Spotted: Jewellery is not often associated with waste – after all, the idea of leaving valuable gold or silver lying around the shop floor seems absurd. Yet, traditional jewellery making does involve a fair amount of scrap metal waste. This wasted material translates to the need for more mining, with its use of dangerous chemicals, and environmental and social issues.
Tallinn-based Cloud Factory has an answer not only to reducing jewellery-related waste, but also to cost-effective scalable jewellery production. Cloud Factory leverages 3D printing technology and recycled precious metals in the jewellery-making process. The startup is focusing on using its system to help musicians, brands, and celebrities create their own branded jewellery merchandise through a fully managed service that offers concept building, manufacturing, branded packaging, and drop-shipping.
The use of direct metal 3D printing minimises the production cost and time needed to produce quality jewellery at scale. However, not content with its current offering, Cloud Factory is also working to build fully automated on-demand 3D printing hubs at locations around the globe. The company is also launching its first jewellery NFTs to create a bridge between digital and tangible jewellery products.
The company has recently picked up €2 million in funding during a seed round led by Change Ventures, one of the leading early-stage funds in the Baltics.
3D printing is being applied to a growing range of products and structures. Some of the most innovative ideas that Springwise has spotted recently include creating living walls created by 3D printing with soil and a 3D-printed ear made from patients’ own cells.
After more than 4,000 votes, Dezeen readers have chosen projects by DP6 Architectuurstudio, FADAA and Kenoteq as the winners of this year’s Dezeen Awards public vote in the sustainability categories.
DP6 Architectuurstudio won for its pavilion made from locally sourced wood and recycled-steel joints in the Netherlands, FADAA for its store coated in grey lime plaster in Jordan and Kenoteq for its brick made from construction waste.
Of the total 55,000 votes that were cast and verified across all categories, the sustainability categories received over 4,000 verified votes.
Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote winners in the architecture, interiors and design categories were published earlier this week, the media winners will be revealed later today and the studio winners will be unveiled tomorrow.
Dezeen Awards winners announced in November
The public vote is separate from the main Dezeen Awards 2022 judging process, in which entries are scored by our distinguished panel of judges. We’ll be revealing the Dezeen Awards 2022 winners ahead of the winners’ party at the end of November.
To stay up to date with the latest Dezeen Awards news, including this year’s winners, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Read on to see who was voted most popular in the sustainability categories:
The Natural Pavilion by DP6 Architectuurstudio
Sustainable building
The Natural Pavilion serves as a model to tackle construction challenges faced in the Netherlands, including sustainable energy production, housing shortages, biodiversity recovery and climate change adaptation.
The structure by DP6 Architectuurstudio, which features cross-laminated timber floors and recycled glass windows, was voted sustainable building of the year in the public vote with 29 per cent of votes.
In close pursuit was Mustardseed by Localworks with 25 per cent, Floating Office by Powerhouse Company with 23 per cent, The Exploded View Beyond Building by Biobased Creations with 12 per cent and finally Learning and Sports Centre by General Architecture Collaborative with 11 per cent.
D/O Aqaba by FADAA
Sustainable interior
D/O Aqaba won sustainable interior of the year with 26 per cent of the votes. The store by FADAA uses stacked bio-bricks made from crushed shells as partitions to protect from the sun and segment the space.
Next up was Apricity by Object Space Place with 23 per cent, Semba Good Ethical Office by Semba Corporation with 20 per cent, The Circus Canteen by Multitude of Sins with 19 per cent and MONC by Nina+Co with 13 per cent.
K-Briq by Kenoteq
Sustainable design
K-Briq was developed through academic circular economy research at Heriot Watt University in Scotland and won the sustainable design of the year category with 35 per cent of votes. Kenoteq’s design is made from construction waste and is coloured using recycled pigments.
The runners-up were Tidal Stool by Robotic Fabrication Lab HKU with 28 per cent, Remix by Open Funk with 18 per cent, Maggie’s Southampton by Local Works and Air-It-Yourself by Jihee Moon with seven per cent.
