Architectural technologies for life environment: biomaterials for an eco-efficient and sustainable architecture.

Abstract

Bio-based architecture (usually known as green architecture) is a new way of thinking, designing, and building according to innovative ethical, economic and social criteria, aimed at creating a partnership between innovation and low environmental impact. In fact, bio-architectural constructions contemplate the use of advanced materials, often of organic nature, and renewable energy resources. In this sense, it could be interpreted as a new architectural movement that tends to employ new materials essentially derived from natural elements: stone, such as lime, agricultural wastes, such as potato peel, straw, hemp, farming wastes, such as wool, etc.. Wide use is also given to the reuse of industrial bio-wastes such as those derived from the paper-pulp, clothing and food industries, whose biomass waste is increasingly being studied and researched for the manufacture of novel green materials, intended for low environmental impact buildings. Finally, solar, geothermal, and wind energy, together with various related devices, are becoming the new frontiers of energy supply for an increasingly efficient and sustainable architecture. The main approach behind a green building is that the whole construction life cycle must be eco-sustainable and environmentally friendly from the beginning to the end of the building process: beyond the use of ecosustainable and highly performing structural materials, new technologies able of reduce the environmental impact of buildings must be used. Therefore, specially renewed standard methods are adopted and new materials are also tested and used. Needless to say, there is a need for a series of specific skills and technical knowledge to operate in this sector. In addition, it is fundamental for technicians and designers being always updated on the main innovations in the field of sustainable construction, as well as having a good knowledge and awareness of the environmental constraints of the territory in which a building is planned. Furthermore, a careful choice of materials must be done based on their use, taking also into consideration the final destination of the structure to ensure the maximum comfort as possible on a visual, acoustic and thermal level, and in a healthy and safe environment. This work will present the most popular eco-sustainable biomaterials, considering the most popular commercial trends and the most advanced scientific research. In addition, some preliminary results will be shown on the manufacture of materials and products intended for architecture and design exclusively made using local (Sicilian) waste biomasses, such as straw and mussel shells, bonded by compounds of purely natural origin.