Studio Anna Heringer - Bamboo Hostels
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Bamboo Hostels

Studio Anna Heringer

Hospitality  /  Completed
Studio Anna Heringer
Within three years (2011-2014) China consumed more cement than the USA during the last century. Most of those people living now in concrete housing blocks were living in houses made of natural materials. This trend happens all over the world. Alternatives are needed to reduce CO2 emissions.
The 3 hostels show that traditional, natural materials can be used in contemporary ways: unlike many traditional houses that hide mud behind fake facades, this project celebrates the beauty of natural materials. Using non-standardized, local materials will lead to more diversity in urban and rural regions, foster fair economics - through the creation of jobs - and preserve our planet`s ecosystem.
This project was part of the Longquan International Biennale that sought to build with bamboo, for which 12 architects were invited to build permanent structures.
Our studio was commissioned for 2 hostels and 1 guesthouse. The structure of the hostels is formed out of a core made of stones and rammed earth. The core hosts all facility units and the stairs. Attached to it are the sleeping units. The latter are designed like Chinese lampshades that gloom in the night. Around them is an expressive structure out of woven bamboo.
In general we tend to think that sustainability is about scarcity. But the nature of nature is not limitation. These great building materials bamboo and mud are there in abundance. They make sense in economic as well as ecological perspective, are healthy for people and the planet. These buildings are a statement that sustainability is about quality of life and the celebration of nature`s vast resources.
The applied techniques bamboo weaving and rammed earth are labour intensive, challenge the skills of local craftsmen and leaving the biggest share of the profit with the community.
The project wants to re-connect with the authenticity of cultural goods shaped out of immanent material characteristics like the bending strength of bamboo, and with the rich tradition in craftsmanship of China like basket weaving. One of the cultural identities of Baoxi is ceramic vessels. Those were the inspirations behind the shapes.
The energy system is based on direct and ‘archaic’ sources like fire and sun, wind, shade, plants and the concept of minimizing the conditioned spaces. Rather than making a huge effort in both money and resources for controlling the climate of the entire volume of the hostels, only the core - that hosts the utility rooms - and the cocoons are thermally controlled. They are protected from the rain and have heating or cooling options on a very low-tech level. The fire is used as a heating source through an effective oven that also heats warm water for the showers supported by solar collectors, while creating a communicative atmosphere in the common rooms.
With our planet`s limited resources we can’t provide 7 billion people an appropriate habitat made of industrialized materials only. The use of natural materials is vital in order to enable a sustainable and fair development. This project can act as a model for building simple but with sense and believing in the ‘charming power’ which lies in the natural materials’ authenticity.

Credits

 Baoxi, region of Longquan
 China
 Municipality of Longquan, China
 10/2016
 1153 mq
 Anna Heringer
 Stefano Mori, Karolina Switzer, Wayne Switzer, Yu Xi
 Shanghai Kangye Construction & Decoration Co.,Ltd
 Consultant in earthen structures and over all concept: Martin Rauch; Consultant in bamboo structures: Emmanuel Heringer; Consultant in heating system: Harald Mueller, Franz Petermann; Consultant in energy system: Prof. Klaus Daniels
 local craftsmen
 construction pictures from ©Jenny JI; picture taken during the Biennale Opening from ©Julien Lanoo

Curriculum

Anna Heringer, born October 1977, grew up in Laufen, a small town at the Austrian-Bavarian border close to Salzburg. At the age of 19 she lived in Bangladesh for almost a year, where she had the chance to learn from the NGO Dipshikha about sustainable development work. Eight years later, in 2005, she tried to transfer this philosophy into the field of architecture. Together with Eike Roswag and a team of Bangladeshi and German craftsmen she realized the Meti School in Rudrapur, Bangladesh, that she has designed in 2004 as diploma project at the University of Arts in Linz.

Local materials and energy resources + global creativity: our team believes in a global strategy for sustainability - affordable by everyone. We want to create an architecture out of existing potentials that brings the best out of the sources naturally available, creating work opportunities for many.

http://www.anna-heringer.com/i...

Tag

#Mentioned #China  #River stone  #Stone  #Sun Shading  #Bamboo  #Bamboo Structure  #Bamboo Shading  #Façade with bamboo  #Exhibition  #Studio Anna Heringer  #Baoxi 

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