The conceptual building system design enables the customisable configuration and modification of space. The organic form inspired by nature is relying on 4 design elements: ecology, prefabrication, modularity and multifunctionality. The project was created to provide access to quick, healthy and environmentally friendly technology based on natural materials. It is a step towards responding to the problems of the modern world relating to climate change, limited resources and social changes.
Cross-border/international
Poland
Netherlands
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It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
4ELEMENTS is intended to provide a wide audience with easy access to quick and environmentally friendly construction technology. An important aspect of the project is the use of natural, breathable materials, creating a healthy microclimate in the building. The construction system allows buildings to perform many functions depending on the previously selected configuration. The search for and development of alternative concepts for improving the quality of life of residents in the changing economic, social, technological and cultural conditions should be our priority, along with care for the environment and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. It is becoming increasingly important to consider life cycle analysis and the overall environmental impact of building materials. By considering these factors together, I came to the conclusion that my system should not only promote ecological solutions, but also enable modification, extension or even reuse of the materials from which it was created. When it comes to the aesthetic dimension, I wanted to propose something universal and timeless, so that the architecture would act as a framework for the user and his needs, without being imposing. The system differs from the others, giving the customer the opportunity to choose and design the form of their building, depending on their needs. There are no restrictions in terms of the area or functional layout of the building, as in the case of many other prefabricated houses available on the market. The use of natural materials such as wood and hempcrete, ecological solutions such as a heat pump and a green roof collecting rainwater, as well as the production of elements in the production plant, reducing the amount of used materials and waste, and above all the possibility of disassembling and reusing almost all elements from which the buildings constructed, make the 4ELEMENTS system revolutionary and sustainable in many dimensions.
prefabrication
modularity
sustainability
organic design
inclusion
The 4ELEMENTS system tries to respond to the growing demand for quick and sustainable architecture. Using modern technological solutions, it proposes architecture that uses natural resources, such as heat pumps or rainwater harvesting. Buildings in the 4ELEMENTS system are equipped with green roofs, which have the ability to retain rainwater and delay rainwater runoff from the roof. Thanks to this, it does not immediately flow into watercourses, and then into the seas and oceans. In this way, we also save the resources of tap water, which must be obtained, treated and then transported through pipelines. In this way, we relieve the infrastructure and the environment. An important aspect of the project is to reduce the use of sand and thus concrete in the building process. Sand is the second most exploited resource in the world and its extraction strongly interferes with the natural environment. Annually, we extract about 50 billion tons of sand and gravel, which is twice as much as the possibility of naturally producing sand by weathering rocks. According to my concept, only sustainable, environmentally and healthy materials with negative or zero carbon dioxide emissions were to be used in the 4 ELEMENTS system. The structure, ceiling and suspended ceilings, as well as a large part of the building equipment in the 4ELEMENTS system are made of wood (CLT), while the wall modules are made of hempcrete, which after demolition is 100% decomposed and can be used as fertiliser. Cross-laminated timber is at the bottom of the pyramid of materials used in construction in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, developed by the Center for Industrialised Architecture (CINARK) at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen. The project also uses solar control glass with low reflectivity, perfect transparency and high thermal insulation. It provides excellent access to natural light, while protecting against overheating of rooms, and reduces the risk of birds hitting the window.
When creating this project I decided to leave behind the concept of four walls and try to come up with a completely different paradigm for designing a space. Architecture is a living tissue that we ought to be able to shape according to our needs. Certain norms and rules should be followed but why not play with the space entrusted to us? Is it worth staying on the well-trodden trail of right angles? In this project I decided to depart from traditional thinking about architecture and create an alternative organic system based on a grid of circles–growing cells that can assume various functions. I wanted to propose something universal and timeless, working with the assumption that architecture acts as a framework for the user and their needs. The materials used are of natural origin and their colour hasn't been artificially augmented, although allowing for later personalization. Left in their natural form, they create a neutral background that evokes the natural environment. 4ELEMENTS works within the framework of organic architecture on several levels. First of all it has a formal reference to nature. I decided that the system should enable the construction of space with an organic shape, without straight lines. I would like users to experience the space built in the 4 ELEMENTS system as closer to nature than traditional architecture. Another important aspect is the opening of the interior to the surrounding space, thanks to the all-glass façade without visible divisions allowing for large openings in the building to the surrounding landscape. Because the roof structure rests entirely on the pillars, it is possible to fully-glaze the façade. Using a mirror-coating on the windows which reflects the surrounding allows almost complete camouflage of the building. The green roof allows the harmonious integration of the building into the nearest greenery through the selection of vegetation covering it at the same time being in line with the trend of invisible architecture.
