Cradle 2 Cradle - Environmental Research Center on Mt Fulufjäll by Mats Nilsson

[Cradle 2 Cradle]

61° 30’ 40” N, 12° 30’ 33” E

Environmental Reaserch Center on Mt Fulufjäll - A study in sustainable building -

AAHM01: Degree Project in Architecture Project by - Mats Nilsson Professor - Tomas Tägil Tutor - Christer Malmström School of Architecture, LTH, 2012

Thesis project by Mats Nilsson Professor - Tomas Tägil Tutor - Christer Malmström School of Architecture, LTH, 2012

CONTENTS 1

Preface...............................7

Introduction..........................9 2.1 The modern world...................9 2.2 The cocktail you did not order....10 2.3 Downcycling.......................10 2.4 Nature vs Industry................11 2.5 From cradle to grave..............11 2.5.1 Material......................13 2.6 Sustainability is local...........14 2.7 Cradle to cradle..................15

Global prognoses.....................17 3.1 Energy consumption and reserves...17 3.2 Emissions.........................18 3.3 Population........................19 3.4 Natural Disasters.................19

Mt Fulufjäll national park...........20 4.1 Zone divisions....................22 4.2 Activities and attitudes..........23 4.2.1 Visitor patterns..............23 4.2.2 Main attractions..............23 4.2.3 Why visit Fulufjället.........23 4.2.4 Visitors’ nationality.........23 4.2.5 Tourism development...........25 4.2.6 Visitors and the park.........25 4.2.7 Visitors in different zones...27 4.3 Conclusion........................28

Vegetation...........................30 5.1 Nature and culture................30 5.2 Tree line chart...................32 5.3 The rising tree line..............32 5.3.1 Fir...........................32 5.3.2 Pine..........................32 5.3.3 Birch.........................32 5.4 Vegetation........................35 5.5 Fossils and archaeology...........39

Wildlife.............................40 6.1 Birds.............................42 6.2 Predators and other game..........44 6.3 Fish and waters...................45

Regional history......................48 7.1 Early history......................48 7.2 Early immigration..................48 7.3 Types of pasture settlements.......49 7.3.1 Logger housing.................49 7.4 Regional architecture..............50 7.5 Settlement over history............51 7.6 Local typologies diagram...........52

Materials.............................54 8.1 Insulation.........................54 8.1.1 Natural local products - Wool..54 8.1.2 Cellulose fibre.................56 8.1.3 Peat...........................56 8.1.4 Timber.........................58 8.1.5 Pine...........................58 8.1.6 Fir............................58 8.1.7 Oak............................58 8.1.8 Birch..........................58 8.1.9 Fiberboards....................58 8.1.10 Swedish Eco Plywood...........58 8.2 Masonry............................60 8.3 Roofing.............................62 8.4 Window frames......................64 8.5 Glazing............................66 8.5.1 Low emissivity coatings........66 8.6 Electrical wiring..................68 8.7 Adhesives and sealants.............70 8.8 Interior decoration................72

Weather...............................74 9.1 Global climate zones...............74 9.2 Precipitation zones................75 9.3 Weather on the site................75 9.4 Temperatures.......................76

Program..............................78 10.1 Program overview..................78 10.2 LCCA Analysis.....................78 10.3 Modular adaptability..............79 10.4 Design criterias..................80 10.5 Plan function diagrams............81

11 Proposal..............................82 11.1 Site strategy.....................82

11.1.1 Access........................82 11.1.2 Wind factors..................82 11.1.3 Water and terrain.............82 11.1.3.1 Overview plan 1:2500......83 11.1.4 Program demands...............84 11.1.5 Transport and Communication...84 11.1.6 Site characteristics..........84 11.1.7 Surrounding context 1:1000....85 11.2 Massing evolution.................86 11.3 Early topography models...........87 11.3.1 Process sketches..............88 11.3.2 Early sketch models...........89 11.3.3 Final model...................90 11.4 Ground plan 1:250.................94 11.4.1 Topography study 1:500........95 11.4.2 Ground plan 1:100.............96 11.4.3 Second floor 1:100.............98 11.4.4 Spring view..................100 11.4.5 Section AA 1:75..............102 11.4.6 Section BB 1:75..............104 11.4.7 West elevation 1:75..........105 11.4.8 South elevation 1:75.........106 11.4.9 Autumn view..................108 11.5 Construction process.............109 11.6 Summer evening view..............115 11.7 Systems diagram..................116 11.7.1 Wind data....................119 11.7.1.1 Wind direction...........119 11.7.1.2 Designation..............119 11.7.1.3 Conclusions..............119 11.8 Wind energy production...........120 11.8.1 Annual average wind speed....121 11.8.1.1 The Weibull distribution.121 11.8.1.2 Annual winds.............122 11.8.1.3 VAWT figures..............122 11.9 System dimension.................123 11.9.1 Heating system...............124 11.9.1 Utility consumption..........124 11.10 Ecotect shadow study............125 11.11 Winter view.....................126 11.12 Ecotect light analysis..........128 11.12.1 Internally reflected light...128

11.12.2 Externally reflected light....128 11.12.3 Daylighting levels...........128 11.13 Night view.......................130 11.14 Process sketches.................132 11.15 Night view.......................133 11.16 Details 1:25.....................134 11.17 Assembly.........................137 11.18 Insulation characteristics.......138 11.18.1 Exterior walls...............138 11.18.2 Roof.........................140 11.18.3 Floor........................140 11.18.4 Doors........................142 11.18.5 Windows......................142 11.18.6 Total heat consumption.......143 11.19 Interior night view..............144 12

Wood model experiment................145 12.1 The big test......................145 12.2 Wood model process................145 12.3 Final product.....................149

Conclusion...........................157 13.1 Summary of key parameters.........160

References...........................162 14.1 Books.............................162 14.2 Digital sources...................162 14.3 Photo credits.....................162 14.4 Program used......................162

1 PREFACE “Reduce, reuse, recycle”, urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. This prevailing idea is challenged by the notion of cradle-to-cradle. This biomimetic approach to design of systems models human industry on nature’s processes in which materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms. It is a holistic, economic, industrial and social framework that is virtually waste-free. Like nature, it strives for a production which is part of a greater context and where it at the same time benefits and depends on it; waste equals food. The phrase cradle-to-cradle was fist coined in the 1970s by Walter R. Stahel and during the 1990s developed into an overarching design quality and criteria system thanks to chemist Michael Braungart. Together with William McDonough the concept got a boost of attention through the book Cradle-to-Cradle (2002): Remaking the Way We Make Things, which has become nothing short of a bible for the design world. As the book points out, the aphorism “reduce, reuse, recycle” only perpetuates the one-way manufacturing model, dating back to the industrial revolution, that creates such extraordinary amounts of waste and pollution. We have to challenge the belief that human industry must damage the natural world and instead begin to enrich it. Why not take nature as a model for design and production? After all, nature has had millennias to develop and fine-tune its complex yet simple self. “A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we consider its abundance not wasteful but safe, beautiful and highly effective”. (McDonough 2002:1)

far can one really push the idea of a building being able to safely degrade and at the same time meet modern demands for comfort, function and aesthetics? The site for this experiment is next to lake Getsjön in Mt Fulufjäll, Dalarna county, Sweden. The mountain borders Norway in west and is Sweden’s most southern national fjäll (known as fell in English, it is mountains that have been shaped by prehistoric ice and are characterized by relatively flat surfaces and rounded geometry). Here are no water and sewerage supply, no electricity available and no other modern facilities. The proposal must thus conduct itself to these circumstances, without making too large of an impact on the fragile mountain environment. The program is an environmental research center which will be occupied year-round. Research teams and students are to be able to conduct experiments on site. Increase in temperature and atmospheric nitrogen down-fall in the last 50 years have drastically changed the mountain environment. The barren and sensitive mountain environment reacts quickly to changes in climate and is therefore perfect for climate researchers to study. The resulting project is highly localized in its response. Everything from materials used to energy systems implemented is an outcome of specific, local circumstances. The remote and desolated surroundings challenged the way in which to construct the building. Allowing no heavy machinery and offering no sound infrastructure, the proposal ended in an intricate modular building kit responding to demands of flexibility, durability and program. The design is highly pro-active and interchangeable.

So, can architects learn something from nature’s structure and metabolism and in this way, challenge the idea of sustainable building in reference to site, scale, materials, design, production, assembly, management and disassembly? How can specific, local conditions be maximized and utilized and old strategies and building methods converge through new materials and technology? How

2 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The modern world When looking at the relationship between human beings and their environment much has happened over the last few hundred years. In that time humans were willing to adapt to the environment and live in harmony with nature. Materials were brought from nature and crafted into tools to serve different purposes; but along with evolution comfort requirements changed. Both McDonough in Cradle to Cradle (2002) and Daniels’ the Technology of Ecological Buildings (1994) point to the fact that industrialization brought with it a new level of control. In the past people were unable to tame nature to any great extent. Before the combustion engine made its entrance in the maritime business the sailing boat was the natural and only choice. If there was not any wind, there also was not any sailing - only very limited if any at all. The combustion engine changed the way one could now perceive transportation and extended the possibilities and along with it efficiency of transportation. Being at the mercy of Mother Nature was no longer as obvious. Global population was also to a greater extent much smaller and still working on a local scale. Small populations and modest requirements for energy utilization meant low emissions. Waste did not exist in the modern sense and was restricted to bio-degradable material returned to its natural cycle or often reused. Daniels (1994:10) also brings up the difference in building tradition characterized by smaller windows, building masses with high storage capacities and low standards for heating and sanitary systems. With growing populations and villages becoming cities the demands for comfort and hygiene changed. By using the small windows of the past the thermal gains and losses were more stable. Modern architecture with its bigger glass surfaces offer better views and contact with the surrounding world, but also create problems with thermal qualities. Modern solutions often solve the imme-

diate problem, yet often give rise to new ones. This could be cost issues, toxicity issues or ethical issues. McDonough (2002) argues that it is the spiral of evolution through creation of new problems and inherent shortcomings that is one of the big flaws in the industrial system. McDonough (2002) is with the following example painting a rather grim picture of the industrial revolution. It is important to remember that this is a biased list in the sense that all the positive outcomes are not listed “Imagine that you have been given the assignment of designing Industrial Revolution – retrospectively. With respect to its negative consequences, the assignment would have to read something like this: Design a system of production that - Puts billions of pounds of toxic material into the air, water, and soil every year - Produces some materials so dangerous they will require constant vigilance - Result in gigantic amounts of waste - Puts valuable materials in holes all over the planet, where they can never be retrieved - Requires thousands of complex regulations – not to keep people and natural systems safe, but rather to keep them from being poisoned too quickly - Measure productivity by how few people are working - Creates prosperity by digging up or cut ting down natural resources and them burying or burning them - Erodes the diversity of species and cultural practices.” (McDonough 2002:18)

Human activity in late history has shifted the natural equilibrium of materials on the planet. We have been taking substances from the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crust and concentrated, altered, and synthesized them into vast volumes of material that can no longer safely be returned to soil. 2.2 The cocktail you did not order Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s materials and products are highly complex in their compound and more often than not consisting of toxic and hazardous components. The office chair you are sitting in for example contains mutagenic materials in the fabric, heavy metals, chemicals and dyes that often are labeled hazardous by regulators. This, of course, is not made clear when the chair is presented to a consumer. As you shift in your chair, particles from the fabric abrade and are inhaled trough your mouth and nose. The question is whether this is necessary. Why are they even there? 2.3 Downcycling Most of us today know the value of recycling and we all pitch in sorting paper from metal and plastic from glass. We do so without thinking about the inherent problem of the process. Let us say you hand in your old rug for recycling. First of all, the rug was never designed for disassembly or

customized for a further lifespan than the one it just ended. This often means wrestling the materials into a recycling process that sometimes requires as much or more energy than what it could save. One could therefore say that recycling is really downcycling. This becomes even more evident when one takes into account that a lot of plastics and other materials only can be recycled so many times before losing its structural soundness. For every cycle quality is lost because the same function is expected of it. This is in contrast to nature where a leaf becomes soil, soil becomes nourishment and so on. Hence industry needs to expand their mind and not limit itself as today. In the process, a lot of harmful additives may even have been added compared to a conventional product. In this light recycling defeats the purpose and only postpones the inevitable death of the rug. Hence the problem lies earlier in the process of making the rug and not the waste it has become. This does not mean that recycling as an idea is bad and should not be implemented. What the cradle-to-cradle ideas emphasize and focus on instead are the conditions given when the product was designed and made (McDonough 2002:5). This proces is known as cradle-to-grave. 2.4 Nature vs Industry The view of nature and industry being a little like David and Goliath is something we all are accustomed to think. A common view is that the traditional method of production through extraction, manufacturing and disposal are generally destructive to the natural world. Whereas environmentalists tend to view the industry as bad and destructive the industrialists view the environmentalists as being an obstacle for growth and development. McDonough (2003) vindicates that this clash is not a must and that both sides can coincide in this world. This opposition gives rise to a common problem that a lot of us faces daily. How can we consume, create, and live our life without the exhorting hand of the environmen-

tal advocates? In our relentless effort of trying not to be “so bad” by cutting down consumption and by questioning our western world´s culture we become filled with guilt, and we get caught between frustration and necessity. 2.5 From cradle-to-grave As mentioned earlier the focus of concern must be laid much earlier in the production chain. With today’s cradle to grave approach where products are deliberately made for a very limited lifespan, we are creating vast landfills around the world. A lot of what you find in these landfills is made from valuable materials that required great effort and expense to extract, isolate and make. Billions of dollars are essentially wasted away. Even if a lot of effort is being made today to recycle this waste most of the products were never intended to be taken apart and recycled. Toxins are almost inevitably released, added or mixed in the recycling process. Not to mention the cost. It is estimated that a whopping 90 percent of material extracted to make durable goods in the United States become waste almost immediately (Ibid:27). With the “built-in obsolescence” in products you are more or less forced to buy a new one when the old one breaks – who leaves their toaster for repair today? To make things even more disturbing is the fact that what you see in your garbage bin is only the tip of a material iceberg; the product itself only contains roughly 5 percent of the raw materials involved in the process of making and delivering it (Ibid:28). Driven by the parole of efficiency and performance, the manufacturers often design for a worst-case scenario meaning that the product will always work no matter the circumstance. This guarantees the biggest possible market for the product but also means a wasteful, unnecessary design. The industry can be said to be the antithesis to nature in this respect. Whereas nature is a closed system which takes

care of its own waste and let it nourish itself in cycles, industry is missing the opportunity to let its waste and surplus trickle down within its own system. For nature it is imperative to give back as much as it takes. This gives so many advantages in respect to efficiency and energy; it is odd that the industry does not realize the potential revenue of a system like this. Industry and nature are both striving for efficiency but in very different ways. Looking

at the food industry the trend in last decades has been that of high specialization and mere size. By also genetically modifying crop, a monocultural landscape has aroused. Not to mention the mine field of lawsuits of patent infringements that made it to the news stands some years ago in the US and was soon forgotten. The outcome of the modern system is of course more crops in less time with less effort. In other words; more money. What also happens is massive soil erosion on a global scale and old indigenous strains becoming wiped out in the name of modern commerce.

