R4 House

Luis De Garrido Architects designed the ‘R4 House’ in Barcelona, Spain.

Description from the architects:

1. Most Important Goals

- Formalize a new architectural concept in which the construction is made only by means of recoverable and reusable elements, using only materials salvaged, reused or recycled.

- Achieve the highest level of sustainability in construction

All decisions made in the design and construction of R4House have been designed to meet the maximum with the 5 pillars that underpin the sustainable architecture.

- Reducing emissions and waste generated

- Reduce energy consumption

- Optimize materials and resources used

- Improving human health and welfare

- Reduce maintenance and cost of buildings

To this end, we have conveniently defined a set of actions to ensure compliance architectural depth of 37 sustainable indicators defined by Luis de Garrido. This ensures the highest possible level of sustainability.

R4House faithfully complies with all of them.

2. Perform a self-sufficient dwelling with zero energy.

R4House has zero power consumption in conventional energy.

R4House warm in winter by the combination of 3 different systems:

1. Right bioclimatic design

2. System incorporating a thermal solar collectors

(For the ACS and underfloor heating)

3. Economic incorporation of an ingenious system of geothermal energy.

Similarly, R4House cool in summer by the combination of 2 different systems:

1. Right bioclimatic design

2. Incorporation of an inexpensive and ingenious system of geothermal energy.

The special low-power lighting, and energy-efficient appliances, are powered by electricity generated by photovoltaic captors.

3. Propose a construction that allows the elimination of waste

In the construction of R4House not generated virtually no residue.

The few waste products (chips, small fragments, etc.) Are practically negligible, and in many cases have been reused in the construction of the prototype (packaging, wooden pallets, paper and cardboard) in different parts of it.

To achieve this goal has been adequately controlled the whole process of design and construction. In addition, we have proposed a new system of formal composition that ensures the optimization of the materials used, waste utilization, and easy replacement of all components.

This methodology has been termed as “the beauty of imperfection.”

4. Show constructive solutions allowing complete reuse of all building components

All components of R4House (from within the supporting structure to the smallest element) can easily be retrieved, it can be used again in another building, after its service life.

To achieve this easy recovery, all components are dry assembled by screw fasteners and nails, or simply by pressure. Only in some cases have used queues, low adhesive strength and also allow easy retrieval of the components without causing damage.

5. Include a minimum of 30 m2 housing

Within R4House housing unit, including a home has at least 30 m2.

This shows that the minimum housing can perfectly meet the needs of a person or a young couple with a limited area. Therefore it is endowed with all kinds of facilities, equipment, furniture finishes and a high level.

The minimum housing has been built, using only a container port, within four weeks.

6. Show a housing unit flexible, reconfigurable and expandable

R4House shows a very flexible type of housing.

Initially, the user can acquire a module of 30 m2, which could be sufficient to meet their initial needs. As your needs increase, and their economic potential, the user can acquire successive modules. This way you can have a flexible housing 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 m2, or more, depending on your needs at all times.

Thus, the user would buy the space you really need, without jeopardizing the rest of his life.

7. Building a high quality housing and low cost

The cost of housing construction of 150 m2 can be very variable, depending on the finishes. If you simply look for an exercise of extreme low price, you could build a basic version with a cost that ranges around 60,000 euros (basic finishes.) In contrast, the economic cost of the version presented in Construmat 2007 has risen to 110,000 euros (with all finishes experimental and high added value).

On the other hand, the price of housing construction of 30 m2, could range from approximately € 12,000 (basic finishes) to 25,000 euros (which is the real cost of the version presented in Construmat 2007), or even more depending on the chosen finish.

8. Provide a real solution for housing in poor countries

Because of its low construction cost, ease of transport, the speed of assembly and its extreme flexibility, R4House aims to provide a real and workable solution to the housing problems of disadvantaged countries.

The homes that are currently provided in these countries have high maintenance costs, are still priced high, are not flexible, are not relocatable and above all, generate an enormous environmental and urban problems.

R4House would address these problems.

9. Provide an alternative without environmental impact of construction in rural and protected

The conceptual model provides an alternative R4House construction without environmental impact without energy consumption, repositionable, removable, reconfigurable and expandable. And what is best, be regarded as a chattel and not real estate. With all the advantages it has in rural areas.

10. Propose a new formal architectural language development: “the beauty of the imperfect.”

It is clear that achieving a truly sustainable architecture, it is necessary to define a new architectural language.

R4House has served as a test case to experiment with a diverse set of new syntactic elements of architecture. These new rules have been used in the overall architectural composition, the definition of architectural envelopes, and even the interior of the set.

One look at the prototype gives an idea of everything that has sought to achieve. For example, the composition of the facades states that it has sought beauty using every last scrap of material. The same can be said of ceilings, floors, walls, furniture and kitchen furniture.