Housing, either directly or indirectly, contributes to the implementation of most of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. One of the greatest challenges of the modern world is to cope with inadequate living conditions resulting from insufficient housing resources, especially in areas with the highest population density and in places affected by natural disasters. Unmet housing needs contribute to social problems that lead to overpopulation, poverty, homelessness and exclusion. In some European countries, such as Poland, the housing problem is also very visible, which is related to ineffective housing policy. We face an urgent need to explore new practices in housing production. Prefab homes have the potential to meet today's affordability and resource-saving challenges. Prefabrication brings many benefits due to cost-effectiveness, quick implementation and reusability. Prefab buildings are cheaper due to the efficient use of materials and mass production. Building with sustainable materials also reduces production costs, responds to planning policies and protects heritage. Unfortunately, at this point, access to ecological architecture is limited. There is a shortage of qualified designers and builders. Often, in order to build a truly sustainable house you have to delve into the subject yourself. I wanted everyone interested in healthy and ecological architecture to have access to it. This is how the idea for 4 ELEMENTS was born. Implemented sustainable solutions have a positive impact on reducing building operating costs. The suggested heat pump draws nearly 2/3 of its heating power from the ground, saving around 60-70% of heating costs. It's estimated that water harvesting allows to reduce the consumption of tap water by 50%. The simple structure will allow for a standardised assembly process by programmed equipment. This could significantly help reduce costs while enabling the construction of sustainable architecture in places where it wasn't possible before.
Rapidly changing socio-economic conditions affect the space and development requirements. Enriching buildings with functional flexibility and sustainable healthy solutions allows for extending their life cycle and provides many benefits such as comfort, safety, community building, and lower transport costs. The 4ELEMENTS system enables the construction and equipment of buildings with various functions, from houses to gastronomy, commercial, exhibition, sports or office facilities. The system is perfect for designing hotel facilities as well as social housing and community centres. It is possible to create large multifunctional buildings within one block or to create complexes consisting of several smaller units. Buildings constructed with this technology also offer a new quality, which is easy extension or transformation of buildings for new functions. Another goal of the project was enabling to move the building to a new place. 4ELEMENTS gives the user the opportunity to design their own space thanks to intuitive online platform with a configurator. The client, regardless of whether they are a private person, company, developer or local government, have the option of designing the building himself. The system allows them to fully configure the space, starting with adjusting the surface and height. Then they can adjust the equipment, form and number of glazing. Subsequently, they can consult the system architects, who will be able to suggest alternative functional solutions, adjust the project to the plot and surroundings, and verify the compliance of the project with the local plan. When the client receives a complete construction project, which they can submit to the office and, if necessary, apply for a building permit, they can place an order and arrange a team of assembly workers and transport for a convenient time. With the company’s development, responding to customer needs, new services can be introduced, such as renting parts or entire buildings.
There are many stakeholders of the project. They are mainly users (including individuals, organisations, local/regional/state government officials). First of all 4ELEMENTS was created to give wider accessibility to fast, sustainable and healthy architecture. Keeping end users in mind I was developing an idea of the platform on which they could design their dream ecological homes. A very important aspect was making my project usable in areas where houses are needed the most such as areas affected by natural disasters. Thanks to prefabrication, the assembly of 4ELEMENTS buildings is many times faster than traditional buildings, which is why I think that foundations and organisations helping in such places could use buildings in the system as temporary shelters. Also, governments, sustainability experts and organisations, maybe even housing charities could create programs to facilitate access to fast housing for people affected by natural disasters or excluded in terms of housing. Other stakeholders are manufacturers and raw material producers with whom cooperation could be established to produce individual components necessary to construct a 4ELEMENTS building. Direct engagement with stakeholders was beyond the scope of this project but I drew on a range of relevant secondary sources with the project stakeholders in mind, including the report by the United Nations, the Supreme Audit Office, data from the World Green Building Council and Habitat for Humanity Poland and many others to understand the needs of today's world and its inhabitants. I’m also planning extended stakeholder engagement in the next stage of this project.
