HDG Magazine Issue 4/2022

Housing, or lack of it, has been an issue for the UK and Ireland for many years. The provision of affordable social accommodation is an even starker problem of our times. Where to build, build quality and the creation of sustainable communities seem to be a conundrum that we have only achieved in fits and starts.

Although there is no lack of inventiveness within the design sector, legislative restrictions and economics have held the sector back.

Two enlightening projects from Spain (page 3 and 10) show how both affordable and sustainable housing can be built that is sympathetic to its locality and inhabitants, while still crucially contributing to a sustainable future.

Key design aspects of both projects combine a healthy interplay between public and private space and material use. The importance of community is emphasised by the creation of open spaces that allow residents to interact and take ownership. This is reinforced by the build quality and the natural interaction between the use of galvanized steel and timber.

There is no shortage of ability or desire to create sustainable and affordable housing, the only missing link is the legislative and economic push to make it happen.

Hot Dip Galvanizing – An international journal published jointly by the galvanizing associations of Germany, United Kingdom & Ireland.

Edited by: I. Johal, H. Glinde (Editor in Chief).

Published by: Galvanizers Association, Wren’s Court, 56 Victoria Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B72 1SY, UK; Tel: +44 (0) 121 355 8838

E-Mail: ga@hdg.org.uk, Website: www.galvanizing.org.uk This magazine may not be copied without the written permission of the editor © 2022.

Iqbal Johal, Editor

Photo front cover | Sigurd Steinprinz, Düsseldorf

by Holger Glinde

Sustainable cohousing

La Borda, Spain

La Borda is a cooperative housing complex in Barcelona and was awarded the Mies van der Rohe Award 2022 for “Emerging Architect”. It consists of 28 apartments between 40 - 75 m2, as well as common areas that allow the merging of private and public space.

La Borda was designed by the Spanish architectural collective Lacol. Five members of the collective are also part of the La Borda housing cooperative. The aim was to construct a building that was as sustainable as possible with minimal impact on the environment, during both construction and use.

1 | All 28 apartments have common areas that allow the merging of private and public space

2 | The six-storey building was realized as a cross-laminated timber construction, with galvanized steel as an important secondary material

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The design ethos was that a high level of comfort in the apartments should go hand in hand with minimal consumption in order to reduce costs, energy consumption, water, material and also the reduction of waste.

The housing cooperative wanted to promote communal housing models through communal spaces that improve interaction. Nearly 25% of La Borda's footprint is common spaces. These include an 80 m2 shared kitchen with a dining room that can be used for preparing larger meals or as a meeting place, a 100 m2 covered multipurpose room, two guest rooms, a laundry room, bicycle parking and outdoor terraces.

The six-storey building was realized as a cross-laminated timber construction, with the ground floor being a concrete structure. Hot dip galvanized steel was also used in a variety of ways; as a load-bearing structure for the arcades of the inner courtyard, for access stairs and for the greenhouse-like roof of the inner courtyard. This captures the sun's rays in winter and supports ventilation in the summer. In addition, hot dip galvanized steel was used for the balconies and as a substructure for the transparent façade elements made of polycarbonate panels. Galvanized steel not only meets the sustainability requirements of the cooperative, but also harmonises with the wooden surfaces throughout the building.

3 | Hot dip galvanized steel was used for the balconies and as a substructure for the transparent façade elements made of polycarbonate panels

Photos | Institute Municipal de l‘Habitatge i Rehabilitació de Barcelona (1), Lacol (2), Lluc Miralles (3); Baku Akazawa (4) Architect | Lacol

by Iqbal Johal

Rock house

Ardbrae, Scotland

Ardbrae - a dwelling house on a small rocky multi-levelled site, at the end of a lane, at the top of a hill, is the result of a client's wishes for a fun modern house. It maximises space, frames magnificent views and connects into the limited garden space.

1 | Galvanized steel was used to create delicate roof edge details with exposed channels, outriggers and guttering

The design responds to the site, context and orientation with a subtle curve following the road edge and a dramatic cantilever to contrast the rock and capture the spectacular hill top view. The house is complex with accommodation over four levels and connection to the changing outside ground levels on three of those floors. A lower basement plant room, wine cellar and storage room is accessed from the garden or secret staircase from the house. Entry to the house happens above this level via a galvanized steel ramp with integral handrails and planters.

This lower ground floor accommodates entrance points, utility and bedroom spaces allowing the upper ground plan to have a clear open layout for the primary living and kitchen areas with connection to the upper garden. The tiny top floor accommodates a home office and guest room. Parking is cleverly located under the primary living floor where it bridges between the rock and lower ground zone.