Saffet Kaya Architects, a practice based in both Cyprus and the UK, has built a Science and Technology Center for the Cyprus International University in Nicosia. The project has introduced twenty-two classrooms and thirty-three research laboratories to accommodate thirteen separate fields of engineering on the campus.
While many of these spaces are highly specialized for their field, the center can simultaneously host non-engineering courses, lending a highly efficient use of the space. With this cross-disciplinary programming, the space is a collaborative learning hub which promotes interactions between students across departments.
The team at Saffet Kaya Architects designs its Science and Technology Center in Cyprus with respect for its environment — both with its orientation within the site, and with its forward-thinking technological systems. The architects organize the building across only two levels, keeping a low-lying presence in order to minimize its presence among the Cyprus International University campus. ‘The silhouette of the building is proportionate to its surroundings and is in harmony with its environment,’ explains the team. Inside, the building opens up into three levels, with a full story embedded underground.
The ground level hosts multi-purpose classrooms, while the administration, faculty, and IT laboratories are located on the first floor. Meanwhile, specialized experimental laboratories are located along the lower level. These underground spaces still benefit from natural light and ventilation with access to sunken courtyards.
the efficient design by saffet kaya architects
Multi-purpose classrooms are strategically located at ground level, meeting the demands of different departments including students arriving from other faculties. The Administration, Faculty, and IT Laboratories are located on the first floor, establishing a formal setup, whilst specialist experimental labs are situated at the lower ground level but still benefit from natural light and ventilation with access to sunken courtyards.
The group explains: ‘It is also possible to passively ventilate the internal spaces throughout both day and night time from each façade, allowing outside air to enter the space through courtyards and external surfaces. The enclosed spaces are equipped with controlled façade openings with a high-level automation system and thermal solar chimneys acting as ventilation shafts located at opposite sides of the rooms along the corridors, to provide natural cross ventilation, enabling energy saving and enhanced sustainability.
‘Each façade elevation is independent from the other in design, and new technologies such as thermal chimneys and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) were used for the first time.’
each facade is unique, designed according to contextual parameters
The team continues, describing the performance of the building: ‘The south façade of the building is angled and fully clad with second-generation thin film BIPV panels to maximize solar gain. The north facade, which does not have any direct sunlight, is clad with an all-glass structure allowing natural light in, whilst providing an X-ray effect revealing the skeleton of the building. The east and west façades are aluminum-clad and have louvered openings that are angled to prevent direct solar radiation.
‘The introduction of thermal chimneys for natural ventilation, photovoltaic panels for solar gain, and the steel structure with lighter and longer structural spans in composition with a solid concrete structure, are all novel and unconventional architectural design solutions and methodologies in this region. Treating every façade differently by taking contextual parameters into consideration and introducing different transparency are also new experimentations.’
thermal chimneys are integrated for natural ventilation the structure, mechanical ducts, wiring, and tectonics are left exposed
Teak wood, travertine stone and expansive glazing all feature in Woods + Dangaran’s renovation of a mid-century modern house that once belonged to singer Bing Crosby’s manager.
Los Angeles-based Woods + Dangaran has both upgraded the architecture and designed the interiors for Clear Oak Residence, which is located on a hillside above LA’s San Fernando Valley.
Clear Oak Residence is located on a hillside above LA’s San Fernando Valley
The design aims to enhance the building’s relationship with its setting while also bringing an increased sense of warmth and comfort to the living spaces.
Doorways and windows were adjusted and enlarged to enable wraparound views of the landscape, while skylights were added to highlight key moments within the interior.
A new swimming pool cantilevers out towards the view
Travertine creates a continuous floor surface that extends out from the living spaces to a sunset terrace, while teak provides wall panelling and in-built joinery throughout.
“The architectural finish palette was intentionally limited to four materials: clear anodised aluminium, plaster, travertine, and teak for the wall panelling,” said Woods + Dangaran.
