CAT trip

Here are some photos from our visit to CAT last wednesday. I found it quite a useful trip, and found out a bit more about sustainable materials which has in-fact influenced my designs.

Above are images of a lecture room. Its a sustainable building
made from soil built up in layers. It collects heat during the day
and releases it again at night.

Here is a close up of the soil wall,  you can see its
build up of layers.

This is a remote controlled movable solid blind,
they move it to create light and also an alternative
way of ventilation, windows open at the top to
let heat escape.

Large south facing windows to let in sunlight
to fill the room so electric light isn't needed and used
on a very rare basis.

This buildings structure is purely made from timber (wood)
with render over some parts. A few finishes are used
to prevent weathering. I learnt on this trip that using wood is a
really sustainable resource. Instead of setting the wood on fire or
letting it rot (releasing carbon dioxide into the environment), If used
in another way, this delays the recycle process and stops carbon
dioxide being released into the environment. Basically capturing the
chemicals into the enabling them to escape. 

Solar panels are used to generate electricity for all of the
buildings. This is stored over the summer and then used during
the winter. They even had energy left over!

This is a toilet block, again made from wood.
Although it is rotting at the moment so a new
one is needed!

This building is made from hay bails! A metal
support is used to keep it together with rendering
over the top to keep it watertight, the hay bails are
also a great use for insulation.