The design provides sustainable architectural solutions for the harsh climate of Riyadh. Although the building is completely closed to the outside, the design creates a cautious dialogue with the exterior garden, defined by the articulation of the building volumes.
It can be completely shut off and tentatively resumed. Street facades that give directly to the street are generally blind with minimum openings with an integrated system of shutters that allows the house to become totally impervious to the outside. Conversely, a fully glazed interior front allows for maximum exploitation of daylight and the garden view.
SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPT
The aim of the design is to provide sustainable architectural solutions for the insulation of this family house, in particular from the harsh climate of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Health and indoor air quality are optimized wherever possible by integrating the use of low-VOC paints, no formaldehyde adhesives, and locally sourced materials. The hybrid design approach combines both passive and active measures implemented to reach an optimized situation for a comfortable indoor environment.
MATERIALS
Mineral wool insulation, a wool-like material made by blowing steam or air through molten rock, will be installed where needed for enhanced heat and sound insulation.
The use of 30% of pozzolan material, mainly located within Saudi Arabia’s 5000 volcanic sources, in the concrete mixtures produced in the K.S.A companies will reduce 18 million tons of portland cement. Furthermore, when implemented in the project’s landscaping, this material can reduce 50% of the water consumption and helps drainage. It is also an asset element for the fauna and flora and good insulation element. When used in main architectural features (i.e. ceilings, walls, etc...) the total weight of the structure is reduced by 50%. - Dr Mohammed Alhaj Hussein
Photocatalytic Concrete is a technology, based on particles of titanium oxide that can be applied to white or gray cement and still function like regular Portland cement. It is added to all varieties of concrete or plaster to breakdown smog or other pollutants that has attached itself to the concrete substrate (i.e. photocatalysis). As sunlight hits the surface, most organic and inorganic pollutants are neutralized.
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