“This visual restraint manifests in a serene ambiance that permeates all aspects of the residence.”
Travertine flooring extends both inside and out
Clear Oak Residence is shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2022 in the house interior category, where it will compete with four other projects – including another one by Woods + Dangaran – for the title.
Woods + Dangaran designed this project for client Robert Galishoff, whose brief to the architects was to embrace the building’s mid-century heritage but ensure the result exudes a sense of “effortless luxury”.
Teak provides wall panelling and custom joinery
Landscaping played a big role in the transformation. By relocating the swimming pool so that it cantilevers over the hill and adjusting the topography, more terrace and deck space could be created.
Sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors allow the main bedroom, the living room and the dining area to open out to this terrace.
“Enlarged doorways and windows inside the house, including floor-to-ceiling glass doors, integrate the interior spaces with the landscape and foreground views by eliminating barriers,” said the architects.
“Glazed openings inserted along corridors create memorable spatial experiences from new axes and vantage points.”
Skylights create framed views of the sky
The interior furnishings include both new and retro pieces in natural materials and warm colours, which sit alongside Galishoff’s collection of objets d’art.
The living room features a copper silk shag rug from Mehraban, a Minotti sectional reupholstered in a retro-patterned textile and a pair of the Arthur Casas-designed Amorfa coffee tables.
“Inspired by mid-century pieces but adjusted for scale, function, and material, these pieces give the home a unique voice that mixes old and new, retro with contemporary vibes,” said Woods + Dangaran.
The design respect’s the building’s mid-century heritage
Led by architects Brett Woods and Joe Dangaran, Woods + Dangaran has developed a reputation for modernising mid-century homes but also designs new-builds with a similar character.
Other recent projects include an upgrade of a 1960s Craig Ellwood house and a brass-clad home in Palm Springs.
Spotted: Flying cars are becoming a reality. China’s XPENG mobility technology experts recently completed a public flight of the electric flying car XPENG X2 at an event at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The zero-emission vehicle is a two-seater car that uses vertical lift-off and landing to transition from road travel to air. Designed specifically for the complexities of urban driving, the X2 flies at low altitude and can be driven manually or autonomously.
XPILOT is the company’s advanced driver assistance system. It provides guided options specifically for city or highway driving, including intelligent cruise, on- and off-ramp assistance, and speed limit adjustments. The car is made from carbon fibre in order to reduce the weight for flying.
In the future, the XPENG X2 will be suitable for low-altitude city flights, particularly over short distances. Medical transportation and sightseeing are therefore two promising potential applications for the technology.
Supported in its exhibition flight by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, the success of the recent trip shines a light on the need for regulatory bodies to keep pace with technological developments. Cities will need to build new air travel codes for high volumes of low-altitude flights.
Other types of autonomous travel that Springwise has spotted include last-mile delivery robots and marine research observation drones.
As the cost of gas and electricity soars globally, we take a look at 10 highly-insulated Passivhaus homes that are designed to minimise energy consumption.
Passivhaus is an internationally recognised energy-performance standard that originated in Germany in the 1990s. It certifies low-energy buildings with high levels of insulation and airtightness.
Buildings of this kind often make use of triple glazing, solar heat gain and energy recovery ventilation systems. This means they can maintain an almost constant temperature, requiring little energy for heating and avoiding high energy bills.
In 2019, London studio Mikhail Riches and architect Cathy Hawley won the Stirling Prize for a social housing scheme in Norwich that helps tackle fuel poverty by meeting Passivhaus standards. At the time, sustainable architecture studio Architype said the win “puts Passivhaus in the spotlight – exactly where it needs to stay”.
Read on for 10 examples of Passivhaus homes:
Photo is by Jim Stephenson
Devon Passivhaus, UK, by McLean Quinlan
A linear red-brick wall distinguishes this low-rise Passivhaus home, which was designed by McLean Quinlan within a sloped walled garden in Devon.
It features substantial amounts of insulation and triple-glazing, as well as air source heat pumps, a heat recovery system, solar panels and battery storage that provide over 100 per cent of the required energy for the home.
