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Fight Back with Fungi: How Mushrooms Can Help Solve the Global Housing Crisis
CategoriesArchitecture

Fight Back with Fungi: How Mushrooms Can Help Solve the Global Housing Crisis

By Zarkon Group,

Healthy Materials Lab is a design research lab at Parsons School of Design with a mission to place health at the center of every design decision. HML is changing the future of the built environment by creating resources for designers, architects, teachers, and students to make healthier places for all people to live. Check out their podcast, Trace Material.

Namibia’s diverse ecosystem is in trouble. The main culprit: Acacia Mellifera, better known as Black Thorn or simply ‘encroacher bush.’ This dense, thorny shrub is incredibly invasive and, over the last few decades, has smothered many parts of Namibia’s increasingly homogeneous ecology. Grassy savannas are being choked by the ever-expanding plant and turned into deserts. Namibia’s government has a plan to fight back. They’ve enacted a program to thin 330 million tons of black thorn over the next 15 years. The bush waste is chipped and turned into wood dust that can be used for fuel pellets and energy sources. As it turns out, it is also the perfect food for fungi.

MycoHab, a collaboration between MIT, Standard Bank and redhouse studio, is leveraging this surplus waste and harnessing the power of fungi to address both food and housing scarcity in Namibia. Here’s the basic MycoHab run-down: The wood dust from the Acacia Mellifera waste is used as a substrate to grow oyster mushrooms. The oyster mushrooms are harvested and sold to local markets, grocery stores and restaurants. Then, the waste left behind from the mushroom harvesting, teeming with the rootlike structure of fungi called mycelium, is pressed and fired into blocks that the team plans to use to construct affordable housing. This may sound far out, but allow us to explain. To understand how we get from mushrooms to housing, it’s helpful to know a bit about the life cycle of fungi.

Fungi 101

First, it’s important to understand that while all mushrooms are fungi, not all fungi are mushrooms. Mushrooms are the fruiting body of fungi. A mushroom is like an apple growing on an apple tree––it’s the fruit, not the tree. In the fungi world the “tree” is called mycelium. Mycelium is the living body of fungi. It’s a rootlike structure that is constantly eating, expanding, and connecting in large filamentous networks underground or in rotting trees. Mycelium is the star of the MycoHab project and the key to a future of fungi-based materials.

Nature’s Glue

MycoHab’s mycelium block molds

On a typical mushroom farm, once the fruiting bodies have been harvested, the mycelium would be left behind or composted. At MycoHab, the fungi’s substrate, chock full of mycelium, becomes the foundation for a new building product. While the mycelial network is growing and eating, waiting to sprout mushrooms, it’s filling up any available space in the woody substrate and binding everything together. We spoke to Christopher Maurer, Principal Architect at redhouse studio and a Founder of MycoHAB about how this works in practice. “The mycelium, which looks like roots basically, bonds with the Acacia Mellifera bush at a cellular level,” Chris says. “They create this cellular matrix of material that can be compacted and turned into a building material. It acts like cement or glue in different building products.”

Seeing other creatives working with mycelium materials, notably the mycelium materials company Ecovative in a packaging context, inspired Chris’ own fungi experimentation. “We always wondered, could this be something that could be structural as well? We thought about processes like the creation of plywood or MDF where small bits of wood are combined together either in veneers, like plywood is, or in pulp, like medium density fiberboard.” Chris and his team set about experimenting with heat and pressure techniques inspired by these composite materials and applied them to the mycelium blocks. The results are relatively strong. Chris says, “We relate our block to a concrete block. It has about the same mass. It has a similar compressive strength. But it also has insulation characteristics and has thermal mass to it.”

Constructing Carbon Stores

MycoHab’s mycelium block storage

The potential of the MycoHab blocks are impressive: they could be be stronger than concrete blocks, they are insulating, and they are made from waste two times over. If that’s not enough, they also sequester carbon. Carbon emissions are a massive concern for the future habitability of our planet, and the built environment is one of our worst offenders. The construction and operation of buildings is responsible for nearly half of global carbon emissions. And the materials we use in our buildings have a huge impact on those emissions. Just three materials: concrete, steel, and aluminum account for 23% of emissions worldwide.