2.5.1 Material The designer’s intention in current industrial systems is to create a product that meet regulations, is attractive and affordable, works decently and only lasts long enough to meet market expectations. McDonough (2003) argues that this is not a design process for human or ecological health and hence an unintelligent product he calls a `crude product´. He exemplifies this with the average mass-produced piece of polyester clothing or a normal water bottle that both contain antimony, a hazardous heavy metal that is known to cause cancer in living organisms. When buying that state of the art sweater made from fibers of recycled plastic bottles you probably do not realize that the fibers contain toxins such as antimony, catalytic residues, ultraviolet stabilizers, plasticizers and antioxidants that were never intended to rest on human skin. So the question is: Why is it there? Well, the sad reality is that antimony is not needed in polyester. The reason it is there is by working as a cheap catalyst in the polymerization process. It is then released when the polyester is recycled and introduced in the new material that is produced. It is also released when burned along with other trash as cooking fuel, a common procedure in poor countries. This `product plus´ as McDonough (2002) calls it is the reality in almost all production today. The unnecessary additives render it difficult to recycle and constitute a major, and to a great extent, unexplored danger for living organisms. These dangerous cocktails of additives also off-gas teratogenic and/or carcinogenic compounds when used. These substances are known to cause cancer and birth defects. This still makes the question `why it is there ?´very acute and unanswered. The biggest reason is that high-tech products are often composed of low-quality materials. Low-quality in the sense that cheap plastic

and dyes are globally sourced from the provider offering the lowest price, often bypassing local regulation of toxin use not set up in the developing country of interest. In the end it is about finding and developing the right products, services and systems instead of making the wrong ones “less bad”. The answer is multifold. Human industries and systems do not necessarily have to become smaller, but bigger and better in a way that replenishes, restores and nourishes the rest of the world. Decisions that lead to diversity and abundance for future generations of life are a truer measurement of growth, McDonough (2002) argues. By emphasizing local production and diversity as method, McDonough (2002:79) let a community of ants serve as an example: “Consider a community of ants. As part of their activity, they: -

safely and effectively handle their own material wastes and those of other species

grow and harvest their own food while nurturing the ecosystem of which they are a part

construct houses, farms, dumps, cemeteries, living quarters, and food-storage facilities from materials that are healthy, safe and biodegradable

maintain soil health for the entire planet”

What is remarkable is that even though we as humans are considerably larger than ants, their biomass far exceeds ours. Ants are a good example of a population whose density and productivity are not a problem for the rest of the world. The argument that we as humans are too many to solve our complex problem is not viable. Further, the roughly eight thousand kinds of ants that exist on earth mirror

our diversity as humans. With different climates, cultures and strengths the ants show that this is more an advantage than a disadvantage and a key to their success.

total design the old saying that form follows function might be replaced with: form follows evolution. (McDonough 2002:129-141). 2.7 Cradle-to-cradle

In the rainforest one can find hundreds of different species of ants in a single canopy. In a truly remarkable way they manage to coexist and keep the fragile equilibrium of its local system. The secret is first of all keeping to the-above list and secondly a remarkable specialization that is highly localized within the sphere of the tree. The leaf-cutter ant cuts and carries away foliage while the weaver ant rallies the troops with its advanced pheromone communication system. The conclusion is that instead of actively working to destroy competing species they work productively from their niches. The fact that they inhabit different zones with varied resources is made possible thanks to their local specialization. By being highly integrated and nurture relations, one groups waste becomes someone else’s food (McDonough 2002:120-120). 2.6 Sustainability is local It is important to stress the obvious benefits from connecting to local materials and energy flows. It is more cost-efficient to use nature’s already existing systems. Of course this will probably have to happen gradually as old systems are phased out with potential intermediate solutions or hybrids are used. The new local anchoring carries with it a greater concern for your own habitat as you probably would think twice before releasing chemicals into the local drinking waters. By working locally materials also become very important. Less imports mean less risk of bioinvasion by nonnative species into often fragile ecosystems. Local materials also are welladjusted to the local circumstances for obvious reasons. The work of forcing alien materials into the new system is no longer needed. Connecting to natural energy flows in a local scale is a matter of reestablishing the massive disconnection the industrial revolution caused. As the structure and the surrounding landscape work together as a

The present short-term strategy of cradle-to-grave systems must be exchanged for the regenerative cradle-to-cradle approach. This rich, holistic, economical, industrial and social framework models human industry on nature’s own processes. Within it, materials are circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms which are essentially waste free. The first step is to rid ourselves of known toxins in materials and industry. McDonough (2002) categorizes these materials in three ways: -

The X List: substances that must be phased out with high priority, such as teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic.

The Gray List: Problematic substances that are not so urgently in need of phasing out

The P List: The “positive” list, substances actively defined as safe for use

The bigger emphasis on local production that industry soon will face will in the end be about reinventing and redesigning the production system to its core. “We can build factories whose products and by-products nourish the ecosystem with biodegradable material and recirculate technical materials instead of dumping, burning, or burying them. We can design systems that regulate themselves. Instead of using nature as a mere tool for human purpose, we can strive to become tools of nature who serve its agenda too. We can celebrate the fecundity in the world, instead of perpetuating a way of thinking and making that eliminates it. And there can be many of us and the things we make, because we have the right system – a creative, prosperous, intelligent, and fertile system – and, like the ants, we will be `effective´”(McDonough 2002:156).

3 GLOBAL PROGNOSES 3.1 Energy consumption and reserves As of 1991, 83 percent of global primary energy was consumed by 25 percent of the world’s population. Today’s population is even bigger. Linked to the use of fossil fuels are the rising CO2 emissions. On a positive note, the renewable energy production was about 12.9 percent of global primary energy supply in 2009 and slowly rising according to the network Renewable Energy World. According to World Resources Institute the global CO2 emissions between 1950 and 2000 increased fivefold. Whether or not the emissions are resulting in the increased temperatures we are seeing is up for debate, but it is indisputable that we put out emissions in an ever greater pace. What is also alarming is the nitrogen downfall, especially in the sensitive northern fjäll regions. The rate of 2-3 kg per hectare and year is increasing but is still far from the 30-60 kg per hectare and year the city regions in Holland and northern Germany show.

Uranium

Coal

Oil

Gas

Regenerative

Water

Oilshale, Oil sand

The CO2 emissions have increased tenfold in the last ten years (CDIAC; The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center)

Global CO2 emissions per year:1751-2006

Development of observed air temperature (1850-1980) with and without calculated CO2 increase

3.2 Emissions Technology in the hands of mankind has shown to be a truly efficient weapon. In a course of a few centuries we have managed to reverse a process of 500 million years, and we are now burning oil and coal reserves at a rate two million times faster than it took nature to produce it! Burning fossil fuels not only create the green house gas CO2 but also toxins. The rising temperature leads to increased evaporation from the oceans and melting of the polar ice caps. Water vapor and more clouds trap the reflecting sun energy propelling the development even further. The increased vapor also affects the oceans water cycles. Further, melting polar ice caps and glaciers result in less white surfaces and hence more absorbed solar energy. Since 1930 the ocean levels have increased 20 cm. Melting processes have very slow reaction times and it is certain that the sea levels will continue to rise for centuries even though we could stop the CO2 emissions today. Thus we have to realize that future generations will face an increase of the sea level of several meters (Daniels 1994:1819).

By their percentage contribution to the greenhouse effect on Earth the four major gases are: -

water vapor, 36–70% carbon dioxide, 9–26% methane, 4–9% ozone, 3–7%

EM-DAT the International Disaster Database.

3.3 Population The observed climate change can be intimately linked to the population explosion in the last century. Although the rapid population growth puts a great strain on naturesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; balance, we do not seem to have met the carrying capacity of human kind yet, though this is heavily debated. The problem of food- and water shortage around the world is more explained through unjust distribution systems, corruption or poverty. The growing population also seems to cluster in big cities putting a heavy strain on the production and distribution systems feeding them. What is also happening is a dramatic shift in the demographic balance as an outcome of

3.4 Natural Disasters the post-World War II baby boom. The western world is facing a coming challenge in setting up a support system where the few young can pay for the many old. The growing population also threatens the fauna through excessive meat consumption, the spreading of mankind, deforestation, emissions and the introduction of monocultural gene modified crops that wipe out natural conditions (Ibid: 25)

Disasters are a part of nature and they have fluctuated throughout history. We do know that increased temperatures and rising sea levels add to the effect and their occurrence. Disasters are a part of nature and they have fluctuated throughout history. The devastation is heavily dependent on the concentration of mankind in larger cities and the sheer number of people that inhabit the planet today. Increased traveling, 24/7 newsfeeds, advance measurement technology, and so on make us aware of disasters in an ever greater way. Unprecedented weather high and lows last twenty years also create ripple effects.

4 Mt FULUFJÄLL NATIONAL PARK Mt Fulufjäll became Sweden’s 28th national park in the fall of 2002. The park has two obvious tourist attractions – Njupeskär, Sweden’s highest waterfall, and the large “flash flood channel“ in the Göljån Valley that was caused by massive soil erosion during a rainstorm in the summer of 1997. The protected areas are often interesting and attractive destinations to visit, but also represent sensitive ecosystems. Therefore, it is extra important that tourism in these areas is conducted in a sustainable way, and much higher demands are placed on planning, management and the practice of those activities. Having knowledge of the visitors and understanding their motives and expectations is central to being able to design management of protected nature from a visitor’s perspective. This, in turn, contributes to the developing tourism industry. The protected nature area in Sweden has increased by almost tenfold in the last 60 years. Today there are 28 national parks and over 2,500 nature reserves. At the same time, the interest in nature as a resource for outdoor recreation and tourism development is increasing. Sweden’s government considers outdoor recreation a cornerstone for nature protection and has identified the natural and cultural landscape as a basic condition for nature and culture tourism (Fredman 2005: 19).

4.1 Zone divisions The management plan and regulations for the park are based on a division of Mt Fulufjäll National Park into four zones, where directions and measures for exploitation and protection vary. In this way, both needs for protection and wishes for certain activities can be satisfied. Yet another effect produced is a high recreational capacity, i.e., that many visitors can be received without negative consequences for the natural or social environments. The division into zones is scaled from wilderness to more developed. Zones 1-3 (the majority of the national park) will give better opportunities for isolation and tranquility while zone 4 (mainly the area around Njupeskär’s waterfall) will be easily accessible and have a high degree of service and amount of visitors. The model that has inspired the zoning of the national park is the “Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)”. The principle for ROS is to provide a broad range of opportunities for activities and experiences. The model has been developed in North America and it is the first time it has been fully applied in Sweden (Ibid: 20).

Mt Fulufjäll national park Mt Fulufjäll’s surroundings Northern Dalarna county

Njupeskär

III St. Rörsjön L. Harrsjön

Grövelsjön ön

Zone division in Mt Fulufjäll. Untouched zone (I), Low activity zone (II), High activity zone (III) and Construction zone(IV).

HÄRJEDALEN COUNTY

Idre

II Tangsjöarna

I DALARNA COUNTY

NORWAY

Fulnäs Fu

Tangån

Älvdalen Sälen Mora

4.2 Activities and attitudes 4.2.1 Visitor patterns 4.2.3 Why visit Mt Fulufjäll Most people visit Mt Fulufjäll for a day of hiking. Three out of four stay a whole day at the longest, and nearly half stay less than six hours. Above all, it is the area around Njupeskär that is visited most, but even Göljådalen and Rörsjöstugorna attract a good number of people. Only a few percent of the visitors make it into the heart of Mt Fulufjäll National Park, and sadly this number has also decreased. Two-thirds visit Mt Fulufjäll’s surroundings and just over a fith of the visitors stay in Mt Fulufjäll overnight, or close by the national park. 4.2.2 Main attractions Almost everyone comes to Mt Fulufjäll in order to see Njupeskär’s waterfall. Most people travel to Mt Fulufjäll by private means, only three percent made the visit as an organized tour. For two out of three people, the main motive is to visit Njupeskär waterfall, for one out of six it is to hike, while one in ten come mainly because the area is a national park.

The most important reasons for visiting are to experience beautiful nature, unlittered areas, to see something that is unaffected by man, the peace and quiet, and to experience wilderness. 4.2.4 Visitors’ nationality Compared with other regions in the Swedish mountains, a high proportion of the visitors is forein. Germans are the largest foreign group, followed by Danes and Dutch. Nearly all of the Swedish visitors come from southern and mid-Sweden, particularly the regions of Dalarna and Mälardalen. Visitors to Mt Fulufjäll have a high average age, 49 years, and relatively few young visitors compared with other Swedish mountain regions (Ibid: 21).

