From the Past to the Future: Innovation in Construction

In connection with the construction of the straw stage for the Arvamus Festival, we were offered time for our own discussion. The discussion “From the past to the future: innovation in construction” took place on the morning of 10.08. In addition to the members of the 1+X team (Aneth, Liispet, Roosmarii and Valerii), experienced practitioners of natural materials in construction and specialists Sven Aluste from the Academy of Natural Building and Mikk Luht from Eestimaaehitus also took the floor. The discussion took place on stage 18, the Energy Economy Area. The debate was moderated by journalist Mart Valner, who led the discussion in a spirited manner. The discussion between experienced professionals and young architects took place in good symbiosis.

Even though the weather was rainy, there was a good amount of people listening. The panel was structured in two parts – an hour for discussion and the last half hour for a practical workshop where people could try their hand at plastering a straw panel. The discussion covered natural building materials in general, what materials could be used in construction and how. More specifically, we focused on straw construction, the different properties of the material, we got to bust the myths that often go with straw in front of the audience. People were also able to give their opinion on whether they would like to have a straw house, and if not, why not. In addition to the discussion, the public could also explore the 1+X exhibition area, where they could see the planchets printed on fabric and the study reports on our project. If they wanted, they could take a straw book with them to read later or share with friends.

We made one straw panel with the wall layers so people could get a feel for what a straw wall might look like in a real building. The clay plaster was part of the interior layer. We got 1:1 feedback from people about the theme we set up in general and also about the PÕHULA(va) we built (https://1plussx.com/2024/08/15/pohulava/). It was evident that when people actually experience and see straw in construction with their own eyes, their preconceptions about it change. People see through practical examples that it really is possible to build more modern forms with straw.

In addition to the presentation at the Opinion Festival, 1+X also had the opportunity to present its research at the summer seminar of the Union of Estonian Architects (EAL). The seminar took place in Narva-Jõesuu at the Noorus SPA hotel and brought together nearly 300 participants, including Estonian landscape architects, interior architects, architects and heritage conservation specialists. The theme of the seminar was “The Material Cycle”, which provided an excellent opportunity to introduce the potential and advantages of straw as a building material to other architecture professionals.

In addition to us, a number of renowned architectural firms, such as Barrault Pressacco, NOMAD Architects and LLRRLLRR, presented at the seminar. Bauroc and Fibenol also presented innovative materials they have developed. The seminar also included a panel discussion on “Cataloguing and recycling of materials”, moderated by Jüri Muttika. The evening culminated with a delicious dinner and the traditional Arhivoor memory game.

Minevikust tulevikku: innovatsioon ehituses

Seoses Arvamusfestivalile lava ehitamisega pakuti meile ka aega enda aruteluks. Arutelu “Minevikust tulevikku: innovatsioon ehituses” võttis aset 10.08 hommikul, kus lisaks 1+X tiimi liikmetele (Aneth, Liispet, Roosmarii ja Valerii) võtsid sõna ka kogenud looduslike ehitusviiside praktikud ning spetsialistid Sven Aluste Loodusehituse Akadeemiast ning Mikk Luht Eestimaaehitusest. Arutelu võttis aset laval nr 18, milleks oli Energilise Majanduse Ala. Moderaatoriks oli ajakirjanik Mart Valner, kes meeleolukalt juhtis arutelu. Kogenud spetsialistide ning noorte ja roheliste arhitektide omavaheline diskussioon toimus hästi sümbioosis.

Kuigi ilm oli sadune, siis huvilisi oli omajagu tulnud kuulama. Paneel oli üles ehitatud kahes jaos – tund aega arutelu ning viimased pool tundi praktiline töötuba, kus inimesed said katsetada põhupaneeli krohvimist. Arutelus tuli juttu looduslikest ehitusmaterjalidest üleüldiselt, et milliseid materjale saaks kasutada ehituse puhul ning kuidas. Täpsemalt keskendusime põhuehitusele, materjali erinevatele omadustele, saime publiku ees purustada müüte, mis tihti käib põhuga kaasas. Ka rahvas sai avaldada arvamust, kas nad endale sooviksid põhumaja, kui ei soovi, siis mis põhjustel. Lisaks arutelule sai publik uurida ka 1+Xi näituseala, kus olid meie projekti kohta kangale trükitud planšetid ning eeluurimuste raportid. Soovi korral sai endaga kaasa võtta põhuraamatu, et põhust lugeda ka hiljem või seda tuttavatele jagada.

Üks põhupaneel oli meil jäetud koos seinakihtidega, et inimesed tunnetaksid, milline võiks põhusein päris hoone puhul välja näha. Savikrohv oligi osa siseviimistlusest. Saime inimestelt 1:1 tagasisidet nii püstitatud temaatika kohta üldisemalt kui ka meie ehitatud PÕHULA(va) kohta (https://1plussx.com/2024/08/15/pohulava/). Oli näha, et kui päriselt inimesed kogevad ja näevad oma silmaga põhku ehituses, siis muutuvad ka eelarvamused selle osas. Inimesed näevad läbi praktilise näite, et tõesti on võimalik põhust ehitada ka modernsemaid vorme.

Lisaks Arvamusfestivalil esinemisele avanes võimalus tutvustada 1+Xi teadustööd ka Eesti Arhitektide Liidu suveseminaril. Seminar toimus Narva-Jõesuus Noorus SPA-hotellis ja tõi kokku ligi 300 osalejat, sealhulgas Eesti maastikuarhitekte, sisearhitekte, arhitekte ja muinsuskaitsespetsialiste. Seminari teemaks oli “Materjaliringlus”, mis pakkus suurepärase võimaluse tutvustada teistele arhitektuurispetsialistidele põhu kui ehitusmaterjali potentsiaali ja eeliseid.

Lisaks meile esinesid seminaril mitmed tunnustatud arhitektuuribürood, nagu Barrault Pressacco, NOMAD Architects ja LLRRLLRR. Samuti tutvustasid oma välja töötatud innovatiivseid materjale Bauroc ja Fibenol. Seminaril toimus ka vestluspaneel teemal “Materjalide katalogiseerimine ja ringlus”, mida modereeris Jüri Muttika. Õhtu kulmineerus mõnusa õhtusöögi ja traditsioonilise Arhivooru mälumänguga.