The situation is dire, and according to Chris, the materials we build with are the place to start. “We imagine a future where the building industry could be a net carbon store. Because of population growth, we need to double our building area size by 2060. If we’re using carbon emitting materials, that is going to be a huge problem. If we use materials that store carbon then we can actually start to reverse the impact that the building industry and architecture has on the environment.”

Inflate, Deflate, Repeat

An inflatable arch formwork created by Chris and the MycoHab team

In addition to being made from waste, Chris and his team are developing new, waste-saving building methods to assemble the future myco-block affordable homes. Here’s how it will work: inflatable arch formwork is erected on site and the myco-blocks are stacked on top. Once everything is in place, the arch is deflated and is able to be used over and over again. This saves a ton of construction waste because, traditionally, the forms needed to build arch or dome structures can end up creating about as much building waste as the final product.

Next, a mud-lime render is added to the blocks to protect them from the elements and a roof completed. The homes are designed for disassembly and with end of life in mind. Chis says, “The block itself would be fully biodegradable. We designed the building with protective barriers on top of it, but if you were to strip those away and recycle those materials, then the myco-blocks could be broken down and used as compost to augment the soil. That’s the way we look at the life cycle of our project—from the earth and back to the earth.”

Fungi Futures

Ivan Severus holding a MycoHab mycelium block

As things stand, MycoHab Namibia functions as a vertically integrated operation, with profits from oyster mushroom sales funding block production. Chris says that patience in these early stages of the process is key. “As we’re getting started, we want to maintain control over the process and the building so that we can thoroughly test everything and make sure that the materials we’re making are used properly.”

But, according to Chris, scaling operations are not far off. “I don’t think it can be kept a vertically integrated system for very long. It will need to kind of branch out into these different endeavors and then they could end up on the shelves of hardware stores around the world so that anybody can build with them.”

MycoHab’s Namibia-based Team

Widespread access and affordability of myco-materials will be key to realizing their potential environmental impact in the coming decades both in Namibia and around the globe. Chris and his team have crunched the numbers and calculated that if they use just 1% of the biomass that Namibia plans to thin from the encroacher bush, they could house 25% of the population currently living in shacks and informal settlements over the next 15 years. In that time, they would also be able to harvest 2 million tons of mushrooms and sequester 3-5 million tons of carbon dioxide in the process. That is the promise of fungi.

We hope that fungi-based materials like the MycoHab blocks will become a standard rather than an exciting outlier. This innovative approach, looking at the entire life cycle and systems of making a material, while taking responsibility for its origins through to its disposal, is an excellent example for a healthier future of materials and the built environment. It took decades of research, innovation, marketing and systems-building for petrochemical based materials to take over our planet. That same energy, and patience, is needed now. Thankfully, the tide is turning and a healthier future is possible.

To hear more from Chris and the MycoHab team, take a listen to our podcast Trace Material. Our third season is all about the potential of fungi-based materials and Episode 5 “Harvesting Housing” provides a more in depth look at the MycoHab project.

Reference

Brutalist concrete library interior
CategoriesInterior Design

Superkül renovates reading room at Toronto’s brutalist Robarts Library

By Zarkon Group,

Canadian studio Superkül has updated the reading room at the University of Toronto’s Robarts Library, a notable example of brutalist architecture.

The project involved renovating the cavernous concrete space on the building’s fourth floor, as part of the university’s larger initiative to revitalise the Robarts Library, which Superkül described as “one of North America’s most significant examples of brutalist architecture”.

Brutalist concrete library interior
The Brutalist concrete Robarts Library was built in 1973

Completed in 1973, the John P Robarts Research Library was designed by local architecture studio Mathers & Haldenby.

It is both the largest individual library at the University of Toronto and the largest academic library building in Canada.

New wooden seating elements
Superkül updated the spaces to better serve contemporary learning needs

As an important facility for students and faculty, the reading and study spaces required upgrades to meet contemporary learning styles and equipment, while remaining respectful to the heritage-listed architecture.

The project also needed to connect the original brutalist structure with the adjacent Robarts Common extension, completed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in September 2022.

Individual study stations
A variety of individual study stations were added to the double-height space

“We were tasked with an ambitious goal: to convert the space into a superior contemporary environment for quiet study, collaboration, and digital scholarship in a manner that complements the building’s exalted architectural language and supports accessibility, diversity, and wellness,” said Superkül.