Find out more about Devon Passivhaus ›
Photo is by Raphaël Thibodeau
Saltbox Passive House, Canada, by L’Abri
The vernacular architecture of Quebec informed the appearance of the Saltbox Passive House, which is the third house in the Canadian city to obtain Passivhaus certification.
It was designed by L’Abri to align with the standards of PHIUS, which is the largest Passivhaus certification system in North America. The studio also made use of wood siding and cellulose insulation to help lower the building’s embodied carbon.
Find out more about Saltbox Passive House ›
Photo is by Cityhome Collective and Kerri Fukui
TreeHaus, USA, by Chris Price
Architect Chris Price staggered a series of stained cedar-clad volumes down a slope in a Utah forest to create this Passivhaus residence for his own family.
The dwelling, aptly named TreeHaus, has a highly efficient envelope to ensure it stays warm during cold winter months when snowfall is frequent. Surrounding bedrock also helps to maintain warmth.
Find out more about TreeHaus ›
Photo is by Adrià Goula
Casa GG, Spain, by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes
Casa GG is a prefabricated Passivhaus home near Barcelona that is covered in recycled spruce wood sourced from the surrounding landscape. It was built in just four months.
The home is divided into six modules, which Alventosa Morell Arquitectes aligned with the sun path to maximise solar heat gain. Its low-energy envelope means that it can be heated using a single radiator in colder seasons.
Find out more about Casa GG ›
Photo is by Vondelinde
PH01:BRK, USA, by Robert Arlt and Charles MacBride
This low-energy dwelling in South Dakota was created by architects Robert Arlt and Charles MacBride with a group of local architecture students to draw attention to the possibilities of sustainable construction.
According to the team, the PH01:BRK house is the first in the area to produce more energy than it consumes thanks to its energy-saving envelope and technologies including photovoltaic panels and a ventilation system that heats fresh air with the stale air leaving the house.
Find out more about PH01:BRK ›
Photo is by Andy Stagg
Day House, UK, by Paul Archer Design
This zinc-clad mews house was designed by Paul Archer Design to replace a poorly insulated and leaky 1970s house in London.
The four-storey building, which looks like a two-storey home from the front, is super-insulated and complete with a heat recovery ventilation system that retains warmth to ensure it performs to Passivhaus standards.
Find out more about Day House ›
Photo is by Quintin Lake
Old Water Tower, UK, by Gresford Architects
Located on the outskirts of a village in Berkshire, the barn-like Old Water Tower is a self-sufficient home designed and owned by Gresford Architects’ founder Tom Gresford.
Among its features are triple-glazed windows and external blinds that automatically close on the east, south and west elevations in hot weather to prevent overheating. The studio said its Passivhaus energy performance means it “costs virtually nothing to run”.
Find out more about Old Water Tower ›
Photo is by Adrià Goula
Casa LLP, Spain, by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes
Another Passivhaus project by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes is this cantilevered residence that overlooks a mountain range near Barcelona.
Passive solar gain and highly insulated walls help keep the home warm and contribute to the building’s low energy consumption. Its space heating requirement is 9 kilowatt-hours per square metre – exceeding the level required to receive Passivhaus certification from the UK’s Passive House Organisation.
Find out more about Casa LLP ›
Photo is by Nigel Rigden
Forest Lodge, UK, by Pad Studio
This low-energy prefabricated home in the New Forest was designed by Pad Studio to meet stringent planning regulations in the area, which aim to prevent damage to the site.
It performs to Passivhaus standards but is also largely self-sufficient, making use of rooftop solar panels, an air-source heat pump and on-site sewage treatment facilities.
Find out more about Forest Lodge ›
Photo is by Studio 804
New York Street Passive House, USA, by Studio 804
Students in a design-and-build programme at the University of Kansas designed this house to offer “an example of the way housing can be done more responsibly in the future”.
