Eco-sustainable materials

Ecological Homes with Timeless Charm

WE RENOVATE AND DESIGN HEALTHY HOMES CHARACTERISED BY ENERGY SAVING, SEISMIC RESILIENCE, DESIGN, AND COMFORT

New constructions represent less than 1% of the buildings undergoing construction work annually; the future lies in updating existing building heritage using eco-sustainable materials. In our projects:

  • We use eco-friendly and healthy materials throughout their lifecycle, from production to disposal. Non-toxic, hygroscopic, natural, and as recyclable as possible.
  • We employ insulation made of high-performance natural materials for both winter and summer
  • We create airtight homes adequately insulated from ground cold and humidity.
  • We design stratifications permeable to vapour passage
  • We propose systems suitable for continuous air exchange (controlled mechanical ventilation) to control indoor pollutants

External insulation is the most common intervention for insulating external walls. The best theoretical solution is to apply an insulating layer on the cold side, the external one. This solution is best mainly for two reasons: it avoids potential interstitial condensation problems and solves thermal bridges.
However, it is not always possible to insulate the exterior of the building: many houses have protected façades or artistic or structural elements that make this solution impossible. In these cases, internal insulation is mandatory.
We have materials and solutions that allow insulating structures even on the warm side, but there is a risk of interstitial condensation. Therefore, careful planning, proper sizing of stratifications, and the use of materials capable of supporting this function without degrading or creating mould and decay become crucial.

TRADITIONAL BUILDING TECHNIQUES

In our studio, we adopt a building re-development model (both historical and non-historical) that also offers the opportunity to restore ancient craftsmanship. Many construction-related trades are disappearing, leading to a loss of knowledge and artisanal specialisation on construction sites. The enormous economic potential derived from the energy recovery of ancient buildings is significant. We also handle the design and construction of new buildings using traditional techniques, always aiming for low energy consumption. Traditional buildings can be constructed using the typical construction technique of the location: from brick houses with wooden floors and the use of natural lime or clay plasters to more modern buildings constructed with cutting-edge construction techniques that include materials and technologies such as steel, glass or ventilated façades, and green roofs and walls.

HEMP

The use of hemp, alone or combined with lime mixtures, is a thousand-year-old technique which in our area, after a long period of abandonment, is slowly regaining its foothold. We really believe in this material for its low environmental impact from production to reuse at the end of its life and above all for its performance in construction. Loose for attics or foundations, in blocks for wall infills, ``sprayed`` for an external insulation coating... its shapes can be many depending on the function for which it is intended. The hygroscopic capacity of hemp combined with lime then helps to regulate the internal humidity of the rooms, contributing to internal healthiness and comfort. In our projects we propose this technique whenever we can, both for new buildings and for restorations and we are happy to see how it has always been well received by our customers so far.

COMPATIBILITY AND REDEVELOPMENT

  • Historic or constrained buildings: in-depth knowledge of the property, cataloguing of valuable materials and artefacts.
  • We preliminarily dismantle materials or artefacts to be saved: set aside, restored, modified, they will be reassembled on-site—true ‘zero-kilometer’ practice.
  • New materials in these sites are introduced with the precautionary principle, carefully evaluating the chemical-physical compatibility of various components.
  • Natural and eco-friendly materials, high performance, durability: the expected energy performance after energy re-development is a precise science. We do not operate empirically but rather using precision simulation programmes to calculate the impact of our interventions on these buildings.

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