Spread throughout the 20,300-square-foot (1,886-square-metre), double-height space are individual study areas, new digital stations, consultation rooms and two light therapy zones.

Concrete structure meets new insertions
Natural materials were chosen to bring warmth to the concrete building

Particular attention was paid to accessibility, through the addition of inclusive study spots that allow users to adjust desk heights, seating configurations and lighting for their needs.

“We also emphasised clear sightlines and intuitive wayfinding in a symmetrical layout to promote easy navigation,” said Superkül.

The studio worked with a team of acoustic specialists to create a sound-dampening system using perforated wood and metal panelling, designed to blend in with the interior architecture.

This scheme allows communal study groups to converse without disturbing other students.

Study areas
Particular attention was paid to accessibility, through the addition of inclusive study spots

For the new elements, a variety of natural materials were chosen to add warmth to the concrete building, including custom-designed bronze screens and details that play on existing motifs.

“To honour the distinctive geometry and materiality that make Robarts Library such a prodigious icon, we hewed closely to an overarching objective: create a robust and respectful design that honours the existing architecture and complements the library’s other spaces,” the studio said.

Communal work tables
An acoustic-dampening system was created to prevent communal study sessions distracting from quiet work

Also at the University of Toronto, studios Kohn Shnier and ERA Architects recently renovated the historic University College building to make it more accessible.

Superkül’s previous projects have included an all-white vacation home in the Ontario countryside.

The photography is by Doublespace.

Project credits:

Architect: Superkül
Structural engineer: Entuitive
Mechanical and electrical engineer: HH Angus
Acoustics: Aercoustics
Cost: Marshall & Murray
Code and safety: LRI

Reference

A plant-based topcoat for plastic-free alt leather
CategoriesSustainable News

A plant-based topcoat for plastic-free alt leather

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Plastic is everywhere. In fact, as microplastics are found in more and more places – the bottom of the ocean, the food chain, and inside our bodies for example – concern over the use of plastics is growing. However, there are few products that can replicate plastic’s usefulness, especially as a topcoat on products such as leather and flooring. Until now, that is. Sustainable materials brand von Holzhausen has recently announced a new plastic-free topcoat that could replace the use of petroleum-based materials.

Called Liquidplant, the new customisable product is 100 per cent plant-based, petroleum-free, and completely biodegradable. The product is designed for use as a coating on products such as traditional and synthetic leather, paper, wood, plastic, and fabric.

The coating is made from sustainably grown materials, including corn sugar, castor oil, and flaxseed oil. It has similar qualities to traditional topcoats, including being flexible, as well as stain-, scratch-, and water-resistant.  The company says Liquidplant can be used on its own or paired with von Holzhausen’s Terra Backing material. And at the end of its usable life, the products can be recycled into more Liquidplant.

Founded by former automotive designer Vicki von Holzhausen, the company has developed a number of vegan materials, including a bamboo-based leather, and leathers crafted from recycled consumer plastic. The company states its mission as replacing “all the animal leather in the world with non-animal leather. [It believes] in the power of plants and in transforming discarded materials into remarkable ones.”

Vegan leather is everywhere now, and its use is growing as the products become more sophisticated and luxurious. Springwise has spotted leather substitutes made from products as diverse as mycelium, fruit waste, and flowers.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

wooden residential complex by mobile architectural office reinterprets characteristic parisian suburban architecture
CategoriesArchitecture

mobile architectural office fuses parisian residential architecture

By Zarkon Group,

mobile architectural office unites parisian urban archetypes

 

At the intersection of three Parisian urban situations in the heart of the French capital sits Mobile Architectural Office’s multifaceted new residential complex. Comprising six housing units and a commercial space, the project is concealed behind a white ribbed metal skin that unites the characteristic qualities of the city’s neighboring faubourien architecture with discreet modenature, the cohesive neatness of the brick facades, and the classical architectural language reinterpreted by postmodern structures from the 1980s.

 

Across its five stories, the program configures six dwelling units, including two triplexes on the ground floor, above a commercial space. Each unit is arranged around a central courtyard, its inner facade clad in natural wood, and is served by a communal staircase and exterior landings for shared uses between neighbors.

wooden residential complex by mobile architectural office reinterprets characteristic parisian suburban architecture
all images © Cyrille Lallement

 

 

6 housing units concealed behind a ribbed metal skin

 

The site is located at the corner of rue Robert Blache and rue du Terrage. To echo its suburban fabric, the project reinterprets the fusion of faubourienne architecture, compact volumetry, facades ordered by regular vertical openings, discreet modenature, and simple expressions of construction. 