4.2.5 Tourism development Most visitors regard tourism development as positive in the area around the national park, while close to 40% are negative towards development within the national park. Foremost are the different types of experiences (wildlife, nature, culture, food, and local population) accompanied by increased environmental adaptation, which the visitors consider should be developed. They consider it less important to develop tourism’s basic services (travel and accommodation). 4.2.6 Visitors and the park 10-15% of Fulufjället’s visitors in 2003 came because it is a national park. Significantly more are positive towards the national park without it constituting a reason for visiting. A clear majority considers that a national park increases Mt Fulufjäll’s worth for visitors, for the surrounding district and that it contributes to preserving the biological diversity, whereas almost 25 percentthink that a national park limits a persons usage unnecessarily. The increase in the number of visits to Mt Fulufjäll between 2001 and 2003 consists mainly of Swedes. Mt Fulufjäll is visited as an outing from home for those that live in Dalarna, while the majority of visitors from other countries make their visit from a holiday resort. The Germans make their visit as part of a roundtrip. Njupeskär’s waterfall does not have the same attraction for the German visitors as it does for the Swedes. Instead, it is the forest environments itself that draws them, and also hiking on the trails within Mt Fulufjäll. The German visitors experience the mountains as being very magnificent. Germans and residents of Dalarna county have similar and strong experiences of tranquility, wilderness and pure and untouched nature. Visitors living in Dalarna county are the most positive towards the development of tourism, both within the national park as well as in its surrounding areas. Germans regard the importance of environmen-

tal adaptation on accommodation and activities more highly than the Swedes, and also want to have more contact with the local population. Germans are the group that spends the most money both in the national park and in the surrounding areas. 4.2.7 Visitors in different zones The reasons for visiting Mt Fulufjäll differ for the visitors in the different sections of the national park. More or less everyone that only visited Njupeskär or lower Göljån (zone 4) came to see the waterfall, while those that also visited other parts of Mt Fulufjäll (zones1-3), to a greater extent, came to hike and to study the nature. Those that only visited zone 4 are more pleased with the quantity and quality of different facilities, such as cabins, wind shelters, trails and garbage cans. The incidence of a national park has great significance for those that visited zones 1-3 compared to those that only visited zone 4. A higher proportion in zones 1-3 knew that the area was a national park before they arrived, and the trip would have been different had the national park not existed. The attitude to tourism development within the national park and its surrounding areas is, however, more positive among those that visited zone 4 (Ibid: 9-11).

% (all visitors)

Germany

Denmark

Holland

Norway

Switzerland

Remaining

4.3 Conclusion The conclusion of the 2005 report on Mt FulufjĂ¤llâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transformation into a national park in 2002, shows predominantly positive results. The zoning strategy seems to have had success in several respects. The total amount of annual visitors has increased after the transformation, especially to zone 4. This canalization of visitors to zone 4 has lead to a much necessary rest for more fragile zones such as 1 and 2. The report also indicates positive tourism development from the zoning strategy for the immediate surroundings. Both visitors and locals are predominantly positive about the outcome. New opportunities for locals and a better spectrum of experience for visitors are main reasons. The survey also shows how visitors who only visit zone 4, mainly NjupeskĂ¤r waterfall, have considerably lower demands for untouched and pristine nature and bigger tolerance for human activity. The share of urbanists visiting the park has also increased since it became a national park. The average visitor is also predominantly from the middle or south parts of Sweden and proportionally older compared to other national park visitors. This specific visitor profile has been more pronounced after the transformation. Just the factor of the park now being a national park has boosted its popularity.

5 VEGETATION 5.1 Nature and culture Mt FulufjĂ¤ll rises mightily in the southern edge of the taiga, the natural geographical region whose climate, topography, ecological dynamics and vegetation is characterized by the vicinity to the mountains. The mountain has the character of a soft undulating plateau (900-1040 m a.s.l), with steep wooded sides. The bedrock of jotnic Dala sandstone with some elements of diabase create large gatherings of block. The climate of the region is distinctly continental, which means relatively cold winters and hot summers. Up on the plateau, in the tree line zone however, the situation is less extreme in this regard. Rainfall here can be remarkably high with 1000 mm per year and more (Oldhammer 2002: 149â&#x20AC;&#x201C;153).

In this Northeastern area of interest Mt Fulufjäll is dominated by pine Pinus sylvestris on the lower levels while fir Picea abies is on a fast increase in the steeper parts of the fell slopes. The ground vegetation is made up of healthy brushwood such as blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus, heater Calluna vulgaris and crowberry Empetrum nigrum. A fragmentary 50-75 m wide belt of low-growing, polyphonic mountain birch Betula pubescens is bordering the bare mountain. The tree limits for pine and fir are today entwined in a belt of birch. In this mixture of low growing trees and moorland large lichens such as Cup lichen Cladonia Stellaris spread out, especially around smaller lakes or gatherings of water. The poor soils decompose slowly hence the flora is rather limited. The most frequent are mountain heath Phyllodoce caerulea, creeping azalea Loiseleuria procumbens, alpine bearberry Arctostaphylos alpinus, highland rush Juncus trifidus, Bigelow’s sedge Carex bigelowii, fur clubmos Huperzia selago and alpine clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum.

Scattered mountain chalets are found in the coniferous woodland around the whole of Mt Fulufjäll, on levels of 200-250 meters under the birch tree limit. These old mountain pastures were most active around late eighteenhundreds. It happened that cows, sheep, and goats grazed up on the fell plateau, especially around meadow-like vegetation close to brooks and thickets. The past historic use has left little negative impact on the surroundings. In the 1860s the last family of wild reindeer left this southern mountain region for northern pastures. Mt Fulufjäll is strongly influenced by past fires as late as in the 1950s. The remains of charcoal in the grounds are common and make this national park important scientifically as a historic reference area. A more modern influence on the culture is the nitrogen downfall that seems to be mostly concentrated to the tree line and has contributed to increased grass growth on the open plateau (Ibid: 316).

5.2 Tree line chart 1915

1974

2004

Change 1915-2004

Pine Pinus sylvestris

795

870

940

+145

Fir Picea abies

820

930

+110

White birch Betula pubescens

870

910

940

+70

5.3 The rising tree line

5.3.2 Pine

The heating of the climate in modern time begun around 1915 and therefore the point of departure for measuring the rising tree line was set to begin here. Pine shows the biggest numbers among the group and both pine and white birch now grow as high as physically possible. The white birch could probably have grown even further up, would the mountains be heigher.

The pine tree line has in less than a century moved roughly 5 km west, up and above the mountain edge and on to the plateau. The old tree line appears in the terrain as a smooth border line of noticeably older trees at the old tree line of 795 (m a.s.l). Above, young and vital pine trees are scattered on the slopes and on the plateau. Systematic drilling at the tuber of the stem shows that neither of these 6-7 meter high individuals are older than 100 years. Most of the new pine came about between the 1930s and 1970s and during last decade a strong new generation of pine has seen the light. This tells of continued growth for the years to come and one can only do the conclusion that diametrical change in the Scandinavian mountain world has become a reality (Ibid: 320).

The numbers show tree line altitudes (m a.s.l.) of pine, spruce and mountain birch at three different points in time during the past 90 years within the studied elevational transect on the northeast-facing flank of Mt Fulufjället (61° 38´ N;12° 40´ E) . 5.3.1 Fir In contrast to the pine, the fir tree line has not advanced through spreading of its seeds during the 20th century but was already present when the climate heating begun. The new fir is much higher, resilient and lush though, compared to 30 years ago. During the 1970s the fir was rarely taller than the maximum winter snow depth. Having the character of low growing shrubs they had rejuvenated for thousands of years being kept in check thanks to the harsh climate (Ibid: 321).

5.3.3 Birch The birch has also not made significant advancement in recent decades and has followed a similar path to the fir. As with the fir, the birch has shown a tremendous acceleration in annual growth since the beginning of the 1990s. Manifold growth has become a new standard. Drillings from the low growing polyphonic mountain birch in the new tree line show specimens being as old as 200 years (Ibid: 321-322).

1. A treeline birch also called â&#x20AC;&#x153;table birchâ&#x20AC;?. That was the model growth form for birches at this elevation 30 years ago. Since then, most of these specimens have grown substantially taller.

2. A sparse stand of at most 60â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 70year-old pine trees, which have become established 25 m above the treeline elevation in 1915.

3. The advanced birch tree line is set by very old individuals. A downed and decaying stem is radiocarbon-dated to 375 cal. BP. Thus, this birch may be older than 500 years.

4. Spruce growing slightly below the tree line. A dense cushion of branches close to the ground indicates the depth of the snow cover.

5.4 Vegetation Even though the dominating trees are pine, fir and white birch one can still find trees such as bird cherry, mountain ash, sallow and aspen scattered in the mountain landscape. The mountain plateau with its lush green rug show a great variety of a staggering 395 different kinds of mosses and 421 kind of lichens. Not only are the species plenty fold but also extremely old. A fascinating discovery was made when a sub-fossil fir, underneath the canopy of another fir, in the outer-most fringe of the new tree line. The specimen had four distinct “generations” of sub-fossil dating in the interval of 9550-375 before present time. It is thought to belong genetically to the same individual, thus a post-glacial pioneer fir. Due to its remarkable ability of vegetative growth it has managed to survive all the way til present time by changing between tree shape and shrub in pace with climate changes. This amazing endurance and ability to adjust to unfavorable circumstances makes one think about where this tree might have spent the Great Ice Age1.

http://www.dalarna.se/sv/Hotell/Fulufjallet1/ Nationalparken/Vaxter/

1. Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus 2. Cloudberry flower Rubus chamaemorus 3. Bog Bilberry Vaccinium uliginosum L 4. Lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea 5. Fur clubmos Huperzia selago 6. Garden lupin Lupinus polyphyllus 7. Alpine clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum 8. Bigelow’s sedge Carex bigelowii

The important and characteristic lichens are as lush and vivid as they were back in 1970s when the last extensive examination of the plateau was carried out. What is palpable is the amount of clean areas of lichen without any mixture of shrubs and trees. These are clearly on the decline last 40 years. What is also noticeable is that the plateau on whole reads less yellow-white and instead greener today. This can be explained by an increase of dwarf birch, heater, crowberry and blueberry (Kullman 2005:326-327). The combination of shorter snow periods in the winter, increased downfall of atmospheric nitrogen and temperature changes appear to be the main reason for the observed changes in flora and fauna. It is clear that Mt FulufjĂ¤ll has a great vegetational value in a historic sense and for contemporary research (Ibid 2000: 49â&#x20AC;&#x201C;59).

1. Mountain heath Phyllodoce caerulea 2. Highland rush Juncus trifidus 3. Heater Calluna vulgaris

4. Cup lichen Cladonia Stellaris 5. Blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus 6. Alpine bearberry Arctostaphylos alpi7. Creeping azalea Loiseleuria procumbens 8. Crowberry Empetrum nigrum

1. A stack of sandstone that is a common feature as visitors build their own creations

2. Njupeskär main waterfall and its surrounding; a layered sandstone plateau.

3. Piece of a pine stem unearthed from a thin peat accumulation. This tree lived until 9 600 years ago.

4. At the edge of Mt Fulufjäll several grave sites dating from the Iron Age (1200-1000 BC) have been discovered. The 900 million years old bedrock of jotnic Dala sandstone was the obvious choice.

5. The succeeding flood of Njupeskär waterfall

6 6. The foot of Mt Fulufjäll has a dense forest, scattered lakes and plentifold of small creeks.

7. Four samples of subfossil spruce remains, preserved in the soil underneath the canopy of a adjacent spruce. From the left to the right they date 5 660, 375, 9 550 and 9 000 cal. BP.

8. With its 9 550 years this fir is the world’s oldest tree. It was discovered recently when investigating the rising tree line.

5.5 Fossils and archaeology Mt Fulufjäll and its bedrock of jotnic Dala sandstone was once created some 900 million years ago down at the equator. Through history, volcanic activity melted and transformed the jotnic dala sandstone into a harder rock called porphyry. The mountain with its plateau as we know it today contrasts sharply to that shallow, tepid sea it once was. Today, several hundreds of smaller lakes spread out up on the plateau. In the Northeast corner the Njupeskär waterfall, with its 125 meter high drop into the valley beneath, is a popular attraction. It is Sweden’s tallest waterfall at 125 m. One can access it the year around and even explore it in wintertime by ice climbing the vertical frozen masses. The ground conditions and climate make perfect conditions for natural preservation of biological material. Up on the plateau there is a circle of stones called Altarringen. It is believed the site historically has been used in hawk hunting. Once, hawks were common birds up here and the most desirable ones were the pale or white hawks. After a long absence the population is today on the rise again. The stone formation is also believed to have been used for religious purposes and today a service is held once a year in the middle of July. Close to Njupeskär waterfall, on the eastern slopes, four more mounds of stone can be seen which are believed to be from the Iron Age. The graves were discovered in 1915 and examined the following year. During the examination spearheads and arrowheads were found which were dated back to the time of the Great Migration2

A spruce cone with scale characters of Picea abies ssp. obovata found in a bog pool and radiocarbon-dated to 9 030 cal.

A cone of Larix sibirica found in a bog pool and radiocarbon-dated to 8 160 cal. BP.

http://www.dalarna.se/sv/Hotell/Fulufjallet1/ Nationalparken/Vaxter/

6 WILDLIFE Fulufjället national park with its 38,000hectares have great opportunities for short and long hikes on 140 kilometers of marked trails, as well as challenging tours in the large wilderness area. More than 50 000 people come yearly to visit the national park, among these 84 percent come only for the Njupeskär waterfall. The remaining 16 percent are hikers many of whom many are international visitors. Bird-watchers, fishermen, city folks – it is a broad spectrum of people visiting Mt Fulufjäll. The aim of the national park is to essentially preserve, in unspoiled condition, a southern mountain region with distinctive vegetation and great natural value. The aim is also to provide for the visitors’ experiences of tranquility, isolation and purity. this in combination with making it easier for the public, to an appropriate extent, to experience the park’s nature and wildlife (Fredman 2005:1213).

6.1 Birds

The symbol of Mt Fulufj채ll is the fearless and curious Siberian jay Perisoreus infaustus, who is often found at lower terrain. In the winter the Willow tit Parus montanus and the Great Tit Parus major make their entrance in the landscape. When summer comes so does the great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major. The characteristic sound of it picking tree trunks can be heard echoing for great distances.

