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Materials and sustainability

After choosing my final design and colour palette, now I have to think of what materials to use to complete my design.

I will use local materials from Connecticut for eco friendliness purposes

The facade of my building is made of a mix of wood and see through glasses. For the structure I will use hempcrete in order for it to be stable

CEDAR WOOD


Cedar wood

Cedar wood has long been cherished for its exceptional durability, aromatic scent, and stunning aesthetic appeal (Brij, 2021). I will use cedar wood for the facade of the building because it is a durable materials and has a good texture ( fine, straight grain and uniform texture). Cedar wood is considered sustainable due to the way trees absorb carbon and the carbon offset value in products made from cedar wood (Nguyen, 2024). using cedar wood will add on the building aesthetic and will help in the enticement of customers. Accessing Cedar Wood will be easy since most suppliers stores sell it in Connecticut.

FLOAT GLASS
 

Float glass

Float glass is a kind of flat glass made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten metal, typically tin, which results in the glass having an even thickness, flatness, and surface quality (AIS, 2019). Float glass is the most used glass in the construction industry, making it easy to access and can be easily sourced in Connecticut . I decided to use this material because of its strong and durable properties. Combining float glass with cedar wood on the exterior will let natural light flow in, as float glass can let through up to 87% of incoming light and offer a clear view (AIS, 2019).

HEMPCRETE

Hempcrete

Hempcrete, which is also called "hemp-lime," is made by blending hemp shiv with a lime binder and serves as a natural insulation material. It gives thermal properties and is eco-friendly, making it a good choice for a sustainable option (UK Hempcrete, 2014). I chose this material because with the site being next to a river, the building can be exposed to humidity and hempcrete can serve as a humidity regulator by absorbing and releasing moisture vapour from the interior air (Awan, 2022).

Reference


AIS (2019). All You Need to Know About Float Glass -. [online] Aisglass. Available at: https://www.aisglass.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-float-glass/ [Accessed 22 May 2024].

Awan, B. (2022). Hempcrete: A Master of Moisture Control. [online] HempBuild Magazine. Available at: https://www.hempbuildmag.com/home/hempcrete-moisture-control [Accessed 22 May 2024].

Brij (2021). Cedar Wood Properties | Cedar Uses, advantages, and disadvantages. [online] Timber Blogger. Available at: https://www.timberblogger.com/cedar-wood/?utm_content=cmp-true [Accessed 22 May 2024].

Nguyen, Q. (2024). How Sustainable Is Cedar Wood? Here Are the Facts. [online] Impactful Ninja. Available at: https://impactful.ninja/how-sustainable-is-cedar-wood/ [Accessed 22 May 2024].

UK Hempcrete. (2014). Building with Hempcrete. [online] Available at: https://www.ukhempcrete.com/building-with-hempcrete/.









Comments

  1. Sam Dargan28 May 2024 at 05:38

    Isa float glass easy to source in the Connecticut area? You state that it is widely used in the construction industry, but in order to make your design sustainable it is important that you recognise the need for local sourcing of materials.

    ReplyDelete

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