 

On the ground floor on rue Robert Blache, the team at Mobile Architectural Office has injected a strong sense of animation along the streetfront by integrating several retail spaces. Access to the residential flats is created via a bright walk-through hall overlooking the adjacent Rue du Terrage. On the upper floors, all dwellings are double or triple oriented and punctuated with uniform windows offering optimal natural light to inhabitants. Inside, some structural elements of the wooden joinery have been revealed in discreet, natural expressions. 

wooden residential complex by mobile architectural office reinterprets characteristic parisian suburban architecture

 

 

Mobile Architectural Office has developed a structural principle based on both vertical and horizontal prefabricated wood, with solid facades and floors from the Basque Country. This enables low carbon development and efficient construction, allowing the structure to be assembled within ten days. Further, in order to facilitate the large spans in the commercial premise and the relationship with the ground, the structure of the ground floor is made of concrete.

 

On the roof, a rainwater collection system captures precipitation and feeds the planter above the bicycle room and the green space on the ground floor. A recovery system in the tank supplies the taps in the common areas and all the sanitary facilities.

wooden residential complex by mobile architectural office reinterprets characteristic parisian suburban architecture

wooden residential complex by mobile architectural office reinterprets characteristic parisian suburban architecture

wooden residential complex by mobile architectural office reinterprets characteristic parisian suburban architecture

Reference

Curved bench balanced on rocks
CategoriesInterior Design

WGNB creates minimal monochrome SVRN store in Chicago

By Zarkon Group,

A variety of monolithic furniture pieces direct the flow of movement around this fashion boutique in Chicago, designed by South Korean studio WGNB.

The space for lifestyle brand SVRN is intended to highlight the products for sale as artworks and ideas, rather than simply as garments.

Curved bench balanced on rocks
Benches balanced on irregularly shaped rocks also act as product displays in the store

“Spatial design of the SVRN store began with our interpretation of the SVRN’s brand identity and narrative through the eastern perspective,” said WGNB.

“While the western perspective looks at the object itself, the eastern perspective rather focuses on the surrounding relationship of the object.”

Thin black rails for displaying clothing
Thin black railings are used for hanging garments

The 4,200-square-foot (390-square-metre) store on North Aberdeen Street, in the Fulton Market area, is split into two sections: the main sales floor and a back room, which are connected by a narrow corridor.

A muted, monochrome selection of materials creates a serene atmosphere in both of the spaces, while the architectural elements dictate purposeful paths that connect them.

Wide shot of the store with service counter on the left
Various architectural and furniture elements form pathways for shoppers to meander

Black railings transverse the walls, puncturing curved and flat vertical partitions made from materials including concrete, steel and black-stained thermowood.

Curved benches that act as both accessory displays and seating are balanced on large irregularly shaped stones.

Hole in the stainless steel ceiling
The walls and ceiling in the back room are lined with stainless steel

Together, all of these elements suggest multiple meandering routes for customers to trace through the store.

In the back room, the curvature of the benches corresponds with a circular opening in the brushed stainless steel ceiling, while a round patch of carpet sits offset on the floor.

Footwear display area
A section dedicated to footwear features multiple shelving units

Hot-rolled steel continues across three walls, creating a sci-fi feel in certain areas of the room.

Micro-cement plaster paints are used to contrast the metal, adding a rougher texture against the smooth surfaces.

Ladder of shelves sat on a circle of carpet
A monochrome colour scheme is applied throughout

“Overall, usage of the materials are manifestations of the SVRN’s brand identity and narratives,” said WGNB.

The fourth wall in the rear space is reserved for displaying shoes, which sit on shelves of unequal heights that are silhouetted against backlighting.

“The spatial layout of the store considers the current that customer’s circulation creates in the space with the objects and openness,” said the studio.

“And, the visual tension is created by the constantly changing eyesight of the customers while navigating the store.”

Store interior at night
A variety of smooth and textured surfaces create subtle contrasts across the boutique

Minimalist fashion boutiques can be found worldwide, with many brands opting for a simple and pared-back interior to allow the products to shine.