In and around the many waters on the plateau you might see some Common greenshank Tringa nebularia or Common scoter Melanitta nigra on the hunt for fish. The bigger birds such as Black grouse Tetrao tetrix and Woodgrouse Tetrao urogallus are usually found on close by roads or up in the trees3.

http://www.dalarna.se/sv/Hotell/Fulufjallet1/National parken/Faglar/

1. Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix 2. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 3. Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus 4. The Osprey Pandion haliaetus 5. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 6. Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus 7. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 10

8. Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus 9. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus 10. Great Tit Parus major 11. Willow tit Parus montanus

The many lakes and small watercourses make for a great environment for bird-watching. In 2008 and 2010 the world’s biggest Falcon, Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus, was seen to breed in the steep slopes of Njupeskär waterfall. This was the most Southern spotting of it breeding in 60 years. In 2008 bird-watchers reported seeing four young leave the nest and in 2010 another two tried their wings for the first time. Owls such as the Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus, also known as Boreal Owl in North America, is one of the more often seen creatures. It is a rather small owl which is usually nocturnal, meaning that it is active during the night and sleeps during the day. This is not the case at this latitude though, where it is forced to hunt during daylight because of the very short nights in summer5.

http://www.dalarna.se/sv/Hotell/Fulufjallet1/National parken/Faglar/

Tengmalm’s Owl (Boreal Owl; AE) Aegolius funereus

6.2 Predators and other game

It is in the fj채ll area with its vast landscape you also find the big predators such as Brown bear Ursus arctos, Wolverine Gulo gulo and Lynx Lynx lynx. Although these animals are not pronounced mountain animals and have been spotted all the way to the southern outer regions of Sweden, they have adapted well to the mountain terrain. Today one can find bear and Lynx from the county of V채rmland and northbound whereas the wolverine is restricted to the fj채ll environment with adjacent woods.

The Wolverines have been put to flight or been killed off, leaving the mountain environment as their last outpost. The wolf Canis lupus lupus is only seen sporadically and concentrated to the deeper woods on lower altitudes. While these animals are eligible game the arctic fox Vulpes lagopus is placed under the protection of law due to record low numbers. The arctic fox is one of the oldest mammals on the Scandinavian Peninsula. 5

Smaller predators such as Red fox Vulpes vulpes, Otter Lutra lutra, Marten Martes martes, Ermine Mustela ermine, Weasel Mustela nivalis and Norwegian lemming Lemmus lemmus can also

1. Brown bear Ursus arctos 2. Wolverine Gulo gulo 3. Eurasian wolf Canis lupus lupus 7

4. Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus 5. Eurasian elk Alces alces 6. Red fox Vulpes vulpes 7. Wild boar Sus scrofa 8. Norwegian lemming Lemmus lemmus

be seen. Among the insect feeders, smaller rodents and mice such as Shrewmouse Soricidae and the Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens, are common while the The Northern Bat Eptesicus nilssoni are rare in the mountain terrain. Elk Alces alces, Reindeer Rangifer tarandus and some occasional Roe deer Capreolus capreolus , are among the bigger herbivorous here. In winter time they usually seek lower altitudes driven by food shortage. The European brown hare Lepus europaeus stay all year, only occasionally descending towards the lower birch tree line for food. The smallest rodents stay put throughout the winter, taking shelter under the snow from cold and predators5. 5

http://www.fjallen.nu/fakta/djur.htm

Eurasien lynx Lynx lynx

6.3 Fish and waters There are few fish that reach the cold lakes and brooks up on Mt Fulufj채ll. Basically it is Arctic char Salvelinus alpines, Salmon trout Salmo trutta and Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss which occupy these waters. On rare occasions one can find Burbot Lota lota, but this cod fish relative does not like altitudes above 1000 meters. Like with other species of animals, the amount of fish increase with lower altitude. On the lower regions fish such as grayling Thymallus thymallus, European whitefish Coregonus lavaretus, European perch Perca fluviatilis and Pike Esox lucius occur. Fly-fishing is a common activity and sometimes is the only way of catching the shrewd and cautious trout fish. There are also rowboats in the major lakes for better baitcasting. Fishing is an all- season activity if you have the strength to challenge the rough winter ascent and appurtenant weather for some winter pilking. The mountain waters on Mt Fulufj채ll are extremely pure and one can drink all water, except from stagnant water, without any treatment or particular care. Good water circulation and healthy lakes with relatively low acidification make for well tasting water. Continuous rainfalls strain through bogs and lichens over the millennias deliver minerals, salt and breaks down toxins while doing so (Ibid).

Arctic char Salvelinus alpines

7 REGIONAL HISTORY 7.1 Early history The region has several remains from the Stone Age (roughly 2000 BC) and some graves from the Iron Age (400-600 AD). Several of the graves have been lost to landslides and human activity trough history. The majority of the graves are old settlements which were not stationary but seasonal dependent on fishing and hunting. 7.2 Early immigration In the end of the 16th century immigration of Finnish people grew strong in the region and reached its culmination in the 1630s. Older settlements of Finnish people already existed in the north parts. There were no place for them, was consensus, on the plains and valleys; instead they were shown to the deep woods. Here they could work the soils and build themselves a simple home, after getting the approval of the Swedish king and an official letter of approval. As a new arriver you also got six free years free of duty. During the first half of the 17th century a lot of opposition between the natives and the newcomers was a common reality. The Finnish vagrants often practiced burn-beating cultivation which irritated the expanding new-industrial society in their rapid growth, especially the mining industry. A further element of unrest was the “drifting Finnish” whose hunting and fishing bordered to ruthless overexploitation. A lot of these problems were based in strong nationalism and racism. It went so far as to a total banning of the “drifting Finnish” in 1636 as an initiative from the Swedish parliament. (Kopparbergs län 1978:4-7).

7.3 Types of pasture settlements The history of pasture settlement housing are mentioned in texts as organized communities from the 16th century. The pasture settlements are divided into three categories. First are the “ordinary pasture settlements”, often situated on the mountains accommodating livestock and kept by farm hands and maids. These buildings were only visited by the more sophisticated house owners for haymaking or to get butter and cheese. The second type is the “home pasture settlements” which housed whole families for seasonal occupancy working with farming and haymaking. The Third and last is the “half pasture settlements. These were close to home and the milk could be brought home daily or a few times a week. 7.3.1 Logger housing There is some traditional logger housing left in the region. The loggers came from far and wide, often in early fall and stayed until spring. Home often laid tens of miles away, if they had any. The houses were low, simple log cabins with a central hearth and benches around.

1. Logger shed in Flyktan, Dalarna county 2. Logger housing in Hedbodarna, Dalarna county 3. Grave in Vindförsberg, Dalarna county 4. Traditional pasture settlement, Dalarna county 5. Logger housing in Hedbodarna, Dalarna county 6. Logger housing in Hedbodarna, Dalarna county

7.4 Regional architecture The single room cottage is intimately linked to the loggers and the most common house type from the 18th century and onwards. With a single big room, a smaller set of windows and a central chimney it brings a lot of character to the countryside. The single room cottage has historically been used a lot by the â&#x20AC;&#x153;small peopleâ&#x20AC;? such as common farmers, workers, soldiers and bakers. It is used today as a vacation home. Small resources â&#x20AC;&#x201C; small measures, that seem to be characteristic for much of the built environment in the region. For the houses to survive as long as possible the roof is undeniably important. The region exhibits a wide range of roof types historically such as gable roofs, mansard roofs, hip roofs and shed roofs.

7.5 Settlement over history

Main settlement in the beginning of the 10th century of the county of Dalarna, central Sweden

Main settlement in the beginning of the 14th century

Main settlement in the beginning today

1. Housing in Skattungbyn, Orsa, Dalarna county 2. Housing in Skattungbyn, Orsa, Dalarna county 3. Pasture settlement in Flenarna, Dalarna county 4. The house â&#x20AC;&#x153;LassasgĂĽrdenâ&#x20AC;?, Dalarna county

7.6 Local typologies diagram volume proportions

windows proportions

spacing of wooden panel

width/length = 6.00/15.00

width/height = 1.00/1.50

height = 0.15

width/height = 6.00/8.00

width/height = 0.80/1.00 width = 0.20 o

roof area = 110

roof angle = 100 (40 )

width/length = 4.00/8.00

width/height = 1.00/1.10

width/height = 4.00/5.80

width/height = 0.50/1.00

height = 0.25

width = 0.10/0.15 o

roof area = 38

roof angle = 100 (40 )

width/length = 5.50/14.00

width/height = 0.80/1.00

width/height = 5.50/6.50

width/height = 0.60/0.25

height = 0.30/0.15

width = 0.20 o

roof area = 95

roof angle = 100 (40 )

width/length = 6.00/8.00

width/height = 1.00/1.00

width/height = 6.00/2.70

width/height =

height = 0.35/0.15

width = 0.18 o

roof area = 51

roof angle = 140 (20 )

width/length = 7.00/10.00

width/height = 1.00/1.00

width/height = 7.00/6.50

width/height = 0.50/1.00

height = 0.12

width = 0.18 roof area = 87

roof angle = 90 (45 ) o

130 (25 )

8 MATERIALS 8.1 Insulation Insulation is a key parameter when talking about a buildings performance. Whereas southern Swedish cultures tend to build heavy structures for a cooling effect the northern latitude calls for the opposite. The thermal conductivity of the material is very important; it determines energy use and cost and thermal quality for the occupants. Choice of insulation material also determines important characteristics during a potential fire and the environmental impact when created, used and discarded. These are all factors that need to be considered for each specific project. One of the more common insulation materials is glass wool or rock wool. Having very low K-values, the measurement of thermal conductivity in materials, fire resistance and a low price it is a good candidate. The downside is its somewhat limited recycling qualities and relatively high manufacturing energy use. Further, the toxic character adds to the negative side and glass wool and rock wool are not biodegradable. It is important to stress that energy used in manufacturing is not the whole truth. If the thermal conductivity is instead high throughout the buildings lifespan, a substantial amount of energy is wasted on saving some small amount of energy early on. 8.1.1 Natural local products - Wool Brought on not only by demand for more natural building products, but also by a surplus of wool worldwide, driving down prices, sheeps wool is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;newâ&#x20AC;? old building insulation material. It has several positive characteristics; it naturally absorbs and releases moisture, it does not burn but melts away from an ignition source and extinguishes itself, it is biodegradable and has a impressive K-value measuring up to that of modern synthetic wool products such as glass wool. It also has very low embodied energy and can also be treated with organic preservatives (e.g. uric acid). A potential downside is a higher cost of up to double

of conventional materials depending on how it was obtained. The Dalarna county and close-by counties tend sheep by tradition and it could be harvested locally for the project. The wool industry creates vast amounts of waste wool that often is burned. This is an asset that could be put to work instead of just becoming waste (Woolly 1997:45). 8.1.2 Cellulose fibre Cellulose fiber insulation is made from processed waste paper, made into a fluff that can be placed by hand or sprayed. It is usually treated with borax (sodium tetraborate) for fire and insect resistance. Borax occurs naturally in deposits produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes and is moderately toxic. Sufficient exposure though can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Cellulose fiber is best used in loft and roof insulation and preferably not in positions where it might encounter moisture. Cellulose fiber also has a low embodied energy and is biodegradable. The region has a big forest industry with pulp-making and wood production. The cellulose fibers could hence be obtained locally. 8.1.3 Peat When looking at the site in specific, there are some alternative natural materials for insulation. First of all the abundance of peat is obvious in the barren mountain environment. Peat has been used for insulation for centuries for many reasons. It is cheap, biodegradable, and accessible. The downside is the risk of attacks from mold and organisms if not treated and also a mediocre thermal conductivity. The thermal quality is directly dependent on the amount of water bound in the peat. Dry peat has a rough K-value of 0,25 W/mK and between 0.43 and 0.67 W/mK when frozen. Would the peat become saturated and then freeze the K-value rises to a disappointing 1.49 W/mK. The conclusion is that when dry, it is a relatively good candidate but its sensitivity to moisture makes it bad in the environment (Ibid 45-46).

Cellulose Fibers

0.037

Urea-formaldehyde Foam

0.038

Corkboard

0.040

Vermiculite (expanded)

0.047-0.058

Foamed Glass

0.050-0.052

Softboard

0.055

Wood-wool Slabs

0.093

Compressed Straw Slabs

0.101

Some Other Materials for Comparison Thatch

0.072

Timber (pine)

0.138

Diatomaceous Earth Brick

0.141

Aerated Concrete

0.18

Glass

1.05

Brickwork (common)

1.15

Stone (granite)

2.9

Copper

400

positive impact

Unknown

Insulation Materials cellulose Fibers

n/a

Compressed Straw Slabs n/a Cork

7.2

Foamed Glass

16.7

Glass Wool

1.0

Phenolic Foams

n/a

HFCS, HCFCS

Polystyrane - Extruded 8.2

HFCS, HCFCS

Rigid Urcthane Foam

4.9

HFCS, HCFCS

Rock Wool

1.0

Softboard

9.5

Softboard + Bitumen

8.7

Polystyrene - Expanded 3.1

Urea-Formaldehyde Foam n/a Verniculite (Expanded) n/a

Thermal conductivity, commonly known as the K-value, is a measurement of how much heat will move through a given amount of a material

Other

0.037

Health

Wool

Recycling/Reuse/Disposal

0.036

Durability/Maintenance

Phenolic Foam

No significant impact

Energy Use

significant impact [Blank]

Other

0.033-0.035

small but still

Photochemical Oxidants

Polystyrene Foam

lesser impact

Use

Acid Rain

0.032-0.04

Toxics

Glass Wool

next biggest impact

Ozone depletion

0.03-0.04

worst or biggest impact

Global Warming

Rock Wool

Production Resource Depletion (non-bio)

0.024-0.039

Resource Depletion (bio)

Polyurethane Foam

Key

Energy Use

K Value (W/mK)

Unit Price Multiplier

Material

Wood-Wool Slabs

11.8

Wool

10,4

Source: Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall, page 42.

