There is an emergency situation due to climate change in which the construction sector currently generates a high percentage of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Therefore, there is a need for a path towards a more sustainable architecture that responds to concerns about the materials currently used in construction, energy use and waste management.
The km.0 architecture presents itself as an opportunity. The use of materials that come from a nearby environment and that do not entail a high production process, present a lower cost and consumption of fossil fuels for their transport. The km.0 materials involve less energy expenditure compared to conventional materials, which reduces the carbon footprint and, therefore, has a lower environmental impact.
These materials can be industrialised and optimised in a way that further contributes to lower energy consumption. Combined with the digitalisation of the process, this leads to fewer errors in production. In addition, the proximity to the source of these materials means that we can be sure that the process is environmentally friendly and we can be sure of the quality of the product we are going to use.
The km.0 architecture involves the use of all local resources, i.e. the availability of materials and the use of local construction techniques and labour, thus promoting a boost to the local economy and the suitability of the place.
Local knowledge is put to good use and combined with current techniques to develop more sustainable and efficient construction solutions through the exploitation of renewable energies and the properties of different materials. It manages to combine vernacular architecture with innovation, giving rise to a contemporary and attractive response to our way of building.
In addition, the fact that these materials are not manufactured to a very high standard not only means that less energy is used in their production, but also that they can be easily returned to the environment, thus contributing to a circular and more sustainable construction.
The km.0 architecture is increasingly present in the development of different types of projects that respond to multiple programmes and needs. Some of them are the Wadden Sea Center1 , the Léonce Georces Centre2 and the Caterpillar House3 , which employ different ways of using materials in an ecological way.
1 Dorte Mandrup’s Wadden Sea Center project in Denmark uses local wood and reeds and integrates the vernacular techniques and materials of the region to design a contemporary building perfectly integrated into the landscape.
Source: Arquitecturaviva.com , metalocus.es
2 The Léonce Georces centre designed by architect Calderon Folch (Chaufflailles, France) proposes the renovation of an existing building using local wood to imitate the traditional architecture of the area.
Source: cfs.cat
3 The Caterpillar House by Sebastián Irarrázaval (Chile) uses recycled steel containers to reduce cost and time. He integrates this resource for the construction of housing in the landscape.
Source: experimenta.es
The km.0 architecture allows our impact on the environment to be as low as possible. The optimisation of resources and the knowledge and combination of construction techniques not only favours the reduction of energy production costs, but also enables energy efficiency and better waste management in buildings. Micro-credentials therefore play an important role for this type of architecture as they can be a crucial element for its development. Micro-credentials provide the tools to train professionals who are able to respond to the new needs that are in demand.
The use of local materials generates an approach to tradition and to the origins of the different regions, giving value to the techniques and trades of each area and at the same time promoting local trade. Training with micro-credential in more modern techniques and their combination with traditional methods provides greater coherence and standardisation. All of this brings economic, social and environmental benefits based on sustainability and contributes to a contemporary ecological architecture that recovers the memory and contributes to the identity of the place.
Αuthor: ARANSA