Recently completed examples include Snøhetta’s Holzweiler store in Copenhagen and a Jonathan Simkhai store in New York’s SoHo by Aruliden.

Wavy partitions define pathways
The store was designed by WGNB, the Dezeen Awards Emerging Interiors Studio in 2021

WGNB, which won the Dezeen Award for Emerging Interior Designer of the Year 2021, has also created monochromatic interiors for fashion brand Juun.J’s flagship store and a golf supply shop – both in Seoul.

The photography is by Yongjoon Choi.

Project credits:

Construction/general contractor: Helios Construction Services



Reference

Using machine learning to map worldwide waste
CategoriesSustainable News

Using machine learning to map worldwide waste

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Every year we dump a colossal 2.12 billion tonnes of waste. And if we filled trucks with this rubbish, there would be vans to go around the globe 24 times. Although our rubbish clearly isn’t stored just in trucks, do we know where it actually goes? Edinburgh-based data analytics firm Topolytics is looking for answers with its data aggregation and analytics platform that aims to make the world’s waste visible, verifiable, and valuable.

The platform, called WasteMap, collects and analyses data about waste types, amounts, and movements to create insights for waste producers, investors, and governments across numerous sites, regions, and countries. With this, Topolytics envisions waste and management resources becoming more transparent and effective for both commercial use and the environment.

Michael Groves, Topolytics chief executive, explains that, “it helps waste producers and recyclers to drive resource and cost efficiencies, to trace the movement of waste and measure their impact, whilst validating performance and improving the quality and reliability of ESG and carbon reporting.”

The Scottish firm has reportedly raised £1.5 million (around €1.69 million) from “seasoned hight-net-worth-investors” and a UK Research and Innovation grant. With this money, the company claims it will launch its WasteMap solution and further commercial business.

Springwise has previously spotted other intelligent technologies that help manage the waste we make, including an AI-powered litter-picking vehicle and an AI-handled waste-sorting process.

Written By: Georgia King

Reference

Aerial view of Feldballe School in Denmark
CategoriesArchitecture

Henning Larsen uses natural materials at Feldballe School in Denmark

By Zarkon Group,

Straw, eelgrass and wood feature in this bio-based extension that Danish architecture studio Henning Larsen has added to Feldballe School in Denmark.

The angular timber-clad extension, which contains science classrooms, is intended to demonstrate the potential of natural materials in architecture.

It was designed by Henning Larsen with the aim of having the carbon sequestered in the construction materials help to offset the building’s lifetime emissions.

Aerial view of Feldballe School in Denmark
Henning Larsen has extended the Feldballe School in Denmark

“At the core of this project is investment in education,” lead architect Magnus Reffs Kramhøft told Dezeen.

“We wanted to show the school pupils that there is a better way to build, that it’s possible to design a non-toxic building.”

The locally sourced biomaterials used in the project were chosen for their ability to sequester, or store, carbon from the atmosphere.

Aerial view of Feldballe School extension by Henning Larsen Architects
It has an angular form

“These materials are viable alternatives to concrete, brick and steel, and crucially, materials that sequester rather than emit carbon dioxide, are totally free of toxic chemicals, fire-safe, and offer both efficient insulation and a great indoor climate,” said the studio.

Among them is a wall panel system made of compressed straw in wooden cassettes, along with a timber roof.

Timber-clad school building
The building makes use of bio-based materials

Inside, untreated plywood is used for built-in furniture and is also left exposed on the walls.

The classrooms, which sit under pitched roofs, feature timber beams and straw-panel ceilings that are left visible throughout too, helping to help create a warm atmosphere.

Wood-lined facade of Henning Larsen-designed building
Timber lines its exterior

Solar panels on the roof of the building generate electricity to help power it, while its interiors are naturally ventilated.

This natural ventilation system is aided by eelgrass, a type of fast-growing seaweed, which is used in the form of filters that pull in air through the facade.

Wood-lined building with solar panels on the roof
Solar panels provide electricity for the building

“The natural materials lend the extension a warm, welcoming expression, and because there is no need for large ventilation ducts or suspended ceilings, the rooms are spacious and high-ceilinged,” said Henning Larsen.

“The permeable characteristics of straw allow humidity to escape, and the interior walls consist of clay plaster, supporting its diffusion qualities.”

According to Henning Larsen, the building’s carbon footprint will equate to six kilograms of carbon dioxide per square metre every year, over a lifespan of 50 years.