8.1.4 Timber Sustainability has been on the agenda for timber for quite some time. Although timber is grown in nature and hence is a natural, biodegradable product, few manufacturers can be said to be truly sustainable. Many variables go into the equation. First, there is the manner in which the timber was produced and harvested. A jungle of certification criteria has arisen in an effort to better label its environmental impact. If cut down in an unfit way, the process can affect the ecosystem and the soil stability. Ethical aspects for workers and working methods can also be included. Second, the transportation and processing of the timber pose risk of toxic treatments and large energy consumption. A good rule is to use locally produced timber with as little added toxins as possible. In this way the wood can go back to nature in the way it was intended while saving energy, and the environment, with minimal transportation. 8.1.5 Pine This softwood can be found in abundance in the region and harvested in a low impact way. It has a moderate resistance in permeability, a low price and is suitable for interior joinery and construction. The heartwood has a natural fungi toxin called pinosylvin which protect from fungal infection. This also makes the heartwood suitable for window frames and other exterior components.

tent, and could be harvested and refined in a sustainable way. 8.1.8 Birch Flooring, plywood and finewood components are made from this hard wood. The birch quantity on Mt FulufjĂ¤ll is extensive and several variations of Birch can be found and harvested locally. 8.1.9 Fiberboards Fiberboards are usually manufactured of materials such as wood pulp, flax and sugar cane. The boards are constructed by mechanically breaking down solid wood into fibers which are felted and reconstructed under heat and pressure. Most types of fiberboards do not contain any resin binder, instead the primary bond usually derive from the inherent adhesive properties of felt fibers. Other board products like plywood, medium density fiberboards (MDF) and cement bound boards contain bonding agents such as urea formaldehyde which is toxic and cannot be broken down in a safe way in nature. Using hard boards of the fiber type is a good choice from an energy, health and recycling perspective. Boards also have the advantage of their plane element action where they lock and stabilize the structure efficiently in relation to material used. Hardboards are best used for sheathing, as floor underlay or as floor surfaces and for stressed skin and roof panels.

8.1.6 Fir 8.1.10 Swedish Eco Plywood Fir is also softwood with similar qualities as pine wood. It is suitable for interior and exterior joinery and structural components and plywood making. As with pine, fir can be found in abundance in the region. 8.1.7 Oak Oak is a little for Sweden what cedar or mahogany are for North America. It is extremely resistant permeability wise, has long durability and work well in damp situations. The coarse texture makes the wood a good candidate for heavy construction and joinery. Oak does occur in Dalarna county, although not to a great ex-

This new material has several technical advantages; it is environmentally friendly, the special cellulose is treated with a natural substance, a soya based innoxious â&#x20AC;&#x153;greenâ&#x20AC;? chemical, before it is pressed together and heated, no hazardous glue or plastic folie is needed. The quality of the product is said to be very even, and the panel can be made even thinner than the plywood on the market today, with the same strength. The entrepreneurs behind the invention, Adolf Sellgren and Ulf Henricson from Dorotea, Sweden, have founded the company Swedish Plywoodsubstitue AB.

Other

ALERT!

Health

Recycling/Reuse/Disposal

Durability/Maintenance

When looking at Mt Fulufj채ll and its surroundings it is clear that brick and concrete blocks are uncommon commodities, instead it is the red wooden houses with stone foundations one sees in plenty fold. Up on the plateau, the abundance of bedrock of jotnic Dala sandstone is clearly evident. The stone is already cut in manageable sizes and easily obtained. It could be used for foundation work but this implies a more stationary building than might be intended.

Unknown

Energy Use

positive impact

Other

No significant impact

Photochemical Oxidants

significant impact [Blank]

Use

Acid Rain

small but still

Toxics

lesser impact

Ozone Depletion

next biggest impact

Resource Depletion (bio)

worst or biggest impact

Global Warming

Production Resource Depletion (non-bio)

Energy Use

The strength, durability and inert nature of bricks, blocks and stone are the qualities that make them so useful as building materials. These qualities also make them readily re-usable in their original form. The environmental impact lies in the production and transportation process. Low maintenance and long durability make up for this early input.

Key

Unit Price Multiplier

8.2 Masonry

Bricks

Using the stone in a structural way, in the facade for example, is a possibility. Poor thermal conductivity makes for a cold winter however. With a K-value 90 times higher that of glass wool the energy input would be substantial and very costly. Sand and gravel as masonry materials can also be found on site, but not in pure form and in greater quantity.

Ordinary Clay

1.0

Flettons

0.8

Soft mud/Stocks

1.0

Perforated Clay

1.0

Calcium-Silicate

0.9

Re-Used

1.4

Concrete Blocks Ordinary Dense Blocks

0.3

Lightweight Aggregate

Aerated

3.2

Composite Insulating

1.4

CFCs

Stone Local Imported

3.2 ?

Reclaimed

3.2

Artificial

1.4

Mortar Ingredients Ordinary Portland Cement n/a Pure Lime

n/a

Hydraulic Lime

n/a

OP Blastfurnace Cement

n/a

OP Pulverised Fuel Ash

n/a

Masonry Cement

n/a

Sand and Gravel

n/a

Haz. Waste

Source: Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall, page 54.

Other

ALERT!

Health

Energy use ratings are for energy per m2 roofing, rather than energy per unit weight.

Durability/Maintenance

Unknown

Recycling/Reuse/Disposal

positive impact

Occupational Health

No significant impact

Use

Acid Rain

significant impact [Blank]

Toxics

small but still

Ozone depletion

lesser impact

Global Warming

next biggest impact

Resource Depletion (bio)

worst or biggest impact

’Natural’ Tiles Clay Tile

0.8-2

Natural Slate

2-4.6

Cement Based Tile 0.6

Concrete Tile

Fiber Cement Tile

A green roof on Mt Fulufjäll would use the resource of peat, lichen and smaller herb plants that are highly adapted to the local conditions. They have rather shallow root systems and thrive in the poor, sandy soils in the landscape. The peat would give additional insulation and the surface would create spaces for plants and insects, provide food for birds and even a habitat for small mammals. The additional weight of the soil and necessary protecting layers must be considered when dimensioning the structural support.

Production Resource Depletion (non-bio)

So what nature-friendly materials can be found in the region by tradition? First there are the wood roofs with either bare wood, shingles, clay tile or natural slate. Thatched roofs are rare here, being a more southern Swedish occurrence. Planted roofs can be traced back centuries to simpler forest housing and in the regional pasture architecture.

Energy Use

Of all the components which make up a building, roofing plays an especially critical role, performing important functions of insulation from heat and cold, protection from rain and wind, and the provision of shade. Roofing must withstand extreme conditions – strong winds, temperature swings, long term exposure to ultra-violet light and extreme precipitation – the precise criteria depending on the climate in which it is to be used.

Key

Unit Price Multiplier

8.3 Roofing

Glass Fiber

Synthetic Fiber

Cellulose Fiber

Haz. Waste?

Resin Bonded (reconstructed) Slate

1-1.6

Haz. Waste?

Polymer Modified Cement Slates

Haz. Waste?

Ferrocement

Haz. Waste?

Asphalt Shingles Organic/Cellulose Mat

Glass Fiber Mat

0.6

Metal sheet Alu. Coated

H.D.

Galvanized

0.7

H.D.

PVC

H.D.

Polyester

Acrylic

Steel Sheet Additional Impact of Organic Coatings for Steel Sheet

Stainless Steel Sheet

2.4

Aluminium Sheet

1.4

Lead Sheet

2-3.7

H.D.

Source: Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall, page 148.

8.4 Window frames Durability is an important issue when choosing window frames for a building. Aluminum or uPVC are common material and often seen as the only durable alternative. It is true that softwood window frames and poorly designed and or installed windows can pose a big problem. These wooden alternatives are often also treated with toxic conservatives and paint. This is not a necessity. Durable temperate hardwood such as local oak, which can, with suitable protection in design, be used without painting or preservatives, is one of the greenest options. This even more so if sourced from well-managed forestry operations on a local scale. As the diagram shows, production energy is not everything. If low production energy is followed by an extensive maintenance demand, aluminum frames might be a better solution. Oak offers a low energy input and minimal maintenance while esthetically being very beautiful (Ibid 123).

Thermal Performance

Health Hazards

Recycling/Reuse/Disposal

Frame

Frame and Paint

Other

Acid Rain

Photochemical Oxidants

Use

Toxics

small but still

Global Warming

lesser impact

Resource Depletion (non-bio)

next biggest impact

Resource Depletion (bio)

worst or biggest impact

Energy Use

Key

Production

Unit Price Multiplier

ALERT!

Paint

Frame

Paint

Frame

Paint

Frame

Paint

Frame

Paint

Frame

Paint

Frame

Paint

Frame

Unknown

Paint

positive impact

Frame

No significant impact

Frame and Paint

significant impact [Blank]

Non-Tmber Windows Aluminium + Paint

2.4

u-PVC

1.0

Steel + paint

2.3

Un-certified Temperate Softwood +Plant Based Paint

2.4

+Synthetic Solvent-borne Paint

2.0

+Synthetic Water-borne Paint

2.1

HFCS, HCFCS

Un-certified tropical Hardwood +Plant Based Paint

3.1

+Synthetic Solvent-borne Paint

2.7

+Synthetic Water-borne Paint

2.8

HFCS, HCFCS

Certified Well-Managed Timber +Plant Based Paint

+Synthetic Solvent-borne Paint

+Synthetic Water-borne Paint

Source: Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall, page 124.

8.5.1 Low emissivity coatings

Other

Unknown

Energy Use

Durability

positive impact

Glazing is a complex issue and very much dependent on specific circumstances. Having a `state of the artÂ´ low-e glazing unit may save a lot on heat energy needed in wintertime while being over-efficient summer time. Factors such as glazed area, sun angles, annual temperatures and winds determine choice of glazing in the end.

Health

No significant impact

Recycling/Reuse/Disposal

significant impact [Blank]

Energy Use

small but still

Occupational Health

lesser impact

Use

Acid Rain

next biggest impact

Toxics

worst or biggest impact

Ozone depletion

Production

Global Warming

Key

Resource Depletion (non-bio)

Windows are important in the sense that they allow daylight and views into the building. In new houses windows typically account for 15-30 percent of the total heat loss in winter and overheating in summer. In well-designed passive solar buildings, windows can be energy neutral or even net energy producers. Good glazing also can keep unwanted sounds at bay.

Resource Depletion (bio)

8.5 Glazing

Glazing Products Float Glass (single glazed)

The effect of low emissivity glazing is to reflect the long wavelength (heat) energy generated by heating systems, lighting and people, back into the building, while permitting the transmission of short wavelength (visible light) solar energy from outside. The low emissivity coating is usually a thin layer of silver or tin oxide on the glass surface or on a suspended plastic film. The production is energy-heavy and contains some toxic materials. But as emphasized earlier, input energy and production is not everything. Modern, double or triple glazing can save a considerable amount of energy over time and thus be a better choice.

Float Glass (double glazed) Low-e Coated (double glazed) Heat Mirror Glass Retrofitted Glazing films Secondary Glazing

Source: Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall, page 84.

In terms of reducing heat loss and maximizing solar gain, double glazing with a low-e coating is a good investment. It tends to give better performance than triple glazing, and the low-e coating is likely to have a lower manufacturing impact than a third plane of glass (Ibid 2000:85).

Heat loss glass

control

with

low

emissivity

(low-e)

Light shelf preventing glare close to window, and reflecting light deep into the room

Basic passive solar principles

Other

Durability

ALERT!

Fire

Unknown

Health

positive impact

Recycling/Reuse/Disposal

No significant impact

Occupational Health

significant impact [Blank]

Photochemical Smog

small but still

Use

Toxics

lesser impact

Ozone Depletion

next biggest impact

Acid Rain

worst or biggest impact

Global Warming

Production Resource Depletion (non-bio)

Resource Depletion (bio)

The most common material used for insulation of electrical wires is PVC. Some ten years ago ten percent of the PVC usage in Europe went to cable and wire production. This is a concern because PVCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bad environmental impact as well as health aspects. When burned during a fire, toxic fumes of Hydrogen Chloride (HC1) are emitted. Alternatives exist such as Halogen-free polyethylene, rubber and polypropylene, although at a financial premium. Rubber is organic, renewable resource but will age, having a shorter life span. Very few make natural rubber wiring anymore and if one cannot obtain natural rubber wiring, the second best choice is a product without PVC.

Key

Energy Use

Modern housing would be very dysfunctional without necessary electricity. What is interesting though is in what way the wiring is implemented. The current-carrying medium in electrical wiring is copper with few viable alternatives. However, recycled copper cable is available. Careful choice of insulation materials, trunking and fittings can also add energy savings.

Unit Price Multiplier

8.6 Electrical wiring

Cable Copper Recycled Copper Cable Insulation PVC

1.0

Polyethylene

2-3

Polypropylene

2-3

Synthetic Rubber

2-3

Hormone disrupters

MIC Natural rubber

Cable Management/Trunking Aluminum

When it comes to cable management systems and fittings, plywood and wood can be used instead of plastics and metal products. This reduces the production energy, toxins - would there be a fire - and is also sustainable and renewable as a resource(Ibid 2000:61).

(Galvanized)

Hormone disrupters

(Organic coated)

Hormone disrupters

Steel Plywood Nylon PVC

Hormone disrupters

Accessories (Switches/Plugs/Sockets) Nylon Phenol Formaldehyde (Bakelite) Urea Formaldehyde

(Galvanized)

Hormone disrupters

(Organic coated)

Hormone disrupters

Steel Brass

Sustainable Source: Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall, page 54.