The 4ELEMENTS project is my master's thesis made at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in the field of Interior Design, which I defended in July 2022. The concept addresses issues in the field of industrial design, interior design, architecture, engineering, construction, materials science, ecology and sociology. The added value of this process is the concept of a revolutionary building system that addresses many socio-economic issues and analyses the life-cycle and overall environmental impact of architecture and building materials. The developed project does not only promote ecological architectural solutions, but also prefabricated construction, which can directly contribute to reducing the materials used in the construction and finishing of buildings. The project is my original concept, to which my lecturers contributed; my thesis supervisor dr Barbara Kowalewska, assistant dr Anna Skołożńska-Cieciela, mgr. Eng. Dariusz Śmiechowski, who helped me develop the concept of the system as part of technical studies, prof. Bazyli Krasulak, in whose studio I created an annex to my diploma in the form of visual identification, as well as Magdalena Sołtys, MA, under whose supervision I created my theoretical work, also entitled "4ELEMENTS", in which I tried to describe the problems of the modern world related to climate change, resource constraints and social changes, and describe the trends in architecture and construction that try to respond to them. I also described in detail the assumptions of my project.
Nowadays we have access to many construction technologies. However, they are usually limited to the material and method by which the buildings are made. There are also companies offering prefab buildings, but they are usually ready-made projects with a specific functional layout and size. 4ELEMENTS is revolutionary in many aspects. It is a closed system with dedicated equipment that gives the user the opportunity to design their own space using a simple internet platform with an intuitive configurator. The end-user has a full influence on its function, area and functional layout. The construction process is extremely efficient. The stage of foundation works can be completed in as short as 4 days (depending on the size of the building). After the foundation works are completed, the assembly of the building takes place even within one day and the building is ready for use. In addition, 4ELEMENTS buildings would be covered by a guarantee, and what is even more important, when one of the elements is damaged, the costumer could easily order its replacement (without interfering with other, well-functioning elements), while reducing the amount of generated waste throughout the life cycle of the building. The factory would make sure that all elements remain compatible and take this into account when modernising the system and expanding the offer. It also makes sure that both current and new customers can enjoy fast and professional service, regardless of whether they are ordering a new building, reconstruction or extension of an existing one. With the development of the company, it would be possible to automate not only the production process, but also assembly work. 4ELEMENTS could meet the demand for temporary buildings. It could also be a solution for people who frequently change their place of residence. If the company expanded to foreign markets, the user could "return" their house while moving and get practically the same one in the new place of residence.
Replicability and transferability is at the core of this concept, making it suitable to a range of situations, environments, and uses. Designing buildings requires new ways of thinking, not only about ecology, but also about the interaction of its users. Their voice in the design of the space they will ultimately use is extremely important. The way we live today is definitely different from how we lived even 10 or 20 years ago. Irregular working hours, the popularity of freelance jobs or even the very approach to spending free time make us use our homes in a completely different way. The pandemic undoubtedly had a huge impact on shaping new needs. Many people felt that the apartments they lived in did not meet their expectations. The small size, insufficient number of separated spaces, lack of sunlight made us want more contact with nature. It is important that spaces in newly designed houses have the ability to transform, adapting them to various activities. Population growth causes an increase in architectural production on an unprecedented scale. That is why we should take care of our natural resources, CO2 emission as well as the impact of building materials on the microclimate in the building and the health of its users. Construction is subject to ever faster changes related to the development of technology, but the unchanging feature of architecture is its resistance to transformations, which calls into question the future usability of the buildings. When designing 4ELEMENTS, I wanted to propose a new look at sustainable modular and prefabricated construction, or architecture as such, anticipating the need to modify the space, relocation and need for temporary buildings. In the context of places affected by natural disasters, fast architecture like 4ELEMENTS can be a perfect solution, giving the user an impact on the final appearance of the building. I hope that foundations and organisations could implement this type of construction in aid campaigns.
The UN'S 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Housing is an integral part of seven of 17 Sustainable Development Goals; no poverty (1) - affordability of prefab, good-health and well being (3) - connection to nature, gender equality (5) - accessibility, clean water and sanitation (6) - water capturing, affordable and clean energy (7) - heat pumps. According to the American World Green Building Council, 39% of global C02 emissions can be attributed to buildings. That's why we should prioritise reducing their negative impact on the environment. However, the housing shortage is still visible. First of all, in developing countries, where the birth rate is the highest and in places affected by natural disasters such as floods, fires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and tornadoes. Unmet housing needs contribute to social problems that lead to lower quality of life, overcrowding, poverty, homelessness and exclusion. Nowadays, there is a strong need to have one's own apartment, conditioned not only by material considerations, but also by psychological and sociological aspects. When analysing the current state of housing resources in Europe, it is necessary to emphasise that on average there are 466 apartments per 1000 inhabitants of the European Union countries. Poland is below this average. That is why I started thinking about a building system that would not only be sustainable and healthy, but would also use renewable energy sources, would be faster than traditional construction methods and would be easily accessible to everyone. A quick construction time makes this a great solution for emergency/crisis situations, like those already happening as a result of climate change.
