and better understand how companies, especially builders, have incorporated the issue of risk both at technical and methodological in the production of housing in the city and territory, from the materials, techniques, special provisions, the forms of development involving the middle frame, etc.. This is to better understand the strategies implemented, categorize, describe the prospect of being able to update and implement some solutions in contexts vulnerable and "not creditworthy". This research contributes to reducing the vulnerability of structures and populations, while ensuring access technical and economic solutions to these territories is a resource (knowledge and know-how).

- Methods and strategies for prevention, risk management and reconstruction (Philippe Garnier)

The presence of para sinister strategies at all levels, from home to the city, covering both the social organization to the mythologies, reveals the importance of the concept of vulnerability reduction in the evolutionary process of a constructive culture "located", but also the need to develop approaches capable of increasing the resilience of populations endogenously so that each particular situation of the responses can be studied, generated and evaluated, and where possible improved. The objective of this research which is currently the subject of the first publication funded by the Ministry of Ecology Energy Sustainable Development and the Sea (MEEDDM) on the theme of reducing vulnerability and local development is aiming to improve responses and their effectiveness in phase post-disaster reconstruction through the use of local resources properly controlled (materials, techniques, knowledge and know-how). The research is based on preventive actions and risk preparedness in disadvantaged areas (limited affordability) working on an integrated approach to provide sustainable solutions can reduce the effects of hazards on local societies. The main principles of models that will come from this research can also be applied to less disadvantaged areas.

5.2. - Theme 2: Materials

5.2.1. Scientific responsibility and composition of the team's theme:

The second research theme "Materials" is under the scientific supervision of Patrice Doat, architect, professor STA 11.

Teachers and researchers involved in the development of the theme:

Romain Anger, INSA, Cédric Avenier, art historian, Wilfredo Caraz-Aedo, architect Patrice Doat, architect Alexander Doulin, civil engineer technician, Anne Coste, architectural historian, Laetitia Fontaine, INSA , Hubert Guillaud, architect Hugo Houben, physicist, Olivier moles, civil engineer technician, Cyrille Simonnet, architectural historian.

11 Doat Patrice is the founder of CRATerre in 1979, where he provided scientific direction for several years. He is currently president of the Grands Ateliers de l'Isle d'Abeau.

5.2.2. Materials science objectives of the theme

The scientific objectives of the theme materials cover five main areas:

- Contribute to the history of constructive cultures, craft and business, especially to the study of human provisions governing the implementation of correlated materials and techniques (knowledge, skills and know-how), the field covers constructive cultures ancient and modern vernacular.

- Develop the body of knowledge on building materials, and production chains, traditional and modern (earth, stone, wood, concrete and cement natural bamboo, straw and hemp), develop a specific research on the air as material essential to the quality of living;

- Better understanding of the cultural and environmental components of these materials for the production of contemporary architecture eco-cost housing "located" contributing to local development companies (in conjunction with the theme "Habitat");

- Develop further basic research on the matter in grain (ground): rheological properties of clay mud, development of new concrete to clay, phase change and energy ... to contribute to innovation in technical and industrial field of building materials for housing (in relation to the "Workshop on" Project "City of sustainable construction");

- Contribute as research on these matters to the changing practices of conservation and enhancement of architectural heritage (in conjunction with "Heritage").

5.2.3. Theme programming materials

The theme Materials hosts two programs:

- History of constructive cultures: This program is co-directed by Cyrille Simonnet, architectural historian, and Hubert Guillaud, architect.

- Fundamental Research on Matter / Materials: This program is co-directed by Romain Anger and Laetitia Fontaine, INSA engineers, with the participation of Hugo Houben 12

5.2.3.1. Program History constructive cultures

It accepts five research projects:

- History and Atlas of earthen architecture (Hubert Guillaud):

Over the years, an ambitious research program was conducted to produce a world atlas of architecture gradually making up ground in the body of bibliographical references, maps, documentary and iconographic based on which have already been developed several contributions to an account history of architecture and building cultures in the ground, in the form of regional syntheses. This work has benefited in recent years including the regularity of organization of major international conferences on the conservation of earthen architecture (every 3-4 years), the proliferation of conferences and national and regional seminars, and management Scientific-disciplinary exchange of earthen construction, made in France (2002, 2005, 2008) that was shared with the UMR 5140 Archaeology of Mediterranean societies, the House of the East Mediterranean and the association ArchiTerra . These exchanges have resulted in the publication of a collection of acts that constitute a valuable scientific contribution to feed the Atlas project at the European level while integrating other international contributions. Architectures and building cultures of the earth cut (grass), land mass, (cob and rammed earth) and mud brick were molded specifically explored, while those of wood and earth (mud, timber) will be reported and discussed at an upcoming trade transdisciplinary programmed for 2011. Simultaneously, this year 2009, a book project began, "In Praise of earthen architecture," in scientific collaboration with the architect Jean Dethier, who was the designer of the exhibition "earthen architecture" of the Centre Georges Pompidou ( 1981) have circulated in the major capitals of the world for nearly 20 years. This landmark publication should lead late 2011-2012, in partnership with publishers (Dominique Carré and Discovery for the French version, and Thames and Hudson, and Abrams for English). The next four will therefore contribute to further progress in the development of the story of the history of earthen architecture and several publications.

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Translated from CRA Terre