Timber Unsustainable

8.7 Adhesives and sealants Historically, most adhesives were based on natural materials, and were highly effective in nonstructural applications. Synthetic adhesives, based on coal and oil, were first developed during the World War II. The first synthetic adhesives developed in the 1940s were polyvinyl acetate (PVA/PVAC) based polymer dispersions. By the 1960s, these had become almost the universal adhesive used in the construction industry. Today, adhesives come in a bewildering number of formulations and can encompass a wide range of base materials in combination with a variety of reactants, plasticisers, fillers, fluxing agents, pigments, dyers and stabilizers. Some adhesives are friendlier then others, with the least environmental impact would come from using water based plant derived adhesives, traditional glues made from soya, blood albumen, casein and animal products. These adhesives are limited to interior use though. Second choice would be water based or low solvent synthetic glues, followed by hot melt. Synthetic solvents are a last resort. Several of the common ingredients have been recognized as hormone disrupters. There are compelling evidence of a link between hormone disrupting chemical and an increasing number of reproductive problems in humans and animals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including declining human sperm counts, increase in testicular cancer, breast cancer in women and feminization of fish and amphibians! Another problem is the difficulty to separate the adhesive from other materials when disassembling a building. Its volatile character also makes for toxic evaporation from the solvent, causing damage to the nervous system, liver, kidneys, eyes, respiratory system and skin. In the end, to have a clean, healthy building that makes for an easy and safe future disassembly, the best is not to use any adhesives or sealants at all. This can be done planning the materials, assembly and design carefully. (Ibid 2000:44-53).

- Solvent. Water or organic petrochemical based. Water is a prefered solvent, but more additives are needed. - Base. Usually titanium dioxide, added to provide opacity.

Use

Other

ALERT!

Health

Durability/Maintenance

Unknown

Other

positive impact

Acid Rain

No significant impact

Toxics

significant impact [Blank]

Ozone Depletion

small but still

Global Warming

lesser impact

Resource use (non-bio)

next biggest impact

Recycling/Reuse/Disposal

worst or biggest impact

Main components of paint: - Binder. This solidifies to produce the dried film of paint. The traditional binder, linseed oil, has been replaced by alkyd, vinyl or acrylic resins.

Production

Resource use (bio)

Paint is a common interior decoration and its main issues are the impact during the manufacture of synthetic vinyl, acrylic and alkyd based paints. Although water-based products tend to be a better choice, some solvents and trace products can still be present. There are biodegradable and renewable paints such as linseed oil based paint, this providing plant-based pigments are used.

Key

Energy Use

8.8 Interior decoration

Wall Paints Vinyl Emulsion Acrylic Emulsion Alkyd (Oil Based) Paint Mineral/Stone Paint

Hormone disrupters

’Natural’ Paint - Veg. Oil Based ’Natural’ Paint - Veg/Wood Resin Distempered (Protein Based) Paint Limewash/Whitewash Wallcoverings

- Extenders. Bulk the paint up. Examples are silica or calcium carbonate.

Vinyl Wallcovering

- Pigments. Organic (plant based) or inorganic (heavy metals)

Recycled Wallpaper

Hormone disrupters

Wallpaper Paste

Hormone disrupters

Wallpaper

Wallpaper Paste (+ Fungicide)

- Driers. Induce polymerization of the binder to speed up drying.

Wallpaer Paste (No Fungicide) PVA Wallpaper Glue

Hormone disrupters

Plaster

If using wallpapers, fully recycled content wallpaper are prefered. There is still the downside of pollution via washing and dyeing in manufacturing to consider. For plaster products there are alternatives based on straw and cellulose which are renewable materials. A substantial energy input in production and resource can still be reality. For tiles, recycled tiles seem to be the friendliest choice. There is no shortcut or substitute to the clay and the energy heavy production of tiles(Ibid 2000:20-34).

Gypsum Polished Plaster

Lime Mortar

Hormone disrupters

”Claytech”

Hormone disrupters

Tiles Ceramic Reclaimed

Source: Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall, page 23.

9 WEATHER

cold

9.1 Global climate zones temperate

arid

Tropic pi of f Cancer

hot and humid hot and arid temperete cold

tropical Equator

Tropic i of Capricorn i

cold

9.2 Precipitation zones temperate

arid

Tropic of Cancer

tropical Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

200 cm and over 150 - 200 cm 100 - 150 cm 50 - 100 cm 25 - 50 cm less than 25 cm Annual precipitation

9.3 Weather on the site

Global solar radiation for the WMO defined normal period 1961-1990.

Wind energy for the WMO defined normal period 1961-1990, 50 meter over ground.

Humidity during the vegetation period,mm

Largest measured snow depth 2010-2011 according to SMHI

Yearly rainfall for the WMO define normal period 1961-1990 accordin to SMHI(Swedish Meteorological an Hydrological Institute)

Shielded terrain < minus 50 Very summer dry climate region minus 50-0 Summer dry climate region 0-50 Slightly humid climate region

Open plateau

50-100 Normal humid climate region 100-150 Strong humid climate region 150-200 Very strong humid region >200 Very strong humid region

SOLAR RADIATION

WIND ENERGY

HUMIDITY

SNOW DEPTH

RAINFALL

The northern latitude makes the sun relatively weak compared to the rest of Sweden. With its 950 kWh/m2 it only has half of Cairo, Egypt, for example. This is still enough for sun driven solutions, passive and active, to be implemented on site.

Wind energy is a fast growing industry in Sweden. Wind turbines are the most common technology. Other interesting designs are vertical solar updraft towers which harness the updraft from the energy due to air heated by the sun.

Relatively high humidity during the vegetation period. Humidity in the atmosphere contains "latent" energy. During transpiration or evaporation, this latent heat is removed from surface liquid, cooling the earth's surface. This is the biggest non-radiative cooling effect at the surface.

160 cm denote a substantial load for built structures such as roofs. In Scandinavia, the largest snow-loads accumulate on trees on top of medium-sized mountains. The larger fj채lls and mountains have few or no trees because they are above the tree line.

The yearly rainfall is in the lower range but occasionally the site gets hit by severe rains. On the 31 of August 1997 Mt Fulufj채ll was bombarded with an alltime record in Sweden of 400 mm (16 inches) in 24 hours! The traces from the storm can still be seen in the landscape.

9.4 Temperatures

January

February

March

April

May

WINTER

SPRING

Winter here means constantly sub-zero Celsius climate and a winter sun that makes it over the horizon for only a few hours before setting again. The desolate environment becomes even more barren. Small animals take shelter under the snow whereas bigger game have their challenges.

Spring time signifies melting and large flooding. Spring comes rather late here compared to the Southern part of Sweden and is not as explosive and vivid in manner. The slower and extended process also shortens the summer.

June Average temperature for the WMO defined normal period 1961-1990

July

August

September

October

November

December

SUMMER

FALL

Summer is the main season and a lot of hikers come to inhabit the open landscape. Activities such as fishing, bird-watching, camping, bathing, cloudberry picking, research seminar weeks and guided tours fill the schedule.

Fall comes early and changes into winter rather quickly. The mountain environment is fully accessible throughout this period and a common choice for those who favor a cooler environment with its subtle colors when hiking.

10 PROGRAM m2

OFFICES amount area total area

OPEN 2 12 24

SNOWMOBILE amount area total area

OPEN 1 9 9

OFFICES amount area total area

DOUBLE 3 6 18

KITCHEN amount area total area

OPEN 1 25 25

LIBRARY amount area total area

OPEN 1 12 12

DINING amount area total area

OPEN 1 33 33

WET LAB amount area total area

OPEN 1 20 20

BED ROOM amount area total area

SINGLE 6 10 60

EQUIPMENT LAB amount area total area

OPEN 1 27 27

BED ROOM 4X amount area total area

SAUNA amount area total area

OPEN 1 6 6

STORAGE amount area total area

MEETING amount area total area

OPEN 2 8 16

CONFERENCE amount area total area

OPEN 1 17 17

10.1 Program overview

OFFICES

RESEARCH

MEETING

SUPPORT

OPEN 3 15 45

OPEN 2 16 32

INSTALLATIONS amount area total area

OPEN 2 6 12

mo adving mi ni in st ra ti on

COMMON AREA amount area total area

10.2 LCCA Analysis cu st om er id ea ne /s ed t s ud pi y lo of pi t lo ag ne t r ed st eem s ud en de y t prcis i o pr je on oj ct -m ec in ak ti g in ng ag g re re em qu nt a en o bu tat gre t il io em di n en ng an t pe d p ri ur od ch as e

SINGLE 4 9 36

12%

80%

SHOWER amount area total area

OPEN 2 3 6

GENERAL amount area total area

OPEN 1 130 130

WASHING amount area total area

OPEN 1 10 10

10% TOTAL

LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSIS (LCCA)

431

ma te ri al /m ai nt en an ce de mo li ti on /r ec yc li ng

OPEN 1 7 7

co st

WORKSHOP amount area total area

tr op ansp er or at t io na l

SINGLE 2 2 4

bu il di ng

TOILET amount area total area

pr oc es s

BUILDING PROCESS COST

70%

12%

10.3 Modular adaptability The module of 1200 x 1200 mm occurs throughout the structure. The main reason is to bring down the weight of individual building components and the manner in which one can handle them. It is also about simplifying the transport as well as the production. Having a module system gives a more adaptive building that can be dismantled, updated, shrinked or enlarged depending on current conditions. This is how nature works and species survive. Adapting as a response to new needs or circumstances in a productive way instead of fighting the inevitable with toxins, questionable materials and a poor design. “You do not fight the current but instead adapt”, is an allusion to the fascinating discovery of an extraordinary sub-fossil fir some years ago. It was found underneath the canopy of another fir in the outer most fringe of the new tree line on Mt Fulufjäll. The specimen had four distinct “generations” of sub fossil dating in the interval of 9 550-375 before present time. It is thought to belong genetically to the same individual, thus a post-glacial pioneer fir. Due to its remarkable ability to vegetative reproduction it has managed to survive all the way til present time by changing between tree and shrub in pace with climate changes. This amazing endurance and ability to adjust to unfavorable circumstances makes one think about where this tree might have spent the great ice age.

1200

Interior walls

Plan according to module

The modular approach in the project is an effort to learn from nature and coexist side by side. The way it impacts its surroundings in choice of material construction, use and design becomes important. It is with a strong emphasis on the local scale true sustainable design should be viewed.

Interior wall grid system

SITE

CONSTRUCTION

impact alteration

transport preparation erecting

foundation framework interior surfaces exterior surfaces BUILT COMPONENTS

insulation windows roofing floor details

grey water INSTALLATIONS

black water heating waste electrical equipment lighting

offices (open) PROGRAM

offices (dubble) library wet lab equipment lab sauna meeting conference toilets showers kitchen dining single bedrooms group bedrooms storage installations workshop snowmobile storage common area washing facility general

emergency

vandalism

theft

SECURITY

one season

one day

acoustics

temporary

ventilation

SEASONAL

mobility

SOUNDS

humidity

CLIMATE

heating

point light

artificial light

daylight

accessabilty

LIGHT

flexibility

public

private

open

intimate

disassembly

SPACE

health

recycling

maintenance

energy use

USE occupational health

insignificant

acid

less important

toxics

medium importance

ozone depletion

most important

energy use

positive impact

PRODUCTION

global warming

KEY

resource develop.(bio)

10.4 Design criterias

10.5 Plan function diagrams

light

Second plan

light

Function strategies - second plan

light

Ground plan

Function strategies - ground plan

light

11 PROPOSAL 11.1 Site strategy 11.1.1 Access

has to sustain itself. Hence choosing an open setting with a favorable terrain is crucial. In this case that means predominant south/southwestern winds and the small valleys and grooves in the landscape. Sun factors also play a vital role. Being situated at a northern latitude, the sun’s efficiency is not as great. This means that a south, 45 degree angle would be preferable to maximize the electric output that solar cells could harness.

Several factors have to be taken into consideration when deciding on a suitable site for the environmental research center. First of all, there is the basic necessity of access. Mt Fulufjäll is a huge plateau with rather steep ridges surrounding it. The choice of site in the north eastern corner of the national park, from an access point of view, derives from the mountain ridge being more level making transport easier. The mountain base also connects to a well-suited point of reloading.

11.1.3 Water and terrain Another crucial factor is water. No water means no comfort in the form of showers, dishing water, cooking and drinking water, potential heating agent - literally no life. On Mt Fulufjäll all water masses that constantly move, like small brooks, are serviceable for drinking. The only problem would

11.1.2 Wind factors Further, there are wind factors to add in the estimation. Mt Fulufjäll offers no electric mains and what is built,

Mt Fulufjäll national park Mt Fulufjäll’s surroundings Northern Dalarna county

Njupeskär

III St. Rörsjön L. Harrsjön

ön Grövelsjön

HÄRJEDALEN COUNTY

Idre

II Tangsjöarna

I DALARNA COUNTY

NORWAY

Fu Fulnäs

Tangån

Älvdalen Sälen Mora

+892

+ +90 +908 +91 +910 +912 912 1 +914 +9 +916 9 +922 2 +9 + 924 +926 +926 92 2 +928 928

+9 +934 9 +93 +9 936 6

+940 +940

+944 +9 44

+902 9 90

11.1.3.1 Overview plan 1:2500 83

be freezing during winter. Hence, it is imperative to pick a site with the vicinity to a larger lake, which does not freeze solid. 11.1.4 Program demands When power and water has been addressed the focus can be shifted to the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program and its demands. The research facility will have a yearround occupancy existing of individual researchers as well as groups and students. They will examine the flora and fauna, carry out smaller experiments and measurements, and will in this way track the environmental changes over periods. Placing the facility in the specific northwest corner of the park means greater seclusion from other public visitors, who mainly keeping south of the site. 11.1.5 Transport and Communication Last it is about transport and means of communication. The laid out snowmobile tracks are vital arteries in the open landscape. Wintertime the serve as marked highways and summertime they carry the main flows of hikers. The site is situated a moderate 300 meters west of the north/ south snowmobile track, in this way securing access to an essential infrastructure. Whether this is transporting hikers, researchers, food or supplies, it will be a much needed connection to society. 11.1.6 Site characteristics Finally, the surrounding settings play a decisive role. Factors such as where the tree limit is and what plants grow where affect the researchers operations. Although hiking is inevitable, a well chosen site is preferable. There is a great array of specimens in general on Mt FulufjĂ¤ll but the tree line, although somewhat dissolved, is closer to the site for easier studies.

predominant wind snowmobile track summer trail distance views the site windscreen

25 5 m

50 m

100 m

25 m

50 m

11.1.7 Surrounding context 1:1000

200 m 85

100 m

11.2 Massing evolution 1 Program massing - The specific program constitutes roughly 450 m2 with additional external circulation space. The program is divided into two floors and later zoned. 2 Massing adjustment - Based on factors such as analysis of regional typologies, performance, assembly and aesthetic qualities the second floor program volumes are transformed. A pitched roof with a starting point raised to 1200 mm makes for an efficient use of the floor area. 3 Sheltered porches, entrances and storage - To accommodate different program needs such as porches, sheltered entrances and storage opportunities, the volumes are pulled back on first floor. There is little shade naturally in the open surrounding landscape. The porches also work as stages overlooking the lake and the open, eastern landscape from where one arrives to the house. 4 Balcony space capturing the views - Second floor with program functions such as common area, offices and library would gain a lot from connecting to the outdoors. Therefore balconies are created through the same measures as on first floor. They also work as escape routes, if there was a fire. 5 External protective flooring - The flooring has several functions; to give the porches a functional floor, a protected circulation and entrance that saves the fragile nature from repeated wear and tear, and storage. It is also easily lifted out or replaced if needed. 6 Structural framework - The wooden frames create a logical rhythm as structural components for walls, roof and floors. The additional triangular system of trusses is added as a selfsupporting structure. Visually, it gives a clear readability in a structural sense. 7 Adaptable seasonal systems - The Swedish climate arrays a great variation throughout its distinct four seasons. To better accommodate the shifting need most parts have a multitude of purposes. The triangular trusses also become a snow barrier, protecting and propelling snow and winds over the house. In this way, entrances and windows are kept clear.

