Future research – Part II: new requirements on building construction

Figure: Eye Design

The collage shows (clockwise) the Vertical Harvest project, a vertical, urban greenhouse in Wyoming; the installation of the Ceiltec floor with integrated building services and a precast concrete floor with sound absorption

Figure: Eye Design

Figure: BFT International

Figure: Innogration

Figure: Eye Design

Vertical Harvest is a three-story building accommodating a vertical greenhouse with a useful area of approx. 3,960 m². The plot is situated on an unused premises south of a parking garage in Jackson, Wyoming, USA

Figure: Eye Design

Figure: Heliatek/Reckli

In 2012, Reckli, the specialist in formliners, and Heliatek, the manufacturer of solar films, announced their joint development agreement in the field of energy generating façade elements

Figure: Heliatek/Reckli

The synthetic film with photovoltaic cells is flexible and lightweight

Figure: Heliatek/Reckli

Figure: Hentschke Bau

Textile reinforcement enables the production of very thin precast concrete components

Figure: Hentschke Bau

Figure: HTWK Leipzig

The picture shows a thin concrete element with multi-layer textile reinforcement

Figure: HTWK Leipzig

Figure: Innogration

Displacers and HVACR conduits are embedded in the bottom sandwich shell of a Celtic A floor at the factory

Figure: Innogration

Schematic illustration of a Ceiltec B floor

Figure: Innogration

A skeleton structure of reinforced concrete was erected for this new building in the German village of Osann Monzel. The double-leaf floor slabs installed are prestressed and contain the entire building services

Figure: Innogration

Figure: Fenwis/Strobel

Following the presentation of the retropolation method in BFT International 07/2015, part II of the series is focusing on building construction. What framework conditions, utilization and infrastructure concepts do appear on the horizon in this regard?

Far reaching changes in the utilization of properties are long since casting their shadows before: Unoccupied offices even in top locations versus a lack of living space in cities is one of the findings. Further changes are involved in the attempt to create “smart homes”, i.e. intelligent buildings which are actively supporting their occupants in everyday life. How do builders, architects and planners respond to the approaching changes? They wait and see. But the buildings they are just planning or that are under construction now will have an impact far beyond 2060, given an expected service...