This surpasses Danish standards, which currently require all construction projects to keep below 12 kilograms of carbon dioxide per square metre every year.

Interior of Feldballe School extension by Henning Larsen Architects
It contains science classrooms inside

“These targets refer to a project’s entire footprint from operational emissions to those associated with the manufacturing of materials and their installation,” said the studio.

“For reference, the European average amounts to between 500 to 1,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide per square metre.”

Classroom interior with wooden walls
Plywood is used on the walls and for furniture

Henning Larsen also said that the extension has the potential to be easily disassembled and reused or recycled in the future.

“The true measure of the project’s impact lies in what it will offer to the many children of Feldballe School as well as the local community through the years,” concluded Kramhøft. “So far, the choice of materials has proven conducive to a healthy and pleasant learning environment for students and teachers.”

Interior of Feldballe School extension by Henning Larsen Architects
Timber beams are left exposed

Based in Copenhagen, Henning Larsen is an architecture studio founded by the Danish architect Henning Larsen in 1959. It was awarded the European Prize for Architecture in 2019.

The studio also recently completed a mass-timber centre for car manufacturer Volvo and a timber church with trapezoidal roofs in Copenhagen.

Bio-based extension by Henning Larsen Architects
Straw panels cover the ceilings

The studio hopes that its use of bio-based materials will encourage their uptake in the industry and lead to more efforts to reduce carbon emissions in construction.

“We know that we cannot wait for policymakers to push the green agenda, we must face the weight of our design decisions headfirst, altering our practices, bettering ourselves, and pushing our industry,” concluded the studio’s director of innovation Jakob Strømann-Andersen.

The photography is by Rasmus Hjortshøj.

Reference

Wooden bar in Nikolaj Kunsthal by MEE Studio
CategoriesInterior Design

MEE Studio creates wood-and-copper interior for Nikolaj Kunsthal cafe

By Zarkon Group,

Architecture firm MEE Studio has designed the interiors and bespoke wooden furniture for a cafe and boutique in the Nikolaj Kunsthal art gallery within an old church.

The municipality-run gallery, which is set in a deconsecrated church in central Copenhagen, asked MEE Studio to design a “lively and functional” space.

Before designing the interior spaces, which feature warm and tactile materials such as copper and wood, the rooms in Nikolaj Kunsthal first had to be restored.

Wooden bar in Nikolaj Kunsthal by MEE Studio
The gallery is located in a former church

“The spaces had been used for various purposes since the 1980s including art installations and other changing uses,” MEE Studio founder Morten Emil Engel told Dezeen.

“This has left the spaces with remnants of ad-hoc electrical wiring, bricked-up arches, blocked-off windows and arbitrary lighting. Additionally, there was no water supply or plumbing in the spaces that now have the cafe.”

The studio reestablished the grand door and window openings in the space and replaced the old acrylic paint with breathable lime-based paint, while also adding acoustic plaster to improve the acoustics of the spaces.

Copper splashback and oak bar in Danish cafe
Untreated copper was used as a backsplash for the bar

At the centre of the cafe, Engel created a long bar that also functions as a ticket counter and is made from solid oak wood.

Wood was also used for all the other furniture, including benches, tables and sculptural shelves, which Engel designed specifically for the project using European oak from sustainable forestry.

“I wanted the benches to reference church benches – a bit chunky and heavy,” he said. “The church architecture is very robust with the church tower having two-metre thick walls. So the furniture had to have some substance to them.”

Wooden furniture by MEE Studio
The furniture complements the “robust” church architecture

Engel also aimed to give the pieces a contemporary feel by fusing their “heavy look” with more contemporary elements.

“All the furniture has visible joinery and tectonics in fumed oak, which allows the user to see how they are made and assembled,” he said.

“I added some decorative inlays in the bar counter and boutique shelves. Inlays were traditionally used as a way of repairing wood and I wanted to symbolise that repair can be beautiful and sustainable,” he added.

“In this way, it is sending the message that the furniture should have a long life and be repaired if it ages.”

Furniture in Nikolaj Kunsthal by MEE Studio
Artworks decorate the walls, here Pull by Martha Hviid

Behind the central bar, a copper backsplash adds an eyecatching material detail together with the matching sink and worktops, which were designed in reference to the roof of the old church.

