sustainable living: 3 projects for an inspiring future
in sustainable cities
Among the rest, sustainable living means embracing higher energy efficiency and – why not – also having a home that can follow along during moves and travels.
This is what inspired 3 interesting projects presented during Milan Design Week 2018. Each with its own interpretation, they are all amazing inspirations that show how sustainability and energy efficiency can shape a new approach to living that’s more respectful of our planet.
Let’s explore…
eden
Project: Michele Perlini, Xlam Dolomiti, Galante Arredamenti.
An independent module, furnished with all comforts and luxuries, energy-efficient and transportable. This is EDEN, a “luxury portable suite” conceived to change the rules of emotional tourism. Suitable for impervious locations – like the top of a mountain or a cliff – EDEN actually opens to a whole new kind of tourism.
The interior is skillfully organized to make the most of every centimeter. Passed the outdoor terrace and through the glazed entrance door, are a free-standing bathtub and a spacious double bed that both face the outside. What better setup to contemplate spectacular views. On the right wall is a small vanity with a sink and a big shower, finished with travertine stone and equipped with a chromo-therapy system. The left wall hosts hidden storage, the toilet and even a small kitchen with an induction cooker and a fridge. A small table is integrated in the bed structure, completing the list of all the necessities for a comfortable living experience.
This being the smallest of the available sizes (6x3 meters), it fits quite a lot. A 9x3 and 12x3 meters options are also available and integrate a further bedroom, a living area and even sauna and hammam. Overall then, EDEN could become a proper living solution besides being just an intriguing touristic attraction.
What’s best about EDEN is that such a luxurious setup is achieved with complete respect of the environment and results in high energy efficiency.
On the exterior, a larch wood covering maximizes thermal insulation. Solar panels and a water tank make the suite totally self-sufficient. And the ventilation and electricity systems are also set up for high energy efficiency.
And as a further plus to the sustainability scorecard of this design, all finishing materials are sourced by controlled sites.
A very inspiring project that succeeds in merging two apparently different concepts like luxury and sustainability.
3d housing 05
Project: Massimiliano Locatelli | CLS Architetti, Italcementi HeidelbergCement Group, Arup and Cybe.
Cutting-edge 3D printing technology is what has enabled this project to come to life. A 3D printed home, can you imagine?
Juxtaposed layers of a fluid concrete compound are printed in place to make a sturdy and anti-seismic structure. The layering doubles as a decoration of the exterior. And hollow spaces inside the walls leave room for insulation, pipes and cables. On the inside, a dramatic design contrasts with the earthy appearance of the outdoor.
A fully sustainable living approach also takes into account the cost and environmental impact of building a home. And 3D printing a home is a sustainable choice in more than one aspect. To start with, the building compound is produced with a cement powder that can be obtained from recycled cement. In principle, this allows building a new home from the debris of a demolished one. Time & cost of the building process also come with considerable savings. A 3D printed home can be built directly on site, saving on general building expenses and the costs of transporting materials. Also, a 100m2 home is printed in just 1 week! This is totally mind-blowing when compared to standard timelines of a building project. A 3D printed home can be transported and extended with ease and gives maximum flexibility both on the site choice and on the floor plan, that can take the most uncommon shapes with no major increases in fabrication cost.
Read more about sustainable building materials
genesi house
Project: LaMaggio’ Engineering & Construction, Gatti Villevenete.
Genesi House is a flexible and transportable living solution, that lives in harmony with the surrounding environment.
Made out of a modular steel structure, Genesi House can respond to diverse needs and evolve from a small one-person living unit, to a family home, to a multi-family solution. Despite its flexibility, the structure is solid and anti-seismic, giving it all the qualities to be called home.
At home, a domotic system gives full control over all aspects. From temperature, humidity and security to the smallest details like the choice of a washing machine cycle. A state-of-the-art audio system is also integrated in the architecture. Comfort is by no means left as a secondary aspect. When walking in, the feeling is immediately warm and serene. The layout makes the most of the available space and separates different areas with flexible furniture pieces. Also, all internal finishes are chosen with care to make sure that no harmful VOCs are released in the air. On the roof, a beautiful terrace provides an inviting outdoor space.
Energy efficiency is always a big part of sustainable living and here it is brought to a whole new level. From ceiling solar panels, to a system of tanks that recover rainwater, the home can be totally self-sufficient.
Not to be forgotten, Genesi House can be transported and moved to different places. Besides accomodating the needs of modern living, this opens to the most diverse living locations. I can only imagine what it would be like to live in the middle of a lake – literally – with all comforts.
To wrap it up, the future of living is introducing loads of interesting technologies, where sustainability and energy efficiency are at the top of the priority list.
Cover image by Genesi House (via Instagram)