11.3 Early topography models

11.3.1 Process sketches

11.3.2 Early sketch models

11.3.3 Final model

A +892.5 + +8 +89 892 89 892. 8 92.5 +892. +892. +892.5 92.5 92 2.5 2 5

+892.5 +892. +89 +8 + 892 92.

+89 +890.8 890.8 90.8

11.4 Ground plan 1:250 94

+893,5 +894,5 +894 +893,5 +892,5 +895,5 +895 +896,5

+892 Stora Getsjรถn

+894,5 +896 +893,5

+894 +893

11.4.1 Topography study 1:500

+892 +8 892 92. .5 5

+890 0. .8 8

11.4.2 Ground plan 1:100 96

fire wood

+89 +8 +892 92 2.5 5 +89 +8 92 2 2.5 .5 5

path to snowmobile track

+8 + 895 5.4 .4

+890 +8 90. .8

11.4.3 Second floor 1:100 98

A +895 +8 895 95.4 4

+ 92 +8 2.4 4

100

11.4.4 Spring view 101

11.4.5 Section AA 1:75 102

+900,5

+899,5

+898,5

+897,5

+896,5

+895,5

+894,5

+893,5

+892,5

103

11.4.6 Section BB 1:75 104

11.4.7 West elevation 1:75 105

106

11.4.8 South elevation 1:75 107

11.4.9 Autumn view 108

Mt Fulufjäll national park Mt Fulufjäll’s surroundings Northern Dalarna county

Grö Gröve ö lsjön l ön ls lsjö ö Grövelsjön

rel reloa eloa el l di din ding i o reloading to snow o caterpillar cater ater t pilla terpilla pil r pill

site The h s ite te t e

HÄRJEDALEN COUNTY

Mt Fu F ulufjä l luf ll l Fulufjäll

10 0 km km

Fulufjäll Mt F Fu ulufjä luf lufjäll fjäll l DALA DALAR LA NA A COUNTY CO C UNTY T TY DALARNA

20 km

NORWAY

freight freig rei ht via vi ia a truc tru tr truck

Fulu Fulun F Fu lu äs äs Fulunäs Ä Älvda l le le len Älvdalen S le Säl Säle Sälen Mora Mora

30 km

MANUFACTURING The components will be manufactured at the factory of Fiskarhedenvillan in Fulunäs, Dalarna

county. The plant builds catalogue housing and customized orders. The proximity to Mt. Fulufjäll and their competence make for a favorable choice. Local, sustainable resources will be used and prepared for transport with trucks northbound. Interior details and furniture will be hand-crafted by local joiners and brought on site.

11.5 Construction process

109

Fulnäs F Fu Ful Fulnä ulnäs

TRANSPORT & STORAGE At the point of transshipment the material will be loaded onto snow caterpillars taking the load up the north ridge of Mt. fulufj채ll for winter storage and later assembly. Seven return runs will be needed and the thick snow will protect the fragile nature. This is an often used method in old times.

110

FOUNDATION WORK Local porphyry is found in abundance and will be gathered and used for foundation work and also as a caisson. In this way one can avoid using heavy machinery for piling, which would scar the nature. This design is also more flexible, as it can be moved or parts can easily be replaced.

TRUSSES & STUDS The final assembly of the truss frame system will be done on site where they will be raised with struts and ropes, one by one, and then secured.

111

INTERNAL PANELS

INSULATION/FLOORING

As the truss frame system is raised the panels are slid into place in the milled grooves, letting the diaphragm action solidify the structure. This is much more cost, material and labor efficient than traditional framed housing using intricate systems of studs.

The flooring elements further reinforce the structure as they are being laid. In the process the insulation is placed in the flooring. The natural sheepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wool used is also biodegradable and friendly and easy to work with.

112

EXTERNAL PANELS

WINDOWS

As the wool insulation and vapor barrier is laid the external plywood panels are slid into place, finalizing the external appearance. The panels will have to be replaced in intervals and hence will not need any looking after.

The windows come assembled and ready to be installed. They are easily lifted out for replacing or a potential disassembly of the building.

113

WINTER PREPARATION To ensure a functioning entrance the year-round the southern faรงade system can be closed off with a similar system of grooves and panels. This forces the predominant southwestern snowstorms over the building where it safely can come to rest on the steep north faรงade, acting as extra insulation wintertime

MULTIFUNCTIONALITY The triangular truss system is multifunctional in that it saves the fragile immediate surroundings, gives shelter for wind and snow, reduces the southern sun and can work as storage.

114

11.6 Summer evening view 115

vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) 20 K turbine

25 m2, 200 W supplementary solar panel system to battery

5,5m

short circuit and working switch 9m

Grey water system, Bio box

Manual break

+ -

H20 H2O

Indoor

Fresh lake water pipe, insulated

Trabtec lightning surge protector

11.7 Systems diagram 116

Deep water source to avoid pipes freezing over wintertime

H2O

117

118

Wind data is taken from SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute)

11.7.1 Wind data

RCA3ECHAM4A2

Frequencey calm days 1% (1961-1990) 1% (2011-2040) 1% (2041-2070) 1% (2071-2100)

Frequencey calm days 2% (1961-1990) 2% (2011-2040) 2% (2041-2070) 2% (2071-2100)

11.7.1.1 Wind direction The calculated frequencies of wind from different directions during different seasons are specified for a number of 30-year periods. In the diagrams the frequencies of the varying directions are given in 30-degree intervals (0-30, 30-60, ... 330-360) in percent. Before all frequencies are calculated all calm days have been sorted out. Calm days are defined as less than 0,5 m/s in wind speed. The frequency of calm days is given in the diagrams.

December, January, February

March, April, May

11.7.1.2 Designation The figures show wind data for the city of S채rna situated 15 miles Northeast of the site. They also show what model and emission scenarios are used to calculate the data. For example RCA3ECHAM4A2 means that the regional climate model RCA3 has been used to calculate and that it has been driven by the global climate model ECHAM4 and the emission scenario A2.

RCA3ECHAM4A2

Frequencey calm days 5% (1961-1990) 5% (2011-2040) 5% (2041-2070) 5% (2071-2100)

Frequencey calm days 2% (1961-1990) 2% (2011-2040) 2% (2041-2070) 2% (2071-2100)

11.7.1.3 Conclusions Predominant winds are from Southwest and Northwest throughout the seasons. The future winds also tend to grow in strength marginally. The higher frequency can partly be explained by higher temperatures that in turn propel the wind intensity

June, July, August

119

September, October, November

When deciding on dimension and type of wind energy solution, several factors come into play such as crude energy need, placement, wind conditions, cost and maintenance. No matter what type of wind energy product you chose, the idea is more or less the same; wind energy harnesses the power of the wind to propel the blades of wind turbines. The rotation of turbine blades is converted into electrical current by means of an electrical generator. In the case of the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), this is done from one moving part acting both as generator and turbine shaft, whereas with the traditional wind turbine propeller, a gear transfer the energy from the turbine shaft to the generator. This is not only less efficient, but also demands bigger space to generate the equivalent amount of energy.

south-north (km, RT90)

11.8 Wind energy production

When looking at the site in question it is clear that a vertical axis wind turbine is the best choice for many reasons: - Better energy exchange than with a wind turbine propeller west-east (km, RT90), Source: Energimyndigheten (Swedish Energy Agency)

- Soundless due to smaller diameter and hence a lower peripheral speed

Anual average wind (m/s) on the height of 49 m above the chart datum displacement, version 2007

- No gears give less energy loss and less maintenance - One moving part acting as both generator and turbine shaft - Lower price with higher efficiency give a shorter writing off time - Produces electricity at lower wind speeds - Simpler to erect, being smaller

120

11.8.1 Annual average wind speed on the site The annual average winds are calculated and given in three levels, 49, 72 and 103 meters. An important factor is the chart datum displacement that takes in consideration the type of vegetation on ground level. The winds are thus not calculated for the true height above ground. The reason for the winds being given above the chart datum displacement and not ground level is that they have been produced without knowing the exact ground circumstances. Hence one has to add the height for the chart datum displacement to get the true wind measures.

Since the wind turbine is going to be built lower than the 49 meters above local ground level, the annual average winds needs to be corrected: The measurements for a hub of a 20K turbine is 2x6 m = 12 m. The correction factor is hence 0.8097 (height quota 12/49 = 0.2448^0.15, where 0.15 is the correction factor for open landscapes). The site at Mt FulufjĂ¤ll has an average wind speed of 7.50 m/s according to the 49 m above the chart datum displacement map. The corrected annual average wind speed is thus: 7.50 * 0.8097 = 6.073 m/s

As a rule of thumb one can calculate the chart datum displacement to be roughly three quarters of the vegetation height, given as h in the diagram.

height

11.8.1.1 The Weibull distribution

swept area

The wind speed distribution over the year can be estimated by a weibull distribution with a shape factor of 2.0 and the average wind speeds for the site of 6.073 m/s. The shape factor 2.0 is the valid average for Sweden. On the vertical axis the probability of the wind speeds of p(u) is shown as a function of the wind speeds. The curveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crucial point is the average wind speed 6.073 m/s. The sum of all p(u) are 1.0.

p(u) 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.10

0.08 0.06

wind speed 0.04 0.02

The vegetationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; impact on the wind speed. The chart datum displacement is estimated to three quarters of the actual vegetation.

0 0

121

10 12 14 16 18 20 22

24 m/s

11.8.1.2 Annual winds Annual energy production at 6.75 m/s, shape factor 2.0 per m2 swept area wind m/s

wind P(u)

wind time P(u)x8760

generator effect per m2 W

useful effect to the network m2 W

useful energy per m2 kWh

0.02

179

0.06

525

0.09

787

4.73

0.10

876

14.5

0.11

964

30.5

0.12

1051

52.6

0.11

964

77.2

0.09

787

133

120

105.3

0.08

700

190

171

119.7

0.06

525

260

234

143.4

0.05

438

300

270

94.5

0.04

350

318

286

74.9

0.03

263

325

293

51.3

0.02

179

330

297

25.8

0.01

335

301

26.1

0.01

340

306

26.6

sum

1.00

8760

847.1

11.8.1.3 VAWT figures Swept areas and energy production at the above conditions VAWT

swept area m2

Annual energy production MWh

5K turbine

18.6

10K turbine

37.3

20K turbine

74.8

30K turbine

132

111.8

50K turbine

220

186.3

100K turbine

440

372.7

122

11.9 System dimension When dimensioning the wind turbine one also needs to know the energy consumption of the building. The square meter area in this project is 424 m2. This gives a potential access to 176 kWh/m2/year if choosing a 20K turbine; 20K turbine production: 74.8 MWh a year / 424 m2 = 0.176 MWh/m2/year. Or in other words 176 kWh/m2/year. The annual energy production MWh in the chart, you get by multiplying the sum of useful energy per m2 kWh (847.1) by the swept area m2 for the turbine in interest (66), this since the useful energy per m2 kWh is directly dependent on the size of the swept area. The conclusion is that the 20K turbine of the selected type, in these specific circumstances would produce an adequate amount of 176 kWh/ m2/year, for the building to use. For those 704 hours (179+525) or 29 days of no energy production, batteries and solar cells will work as a substitute. The majority of these low production days happen in spring and summer when the otherwise low sun now is fairly high. This justifies complimentary energy solutions, also because the energy need is at an all-time low this time of year. Wintertime, when the need for heating is the biggest, the winds are the strongest and most stable all season here.

123

11.9.1 Heating system Quantity

Air flow m3/h

Heating Effect W

Weekly average times of usage

Average time of usage/day (h)

Energy consumption kWh/year

Heating Convector

192

1500

13000

Electric Radiator

750

2.54

13000

Type

26952

11.9.1 Utility consumption Type

Quantity

Weekly average times of usage

Average time of usage/day (h)

Energy consumption kWh/year

Freezer

1200

Refrigerator

400

Induction cooker

520

Dishwasher

740

Microwave

0.12

Coffeemaker

0.20

Toaster

0.06

Electric burning toilet

6000

Fume cupboard

0.5

750

5475

LCD TV

357

Dryer

730

Washing machine

693

Grey water system

350

2409

Computers

Lighting

19804

124

11.10 Ecotect shadow study

JANUARY

JULY

MARCH

SEPTEMBER

125

MAY

NOVEMBER

126

11.11 Winter view 127

11.12 Ecotect light analysis

% 42.1+

daylight analysis fl. 2 internally reflected

11.12.1 Internally reflected light Internally reflected light is an effect that combines both refraction and reflection to calculate its impact. The data shown is from July midday and shows a concentration to the common kitchen area and living room functions on first floor and to the library and meeting place on second floor. There is also generally less light in the middle part where the bedrooms are.