“As many traditional buildings in Copenhagen, the roof of St Nikolaj Church is made with traditional copper roofing, which has aged to a rich green patina over time,” Engel said.

“I wanted to reference the existing material palate of the church but use it in a new way. So the kitchen features worktops, sinks and backsplash in raw untreated copper, which will evolve beautifully with time.”

Copper details in Nikolaj Kunsthal cafe
Lime-based paint was used for the walls

The white walls of the cafe and store were contrasted with not just the copper and wood but also a burgundy red fabric designed by fashion designer Raf Simons for Kvadrat, which was used for the cushions and backs of the sofas and chairs.

The colour was a nod to some of the space’s original colour but could also help disguise red wine spills in the cafe.

“Oakwood was already used throughout the church so it seemed natural to use oak as a material,” Engel explained.

“There was also the burgundy red paint which had been used originally for some woodwork, for instance, the stairs in the tower and the ceiling in what is now the cafe,” he added.

“So it seems natural to work with an interpretation of the burgundy red for the color of the cushions. I matched the burgundy red to a fantastic Kvadrat textile designed by Raf Simons and it worked in providing vibrancy, but also as a practical colour in a cafe where red wine is served.”

Artwork in Nikolaj Kunsthal
Red fabric was used for the seating, with the artwork Mercury (socks) hanging above

As well as the bespoke furniture pieces, the space was also decorated with carefully chosen artworks that have ties to the city of Copenhagen.

“Mercury (socks) is a photograph by the famous Danish/Norwegian artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset from a series of classical sculptures by the world-famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen,” Engel explained.

“The Thorvaldsen Museum is located only a few minutes away from Nikolaj Kunsthal, so the work relates both to art from the 19th century and contemporary art from the 21st century which is what you find in Nikolaj Kunsthal.”

Other recent interior projects in Copenhagen include Space10’s headquarters, which has a kiosk-like design library, and the cafe and shop design for Designmuseum Denmark by OEO Studio.

The photography is by Paolo Galgani.

Reference

A discreet pad to alleviate period pain
CategoriesSustainable News

A discreet pad to alleviate period pain

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: In 2017, Dutch researchers conducted what was then the largest study of menstruating women and found that those who worked lost nearly nine days of productivity a year due to period pain. Much of that loss of productivity was due to presenteeism; showing up for work despite not feeling well and being unable to complete tasks at the same rate. Since then, campaigners in several countries, including the UK and Spain, are working to make period pain a recognised healthcare issue.  

Many doctors, of course, have heard first-hand accounts of the pain women feel during their period, and it is from years of listening to patients that the pain relieving Myoovi patch was created. Designed to fit discreetly under clothing and stay in place for as long as desired, the Myoovi device uses electrical nerve stimulation to reduce pain almost instantly. 

Myoovi is a mobile TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine, providing the same pain relief patients would get in hospital. Large butterfly patches hold the electrical device in place, either on the back or abdomen, and users adjust the intensity of the stimulation by pushing a button. A single charge generally lasts between five and 10 hours.  

Available in three skin tones, the butterfly patches generally work for two to three months, after which the stickiness tends to reduce. Users can buy the device and patches as a one-off or sign up to a subscription service. 

Making menstruation products more affordable and accessible is the goal of many innovators. Springwise has spotted a new way to clean reusable period pads, as well as an ad campaign that highlights some of the many experiences people go through as part of the menstruation process.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Kitchen inside Low Energy House designed by Architecture for London
CategoriesSustainable News

“Bad news is still good information”

By Zarkon Group,

A recent University of Cambridge study that cast doubt on the long-term effectiveness of insulating UK homes is not as bad news as it first appears, argues Insulate Britain campaigner James Thomas.

On 20 January, Dezeen reported on an academic paper by Cambridge University researchers looking at the long-term effects of energy-efficiency retrofits in the UK. At first glance, the Dezeen story and/or the paper might seem “anti-retrofit”. I want to bring a counterpoint to that knee-jerk reaction.

Bad news is still good information. Information in the form of empirical primary research by qualified professionals with track records in the relevant field, backed up by well-established research institutions, peer-reviewed and published in a respected academic journal – with all parties having a strong incentive not to get caught out doing bad work – is better than most.

