Intelligent and Sustainable Housing Solutions, Part 2 of 3

The ecocapsule is a smart, self-sustainable micro-house that uses solar and wind energy for power. The energy-efficient egg-shaped dome designed by Slovakian firm Nice & Wise which allows its inhabitants to live off-grid and enjoy the scenic beauty of nature. In a second example, a group of students constructed the “Waste House” at the University of Brighton, UK, from a variety of waste materials obtained from domestic and construction sites. The frame and floors of Waste House are made of recycled wood, and ten tons of chalk waste from another construction site were collected, pounded rammed-earth style to form a wall. In September 2015, Waste House was nominated for the Royal Institute of British Architects' Stephen Lawrence Prize. KODA is a sustainable and portable two-story mini house with built-in IT that enables the structure to learn from and adjust to its surroundings. According to Mr. Ülar Mark, a co-founder and system architect of Kodasema, 31 KODA modules have been built and installed in several European locations for different uses. He further explains, “There is a great advantage in using KODA modules for public buildings; the modules can be easily relocated and repurposed once they are no longer needed at the original location.” Essentially, Earthship homes are built with recycled materials, such as rubber tires, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and other re-purposed waste. The old tires were made into a powerful thermal mass by filling them with soil, hence making the room created from these materials cool in summer and warm in winter. The Sukup Safe T Home is a highly modified grain bin that is resistant to earthquakes, termites and moisture. Apart from security and comfort from the effects of weather provided to disaster-stricken inhabitants, T Homes can be purchased at a highly affordable price. In Oct 2016, the Sukup T Homes built in Haiti which protected the country’s residents from Hurricane Matthew, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history.