The rectangular building is orientated to make use of passive solar gain and lined with insulation that performs nearly three times the minimum required by city code. It also makes use of eco-friendly materials and technologies including photovoltaic panels and an energy-recovery ventilator.
Find out more about New York Street Passive House ›
Dutch studio Olaf Gipser Architects has worked with housing cooperative BSH20A to create an apartment block in the Netherlands that aims to provide residents with a “communal, sustainable and healthy urban living” environment.
Named Stories, the 47-metre-high tower contains 29 apartments and communal living spaces that overlook the harbour at the former industrial district Buiksloterham.
Stories is an apartment block created by Olaf Gipser Architects
Stories, which also features a community cafe and a terrace topped by an urban farm, is shortlisted in the housing project category of the Dezeen Awards 2022.
Olaf Gipser Architects worked with the BSH20A housing cooperative to ensure a “grassroots, democratic decision-making process” for the project, and to develop a design that is intended to be both socially and environmentally sustainable.
The exterior is wrapped in a steel frame
While Stories’ podium and core are made from concrete, the majority of the tower is built from cross-laminated timber (CLT).
The timber superstructure is wrapped in an external frame of white steel, which forms deep balconies and terraces.
The steel frame provides balconies for residents
Planters, some large enough to support trees, are placed across the exterior with the aim of encouraging greater biodiversity to the post-industrial site while also creating privacy screens for the apartments.
“Characteristic to the appearance of the building is its white, industrial-looking facade, conceived as a microclimate zone which grants extensive outdoor spaces in the form of balconies and winter gardens to all dwelling units,” said Olaf Gipser Architects.
“Integrated in the deep facade is also a communal roof for urban farming that is connected to the shared, multifunctional indoor space,” it continued.
Within Stories’ podium is a garage and six commercial units that create a new street frontage along the harbour’s edge. One of these units is currently occupied by a storytelling cafe offering a “social-cultural programme” for residents.
Planters feature on the balconies
The apartments themselves vary in layout and in size, ranging from between 43 to 182 square metres. However, they all share access to a communal kitchen, gym and sauna.
According to the studio, the apartments follow “open building” principles, meaning changes in their future use can be easily made. For example, there are rooms with dedicated entrances that can function as home offices or be rented out separately.
The apartments have wooden floors and white walls
Olaf Gipser Architects has finished the Stories apartments with wooden floors and ceilings and white walls to create open, airy spaces.
The larger apartments benefit from wrap-around balconies that allow external access from every room through glass sliding doors.
The tower overlooks the harbour at Buiksloterham
Alongside Stories, the shortlist for the housing project category in the Dezeen Awards 2022 includes a cluster of four apartments in Mexico by Void Studio and a self-funded apartment building in Melbourne by Austin Maynard Architects.
A cork-clad co-housing scheme in Belgium by OFFICEU also features on the list and was revealed on Monday as the category’s public vote winner.
London studio Crawshaw Architects has transformed a former cow shed in Dorset into a library and office, organised around a wooden, barrel-vaulted arcade that references the client’s collection of books on classical Palladian architecture.
The Stanbridge Mill Library, which has been shortlisted in the civic and cultural interiors category of Dezeen Awards 2022, occupies one of several outbuildings of a Georgian farmhouse on a grade II-listed farm.
Crawshaw Architects has overhauled a former cow shed in Dorset
The narrow, gabled brick shed was originally built to house Standbridge Mill Farm’s cows but had stood neglected for over forty years, used as storage for gardening equipment and farm machinery.
Looking to give the building a new purpose while maintaining its existing character, Crawshaw Architects made only small structural interventions, replacing two of its original roof trusses with portal frames that open up the interior.
The studio has transformed it into a library and office
“While a decisive transformation of the interior was called for, we felt that the original use of the building needed to be part of the story,” explained the studio.
Stanbridge Mill Library’s focal point is a central “nave”, which is filled with seating areas covered by a wooden barrel vault and slotted between two narrow aisles lined by bookshelves. This plan references classical architectural forms, which are the focus of many of the client’s books.