At first glance, the Dezeen story and/or the paper might seem “anti-retrofit”

So when such a source presents information that, at first glance, seems to be at odds with what we want to hear, or what we were expecting to hear, we should take a calm moment and listen anyway; we might learn something.

The study is one of the first to use a large dataset (55,154 homes) looking at the impact of real-world retrofits in the long term. The clickbait conclusion is: empirical data shows that energy savings from retrofitting disappear after about four years.

Although the data is new, this finding is not unexpected. Economic theory predicts a “rebound effect” in energy usage following retrofits. A retrofit amounts to a reduction in the (financial) cost of warming your home – so you might well find yourself keeping your home warmer after your retrofit than before it.

Another not-unexpected finding from the paper is that retrofits have a significantly lower impact on energy consumption in homes in deprived areas, which are suffering from fuel poverty. We can assume that households in this category, pre-retrofit, were already spending up to the limit of what they could afford on heating, and that this was insufficient to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature.

After a retrofit, the same level of expenditure on energy would be enough to make such a home comfortable. So the energy usage would stay about the same – but the lives of the people living in that home would be vastly improved.

Two other significant factors contributing to the worse-than-predicted performance of retrofits, not discussed at length in the Cambridge paper, are the variance between buildings and quality control issues in retrofit installation and design.

Poor design or slapdash installation can entirely negate the performance benefits of an expensive retrofit

Different types of houses require different retrofit solutions, as might different houses of the same type. Poor design or slapdash installation can entirely negate the performance benefits of an expensive retrofit. Both of these factors point at the same thing: the need for consistent and reliably high quality in the design of retrofits and their installation.

But what stood out for me most from the Cambridge study, and from everything else I know about retrofitting, is the need for something much better than a retrofit-and-forget programme. A whole-house retrofit transforms your home from a passive pile of bricks and timber into something more like a machine, integrating multiple interacting passive and active systems.

You need to know not to throw open your windows when you’re surprised by how warm it is. Your retrofitted house is a machine; you need to learn how to drive it. You might even need to take a driving test.

The study authors say it their way: “Our results call for the urgent need to fully incorporate human behaviour into ex-ante modelling of energy use and to complement financial and regulatory energy efficiency policy instruments with soft instruments to promote the behavioural changes needed to realise the full saving potential of the adoption of energy efficiency improvements.”

In short, the rebound effect, and other effects identified by the Cambridge study, can be compensated for if the retrofits are delivered via the vehicle of an intelligent, progressive, integrated national policy. Such a programme would include comprehensive training for engineers, installers and end users, monitoring of both installation quality and post-installation usage, and refresher training where necessary.

Another possible tool, dare I mention it, could be rewards and/or penalties to incentivise sensible use by residents post-retrofit. Controversial, but it exists in many other areas of life where one person’s behaviour could have a negative impact on others. Nobody freaks out about the fact we have driving tests and driving licences – as well as fines for bad driving.

Nobody, least of all Insulate Britain, ever said national-scale retrofitting would be easy or cheap

That’s why Insulate Britain calls for something akin to the NHS for retrofitting: a National Insulation Service. Such an institution could provide other crucial benefits like trust and a service ethos, consistency across geography and time, data-sharing on what works and what doesn’t.

To free-market diehards that baulk at the notion of the less-than-optimal commercial efficiency that could come with delivering retrofits via a large state service effort, consider how we don’t marketise core state services like healthcare, education, defence. Aren’t providing energy security, eliminating fuel poverty and avoiding climate death also core?

Thanks to the Cambridge study, we now know for certain that a retrofit-and-forget approach won’t make the energy savings from retrofits stick. The Royal Institute of British Architects, and the Construction Leadership Council, and the Architects Climate Action Network have all called for a comprehensive national retrofit strategy. The report academics say it their way, Insulate Britain say it our way.

Nobody, least of all Insulate Britain, ever said national-scale retrofitting would be easy or cheap. But it’s still easier and cheaper than any other carbon mitigation intervention – if it is delivered in the form of an intelligent, progressive, integrated national policy to include not just money, but also action to support trust, quality control and behaviour change.

James Thomas is a British architect, environmental economist and campaigner. He led the team that designed Extinction Rebellion’s pink boat Berta Cáceres and spent two months in jail for blocking the M25 motorway outside London as part of an Insulate Britain protest calling for a national retrofit scheme.

The photo is by Benjamin Elliot via Unsplash.

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