A galvanized steel frame was key to the delivery of this building to create the vast cantilever, bridging structure, gentle curving form and integration into the complex ground levels alongside reducing build time and impact on site. As well as the primary structure, galvanized steel was used to create delicate roof edge details with exposed channels, outriggers and guttering. This was all erected on site to form a clear workable frame which was then infilled with timber and insulated. Galvanized detailing continued with external handrails, protective barriers, downpipes, garden edges and planters. Further types of metal work are used throughout the project including powder coated stairs, black zinc soffits and flashing details, galvanized pink powder coated balcony column and aluminium framed windows. Metals were chosen as a key material, offering long lasting, quality and durable finishes around and within the building. The galvanized finishes compliment the key cladding finishes of natural Whinstone (from the site) used at the base level coming out the

2 | Located on a steep rocky site, at the end of a lane, at the top of a hill, this multi-levelled new build house maximises space, frames views and connects into the limited garden through its fun, playful, modern design

ground with a timber effect cladding board above. The cladding boards blend from darker shades up to lighter colours at the top, reflecting the trees behind as they thin out and disperse into sky.

The house is very energy efficient and features renewable technologies including solar PV panels and ground source heat pump as well as having heavily insulated walls, high performance triple glazed windows, underfloor heating, a mechanical ventilation system and a green roof seen from the upper drive and garden.

3 | A galvanized steel frame was key to the delivery of this building to create the vast cantilever, bridging structure and gentle curving form

4 | Galvanized detailing continued with external handrails, protective barriers, downpipes, garden edges and planters 3

(Content provided by ataSTUDIO)

Photos | Douglas Gibb Photography, ataSTUDIO Architect | ataSTUDIO

by Holger Glinde

Fun with façades

Student accomodation, Germany

The aim of the Variowohnen funding program was to create flexible and affordable living space for students, trainees and senior citizens. A recently finished project from the program was realized in Bochum by ACMS Architects that provides accomodation for students.

The project consists of three L-shaped buildings, each of which is accessed and interlinked via an external staircase. Linked to this is a two-storey building with east-west oriented living spaces and a single storey building with a southern orientation. This creates three inner courtyards facing the sun and shielded from the four-lane Universitätsstraße. All living spaces are barrier-free and have been organised in the form of one to four-bed apartments. On each floor there is an additional communal living and working space with use of shared kitchen facilities. At a higher level, common rooms are available as study and recreation rooms.

In order to implement greater flexibility and reusability as well as optimising construction time and quality control, a high level of off-site prefabrication was carried out. A shell with long-span slabs supported on steel beams and prefabricated concrete columns allows maximum flexibility. The non-load-bearing outer walls prefabricated from wooden panels enabled

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| The project consists of three L-shaped buildings, each of which is accessed and interlinked via an external galvanized staircase

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| Curtain-type, rear-ventilated façades were used for the building shell, which were clad with wood, hot dip galvanized steel plate and fibre-reinforced concrete panel strips

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| The hot dip galvanized façade panels represent an excellent solution due to their non-combustibility

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| All living spaces are barrier-free and have been organised in the form of one to four-bed apartments

fast construction times with the highest insulation standards and CO2 savings of over 400 tonnes compared to solid construction.

The compact design with good orientation to the sun enabled the economical implementation of the passive house standard. A photovoltaic system was installed to further reduce the primary energy consumption. In the DGNB overall rating, the buildings achieved gold level, and even platinum in the area of ecology.

For the building shell, curtain-type, rear-ventilated façades were used, which were clad with wood, hot dip galvanized steel plate and fibrereinforced concrete panel strips. The façade cladding materials used fit together harmoniously and also take on different functions. In the area of stairwells and escape stairs, the hot dip galvanized façade panels also represent an excellent solution due to their non-combustibility.

For ACMS Architects, the contrast as a design element to the wooden façade also played a decisive role. Over the years, the hot dip galvanized panels will change from shiny silver to matt grey. In combination with the light brown façade elements, which change to grey tones, a unity is created across the individual components.

Photos | Sigurd Steinprinz, Düsseldorf Architect | ACMS Architects

by Holger Glinde

Courtyard living

Affordable housing, Spain

Finding affordable housing is not easy for many people. Subsidized housing can result in poor quality, inhospitable spaces that engender social problems. A project by the Spanish architects Peris + Toral shows that this is not necessarily true. They realized a six-storey building with 85 apartments on an area of 13,000 m2 in Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain.

1 | The stand out feature of the architectural concept for the project is that it supports social interaction between the residents

The stand out feature of the architectural concept for the project is that it supports social interaction between the residents. The building is organised around an inner courtyard that connects a series of intermediate spaces. On the ground floor, an open portico to the entrance serves as a small community space bridging the gap between public space and the communal courtyard. Instead of entering each of the building's corridors directly and independently from the exterior façade, four communication shafts are located in the four corners of the courtyard, allowing all residents to gather and meet.