The Stanbridge Mill Library is organised around a barrel-vaulted arcade
Pale, solid oak has been used for the floor, shelving, storage and the central vault, half of which is covered with planks and the other half left open to allow in light from new skylights.
“The high nave and pair of aisles are in the form of a classical library, but are set out in the register of the original building using the materials and construction techniques of traditional farm carpentry and metalwork,” explained Crawshaw Architects.
The office occupies the northern end of the building
“The vault, columns, shelves, tables and seating are made of the same solid oak planks and sections, deliberately selected to show knots and natural blemishes,” the studio continued.
Desks are organised to take advantage of light from the windows and are illuminated at night by large pendants suspended from the vault.
The office space occupies the northern end of the building underneath an original roof truss, which is separated from the library by an arched glass door and windows that frame views through the nave and aisles.
To the south of Stanbridge Mill Library, a dog-leg in the plan is occupied by a small kitchen, positioned opposite a bathroom and a small lobby area.
Pale solid oak has been used throughout
Stanbridge Mill Library features in the civic and cultural interior category of Dezeen Awards 2022 alongside the renovation of the Groote Museum in Amsterdam by Merk X.
Another project on the shortlist is the interior of F51 Skate Park in Folkestone by Hollaway Studio, which won the public vote for the same category.
World Space Week is a United Nations-endorsed celebration of the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. Held between the 4th and 10th October, the theme in 2022 was ‘Space and Sustainability’. This looked at the issue from two perspectives. The first is the sustainability of space – particularly how we use the orbital area around our planet. The second is sustainability from space – how space-based technology can contribute to sustainability on earth.
Space has long been associated with large publicly funded organisations such as NASA. But, increasingly, innovators of all shapes and sizes are entering the field – and it’s not just SpaceX or Virgin Galactic. Discover five space-based innovations that are having a positive impact on this planet and beyond.
RESEARCHERS COMPLETE ON-THE-GROUND TESTS OF SPACE POWER STATION TECHNOLOGIES
A complete system of space solar power technologies has passed testing by researchers from China’s Xidian University. The scientists proved the concept of converting solar power captured in space to electricity and then wirelessly transmitting the power as microwaves. Once received by a station, the microwaves are re-converted back to electricity and added to the local power grid. The full-system test, which was conducted on the ground, successfully transmitted renewable energy across 55 metres and proved the effectiveness of many of the components of the mechanical design. Read more
A SOLAR PANEL FACTORY DESIGNED FOR EARTH AND BEYOND
With current technology, it would take a minimum of 260 days to reach Mars. That is a long way to go – and given the cost of transportation, humans who plan to colonise the Red Planet must be able to fabricate a lot of what they need on-site. One thing colonists are going to need is energy, and startup Maana Electric is working on a system to deliver it. The company has developed an automated factory that produces solar panels out of sand – and which could also see a lot of use here on earth. Read more
For decades now, astronauts and scientists have been conducting experiments in space. These have demonstrated that a number of materials, such as ZBLAN fibre optics, are of much higher quality when produced in ‘microgravity’ – a term to describe the very low levels of gravity experienced in an orbiting spacecraft. Now, space tech startup Space Forge has raised funding to deploy satellites for manufacturing materials such as new alloys, medicines, and semiconductors in orbit. Read more
SATELLITE IMAGERY HELPS FARMERS USE FEWER CHEMICALS
Canadian space data company Wyvern has recently received government funding to complete the launch of the company’s DragonEye satellite. Dedicated to improving environmental health by harnessing the power of satellite imagery, the company is working to complete the first use of its unfolding space cameras. DragonEye satellites use hyperspectral imaging to provide users with unparalleled detail in near-to-real time. Read more
SPACE DEBRIS TRACKING SYSTEM HELPS PREVENT COLLISIONS
Historically, the race to space has focused on getting teams and countries into orbit, with far fewer resources dedicated to cleaning up after missions. Just as climate change was ignored by many for decades, so too was debris in space. With space traffic growing rapidly, there is now a growing need for the development of another aspect of exploration – tracking the rubbish left behind in order to prevent dangerous collisions. Portugal’s Neuraspace, part of the European Space Agency’s Business Incubator programme, recently raised €2.5 million to bring its intelligent monitoring platform to market. The AI-based platform analyses millions of historical flight paths to identify high-risk areas. Read more
Curated by: Matthew Hempstead
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American studio Eskew Dumez Ripple has used features of vernacular architecture in creative ways to form a sustainable, multipurpose school building.
