Self-sufficient floating house for students in Groningen. Materials for upper structure and Modularity

Abstract

[en] Currently in the city of Groningen the number of students is increasing because the education is the city’s greater economic activity, therefore is appearing the necessity to create more residences for students. To try not to expand more the residential area, the project aims to take advantage of the water surface available throughout the city. In addition to solve the need of number of residences the project will be developed from a sustainable point of view. Fortunately the construction sector is realizing the great negative impact it has on the environment and the need to proceed on a different way, there is a clear trend nowadays to produce sustainable buildings, that is, to consume the minimum possible amount of resources during its construction process and in its useful life. Therefore, this trend will be followed by applying this criterion of sustainability as a basic principle of the project. Throughout this work a project of floating and sustainable student residence will be developed focusing mainly on the analysis and application of the principles of sustainability on the foundation, the choice of materials for its construction and the integration of renewable energies. These will be the three themes that will be developed in more detail and which are expected to provide some improvement or innovation in its application in the project.