On a typical floor, access to the apartments is through porticoes that, like private terraces, form a ring of outdoor spaces overlooking the courtyard. There are 18 apartments with a total of 114 rooms per floor, all of similar dimensions. There is another ring with balconies not only to the inner courtyard, but also to the outside of the building. Due to the room openings in the apartments, there is a direct connection between the inner courtyard and the outside and thus allowing permeability for air, sight and movement. The building's defining materials are the visible timber construction and hot dip galvanized steel. Both the pergola construction of the inner courtyard, including the railing mats for the parapets and partition walls, and the balcony construction of the outer ring of the building were hot dip galvanized.

2 | The six-storey building has 85 apartments on an area of 13,000 m2

3 | The floor plan of the building is organised through an arrangement of interconnected spaces

4 | The building's defining materials are the visible timber construction and hot dip galvanized steel

Photos | José Hevia

Architect | Peris + Total

by Iqbal Johal

Concertinaed façade

Camden Ale Hall, London

Camden Town is known worldwide for its market, which offers all kinds of fashion treasures and curiosities. The neighborhood is a hotspot for alternative culture, with a vibrant nightlife that takes place in live music clubs and traditional pubs. A new focal point is the Camden Ale Hall. It is located under the brick vault of two railway arches.

The brief was to provide a home for the Camden Brewery and create a place to enjoy beer, take tours of the brewery and shop for merchandise. The approach was to connect the two railway arches through a new façade of hot dip galvanized steel and glass erected in front of the arches. The façade was designed like an accordion to allow views from the narrow streets of Camden Town into the beer hall. Guests are catered for at two bars. The dispensing systems are supplied with beer directly from the brewery in the adjoining glass

1 | Camden Town Beer Hall provides a home for the Camden Brewery by creating a place to enjoy beer, take tours of the brewery and shop for merchandise

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cellar. Hot dip galvanized steel was a clear choice for the architects given the material context, as it harmonizes with the cobblestones and brickwork of the Victorian building stock.

One of the limitations for the project was the need to ensure the development did not structurally impact the brick viaduct. It was essential the structure did not apply significant loads, horizontal or vertically to the brick structure. To achieve this, the façade needed to be externally braced, placing its structure on the outside of the building and making its corrosion resistance of paramount importance. Hot dip galvanizing was a natural choice, combining excellent corrosion resistance and site durability.

Hot dip galvanized steel was chosen as the primary material because of its suitability. Practically, hot dip galvanized steel addressed the inherent issues of corrosion resistance resulting from placing the structure outside the building envelope. Aesthetically, it connects with the existing light industrial railway structures, expanding on their typology.

2 | Two railway arches were connected by constructing a new façade set forward of the arches, formed from galvanized steel and glass

3 | Hot dip galvanized steel was a clear choice for the architects given the material context, as it harmonizes with the cobblestones and brickwork of the Victorian building stock

Photos | Hufton & Crow Architect | Gundry & Ducker

(Content provided by Gundry & Ducker)

by Holger Glinde

Silver shroud

Basement office, Germany

In many large cities, the potential for creation of new space through roof conversions and extensions are already almost exhausted or limited by authorities. Basements are therefore increasingly coming into focus. Büro Wagner have converted a basement in the backyard of a turn-of-the-century building in Munich's Au district into a two-storey office. The new unit is accessed by means of installations made of hot dip galvanized gratings.

Silver aluminium vapor barrier curtains at the back cover the kitchen, storage shelves, and passageways to the toilet and utility closets. At the same time, the reflective surfaces help to create more light. Curtains made of bubble wrap ensure privacy while allowing sufficient light into the interior. The building stock was preserved as far as possible and only the surfaces were refurbished. In the basement, the concrete floor slab was exposed and sanded. On the ground floor, the oak parquet floor was repainted. Furniture was realized exclusively from hot dip galvanized gratings. The steel furniture and fixtures were welded, which further reinforces the abstract nature of the object while shelves and the lighting fixings were built from hot dip galvanized cable trays.

Next to the office space unit is an apartment with direct access. The project makes it possible to mesh living and working in one place. The interventions were implemented from a canon of industrial materials: aluminium vapor barriers, bubble wrap, hot dip galvanized gratings, galvanized cable trays and recycled composite foam. These conventional, banal materials acquire a new value through processing and use in an unfamiliar context, and give the interior an abstract, temporary character that consciously leaves open the questions of use and appropriation.

1 + 3 | The hot dip galvanized steel furniture and fixtures reinforces the abstract nature of the office

2 + 4| The basement is accessed by means of installations made of hot dip galvanized gratings

Photos | Florian Holzherr, Kim Fohmann

Architects | BUERO WAGNER: Fabian A. Wagner, Louise Daussy

Galvanizing Delight

ARSP Architects in Dornbirn carefully renovated a compact residential building from 1929. A new, open and sculptural steel extension encourages outdoor living. The striking extension consists of a hot dip galvanized steel skeleton with galvanized access stairs and wooden timber delivery. The extension is wrapped with a semi invisible steel mesh that acts as both a screen and a fall protection system.

Photo | Zooey Braun