The Home Building is part of the Thaden School, a private school in Bentonville, Arkansas, that serves students in grades six to 12.
Rainwater is collected and stored in a pond, or “water lab”, at the Thaden School. Photo is by Tim Hursley
With a focus on learning by doing, students engage in activities such as filmmaking, constructing bicycles, and growing and preparing food.
The school is backed by the Walton Family Foundation, which is led by the founders of the retail giant Walmart.
The school’s 26-acre (10-hectare) campus was master-planned by Eskew Dumez Ripple – a studio based in New Orleans, Louisiana – in collaboration with local firm Marlon Blackwell Architects, landscape architects Andropogon and engineering firm CMTA.
The team took cues from the area’s pastoral heritage for the architecture. Photo is by Dero Sanford
Eskew Dumez Ripple was tasked with designing the Home Building – a 34,000-square-foot (3,159-square-metre) facility that holds a dining hall, teaching kitchen, bookstore, library and lounge/study spaces.
“The Home Building serves as both the social and spiritual center for students,” the architects said.
Eskew Dumez Ripple added a study room to the project. Photo is by Dero Sanford
While designing the facility, the team took cues from the area’s pastoral heritage, including its vernacular architecture.
“The design reconciles seemingly contradictory notion: lofty ambitions for the building’s design with the humble nature of local, vernacular architecture,” the firm said.
A gabled, slatted canopy made of poplar wood features in the dining room. Photo is by Tim Hursley
Zigzag in plan, the wood-framed building stretches across the site, bending at several points to create porches and courtyards.
Facades are clad in shiplap cedar siding and board-and-batten siding made of white, fibre-cement Hardie panels.
Facades are clad in shiplap cedar siding. Photo is by Tim Hursley
The building’s different parts are topped with either single-slope or gabled roofs, all of which are covered with standing seam metal.
Within the building, the team used basic finishes such as concrete flooring and white-painted sheetrock, and incorporated special accents like custom millwork in the study hall and a live-edge wooden table in the teaching kitchen.
Eskew Dumez Ripple used basic finishes within the facility. Photo is by Dero Sanford
At the heart of the facility is the dining room, which rises to 38 feet (12 metres) at its highest point and features a glazed wall. Hung from large, exposed trusses is a gabled, slatted canopy made of poplar wood.
“The design employs common materials and methods in uncommon ways,” the team said.
The building has a number of sustainable features, including low-flow plumbing fixtures, a geothermal well and an energy recovery wheel.
Rainwater is collected and stored in a pond, or “water lab”, that serves as a teaching tool for students. The landscape is filled with native species like prairie grass and pecan trees.
The building has a number of sustainable features. Photo is by Tim Hursley
“Sustainability is placed at the forefront of the students’ education, and the landscape functions as a botanical textbook rife with plants that represent a microcosm of the region’s native species,” the team said.
With plans to install a photovoltaic array in the future, the building is designed to achieve an Energy Use Intensity score of 23. A score of 25 or less for a school building indicates that the building is “zero energy ready”, according to the architects.
Thaden School building is located in Arkansas. Photo is by Dero Sanford
The Home Building at Thaden School was a recipient of the 2022 AIA Architecture Awards.
Other projects there include the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, designed by Sadie Architects, and a co-working, dining and recreational venue by Brand Bureau and Modus Studio that is located within a former industrial building.
images courtesy Saffet Kaya Architects | 