38.1 34.1 30.1 26.1 22.1 18.1 14.1 10.1 6.1 2.1

11.12.2 Externally reflected light The externally reflected light affects the immediate outdoor environment and is, besides the direct sunlight, an important factor to consider. The levels of reflected daylight are somewhat higher on first floor to accommodate the immediate spaces such as the porch and the corridor. These places have a lot of natural shadow and working with the externally reflected light, the use of artificial light can be lessened. %

11.12.3 Daylighting levels

daylight analysis fl. 1 internally reflected

Daylighting levels are measured in Lux where 10 000 Lux equals the suns intensity. The first floor is in the range of 240 which makes for a good environment for normal office work and general living. The second floor is deliberately lighter and is mainly around 10001500 lux, which makes for a well lit environment suited for drawing and laboratory work. Interior curtains can bring down this number substantially. All data shown is from July midday.

30.1+ 27.1 24.1 21.1 18.1 15.1 12.1 9.1 6.1 3.1 0.1

128

daylight analysis fl.2 externally reflected

daylight analysis fl.1 externally reflected

lux

42.1+

7300+

daylight analysis fl.2 daylighting levels

38.1 34.1

6540 6020

30.1

5380

26.1

4740

22.1

4100

18.1

3460

14.1

2820

10.1

2180

6.1

1540

2.1

900

lux

30.1+

7240+

daylight analysis fl.1 daylighting levels

27.1 24.1

6540 5840

21.1

5140

18.1

4440

15.1

3740

12.1

3040

9.1

2340

6.1

1640

3.1

940

0.1

240

129

130

11.13 Night view 131

11.14 Process sketches

132

11.15 Night view 133

11.16 Details 1:25 70 100 70

960

80 55 70 150 5045

70 100 70

Oak window frame Glazing Swedish Eco Plywood Sheep wool insulation (acoustic) Fir interior wall frame Interior wall pining profile Swedish Eco Plywood Birch flooring Sheep wool insulation Swedish Eco Plywood

70 42 200 20 80

Air Supporting wood frames Caisson (local porphyry rock) Swedish Eco Plywood Supporting girder Stone foundation (local rock)

240 20 40 200

120

1090

378

400

100

100 70

Supporting wood frames Swedish Eco Plywood Interior wall

55 42 200

Swedish Eco Plywood Birch flooring Sheep wool insulation Swedish Eco Plywood

55 42

20 180

Swedish Eco Plywood Supporting wood frames Swedish Eco Plywood Glazing Oak window frame Swedish Eco Plywood Sheep wool insulation (acoustic) Fur interior wall frame

134

200 20 180

70 100

200

660

200

450

70 20 240

Wood stack Masonry fireplace (local porphyry rock)

Swedish Eco Plywood Birch flooring Sheep wool insulation Swedish Eco Plywood Caisson (local porphyry) Air Supporting wood frames Air strem Swedish Eco Plywood Supporting girder Stone foundation (local porphyry)

70 42 200 20 80 240 20 40 200

100

200

100

1100

60 20

100

Roof ridge 50 60 20 40

200

Swedish Eco Plywood Air/vapor barrier Supporting wood frames Sheep wool insulation Swedish Eco Plywood

20 60

42 200 20

Swedish Eco Plywood Air/vapor barrier Sheep wool insulation Swedish Eco Plywood

180 140 20 260

Swedish Eco Plywood

135

900

1100

Chimney (local porphyry rock)

Roof ridge Roof truss

Swedish Eco Plywood Air/vapor barrier Sheep wool insulation Swedish Eco Plywood Roof truss

60 20 40

Oak window frame Glazing

200 20

7020 40 200 20 60 45

60 20

Lap joint reducing thermal bridge Extended roof truss Milled groove for winter panels Plugged joint

400

Birch flooring Swedish Eco Plywood Sheep wool insulation Swedish Eco Plywood

Supporting girder Oak window frame Glazing

11.17 Assembly 136

4 TRU R SS S SYS YST TEM TE

6 SHEEP WOOL INSULATION

3 ROOF TRUSS

5 ECO PLYWOOD

7 ROOF RIDGE

The truss syste ystem yste m is a self supporting rting s seco econdary syst s em which saves s the fragile immed mm iat iate e surroundings, surr gives s shel elter for wind and snow, ow, redu reduces t the southern sun n and ca can n work work as storage g .

Sheep’s wool naturally absorb and releases moisture, unlike glass wool, it does not burn but melts away from an ignition source and extinguishes itself, it is biodegradable and has a impressive K-value measuring up to that of modern synthetic y wool products.

The wooden trusses work as supporting frames for flooring, walls and roof. Inbetween, the Swedish eco plywood is fixated by milled grooves. Plugged lap joints make for a strong g and beautiful finish.

This plywood is of a new eco friendly, biodegradable type based on controlled pulp and soya protein based adhesives. This makes more resilient plywood. A specific tongue and groove assembly makes for a water resilient joint and easy y g gathering. g The p plate structure makes for a very rigid design.

The roof ridge protects from water. It is constructed d with a miter with wo ood spline crowned with a moulding. The roof truss usses connect in milled tr racks securing g the structure.

12 WINTER PANEL

10 ESPALIER

Winter here brings plentyfold of snow. It is important to maintain vital functions such as the entrance free from snow. The snow panels direct wind and snow over the building. It then rest on the north façade for extra insulation.

The espalier filters the light and will act as support for future greenery. It goes in place with a mortise and tenon assembly in the supporting wooden framework.

WINDOWS

4 TRUSS SYSTEM

The windows are constructed of resilient oak wood with a miter with wood spline and fitted with modern, high performing glazing with a low K-value. They can easily be lifted in or out from their fittings for transport.

8 FLOORING Birch makes for a good floor material and is locally profuse. The tongue and groove design makes for a simple assembly. The floor is laid on 20 mm Eco plywood and together they create a module that is easily handled and replaced.

The truss system is a self supporting secondary system which saves the fragile immediate surroundings, gives shelter for wind and snow, reduces the southern sun, can work as storage and reduces the thermal bridge.

11 FURNITURE / DETAILS

1 STONE FOUNDATION

2 CAISSON

The interior detailing and especially the furniture will be produced by local joiners using locally harvested wood and traditional techniques. This means safe and beautiful products that easily can be disassembled and recycled for future needs.

Local Porphyry can be found in abundance on the site and on Mt. Fulufjäll in general. They are almost exclusively smaller in size making them ideal for handling with muscular strength.

The terrain makes piling difficult. A caisson makes for a flexible solution with a minimal impact on the fragile environment. The stone is also already on site meaning less materials.

137

11.18 Insulation characteristics

11.18.1 Exterior walls

Type

Area m2

WA01

215.05

Material

Dimensions mm

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.055

Air space

0.026

vapor barrier

0.2

0.09

Natural wool insulation

200

0.037

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.055

(400 x 100)

0.10

Wooden constructive frames

270

WA02

69.83

U-Value W/mÂ˛

0.1179

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.055

Air space

0.026

vapor barrier

0.2

0.09

Natural wool insulation

250

0.037

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.055

320

0,13

138

cc 1200 = 8.33%

(R1)

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

(R2)

0.015

+ 0.002

0.055

0.09

(R1)

(Rsi)

0.4

0.10

(R1)

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

0.015 0.055

0.026

(R2)

0.04

(R4)

(R5)

0.2

0.037

0.015

(Rsi)

0.055

0.13 = 7.77; U = 1/7.77 = 0.1286 x 0.91(%) = 0.1179 W/(m²K)

0.13 = 4.17; U = 1/4.17 = 0.23 x 0.0833(%) = 0.019 W/(m²K)

0.04 0.026

TOTAL: WALL_01 0.019 + 0.1179

(R3)

(R4)

(Rsi)

0.2

+ 0.015 +

0.037

0.055

0.13 = 9.01; U = 1/9.01 = 0.1109 x 1(%) = 0.1109 W/(m²K)

TOTAL: WALL_02 =

0.1379 W/(m²K)

0.1109W/(m²K)

139

11.18.2 Roof

Type

Area m2

R01

461.5

Material

Dimensions mm

U-Value W/m²

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.055

Air space

0.026

Vapor Barrier

0.2

0.09

Natural wool Insulation

200

0.037

0.055

(400 x 100)

0.10

Swedish Eco Plywood Wooden Constructive Frames

270

0.1179

Dimensions mm

U-Value W/m²

cc 1200 = 8.33%

11.18.3 Floor Type

Area m2

F01

255.32

Material

22 x 120

0.055

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.026

Natural wool insulation

200

0.037

0.055

(400 x 100)

0.10

225.2

0.16

Fir

Swedish Eco Plywood Wooden constructive frames

140

cc 1200 = 8.33%

(R1)

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

0.015

(R2)

+ 0.002

0.055

0.09

(R1)

(Rsi)

0.4

0.10

(R3)

0.04 0.026

(R4)

0.2

(R5)

0.037

0.015 0.055

(Rsi)

0.13 = 7.77; U = 1/7.77 = 0.1286 x 0.91(%) = 0.1179 W/(m²K)

0.13 = 4.17; U = 1/4.17 = 0.23 x 0.0833(%) = 0.019 W/(m²K)

TOTAL: ROOF_01 0.019 + 0.1179

(R1)

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

0.1379 W/(m²K)

0.022

(R2)

0.15

0.055

(R1)

(Rsi)

0.4 0.10

(R3)

(R4)

0.2

+ 0.015 +

0.037

0.055

0.13 = 6.52; U = 1/6.52 = 0.1533 x 0.91 (%) = 0.1405 W/(m²K)

0.13 = 4.17; U = 1/4.17 = 0.23 x 0.0833(%) = 0.019 W/(m²K)

TOTAL: FLOOR_01 0.019 + 0.1405

(Rsi)

0.1604 W/(m²K)

141

11.18.4 Doors

Type

Area m2

D01

9.90

Quantity

Dimensions mm

(22 x 60)

0.055

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.026

Natural wool insulation

0.037

Swedish Eco Plywood

0.055

0.79

Material Fir

U-Value W/mÂ˛

11.18.5 Windows

Type

Glass surface m2

Material

Quantity

Area m2

Frame Dimensions mm

U-Value W/mÂ˛

W01

0.99

Oak, metal trim, glass

11.94

2458 x 1196

1.30

W02

2.22

Oak, metal trim, glass

26.7

1177 x 1100

1.30

W03

0.48

Oak, metal trim, glass

2.42

1177 x 608

1.30

W04

0.85

Oak, metal trim, glass

4,25

1958 x 608

1.30

W05

1.33

Oak, metal trim, glass

3.99

1400 x 1160

1.30

W06

1.66

Oak, metal trim, glass

3.31

2366 x 1160 x (1200)

1.30

W07

2.31

Oak, metal trim, glass

4.62

3532 x 1160 x (2366)

1.30

W08

4.03

Oak, metal trim, glass

8.06

4698 X 1160 X (3533)

1.30

65.296

142

(R1)

(Rse) RTOTAL

0.04

(R2)

0.015

0.055

0.02

(R3)

0.037

(Rsi)

0.015

0.13 = 1.255; U = 1/1.255 = 0.79W/(m²K)

0.055

TOTAL: FLOOR_01 0.79 W/(m²K)

11.18.6 Total heat energy consumption kWh/year

Type

U-Value W/m²

Degree hours

Area m2

Energy kWh/year

Energy kWh/m2/year

wall_01

115000

0.1379

215.05

3410.37

15.85

wall_02

115000

0.1109

69.83

890.57

12.75

Roof

115000

0.1379

461.5

7318.69

15.85

Floor

115000

0.1604

253.32

4672.74

18.44

Door

115000

0.79

9.9

899.41

90.84

Glazing

115000

1.30

65.29

9760.85

149.49

26952.62

143

63.56 kWh/m2/år

11.19 Interior night view 144

12 WOOD MODEL EXPERIMENT 12.1 The big test A large scale wooden model is a great way of testing out ideas. One gets a deeper understanding for structure and assembly, strengths and potential weaknesses. It is the ultimate synthesis of the design process and it poses challenges in a constructive way. I chose to build my model in similar detail to a fullscale proposal and I am also using the same materials; fir, pine, plywood and sheepâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wool. The joints are carried out in a similar fashion using mortise and tenon joints and lap joints, which are then plugged. In regards to the detailing, I chose to work in 1:10 scale. This rather large size model photos well and has a somewhat low material demand and price. The end model is very realistic in performance and can be fully disassembled and put together again. In this sense it is a very pedagogical experiment and most of all; it shows that the design works! However, it is fair to say that it became evident that it is a rather complex construction which demands a great deal of precision and craftsmanship to work. The assembly was fairly straight forward whereas the making of joints and grooves was more challenging. A key factor is the scale of course. The smaller measurements and the distorted proportion of the wood fibers may have made the building process hard and tedious, but does not mean by default that it will translate into full scale. One of my concerns before building the model was whether the plate structure and the milled frames would be stable enough. Plates are very stable and efficient in material and cost ratio. It turned out to be correct and the structure was very stable. But the model also showed the importance of the roof ridge structure working as a connecting element, securing the wooden truss system from moving or falling outwards. This feature could have been dimensioned a little heavier if the project would have been continued.

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13 CONCLUSION Cradle-to-cradle architecture is explored in this text as an intelligent way of thinking and operating for all businesses. The strength is its holistic character which renders little waste, instead yielding a surplus for the chain of interdependencies that make up its local context. Not only does it offer a more sustainable way of operating, but also an economic incentive with better efficiency, production, material use, and less waste. It is clear that the notion of sustainable architecture goes beyond heavy insulation and small windows. It is a multifold, socially and economically responsible idea which benefits the greater mass rather than the individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s short-term gain. A key parameter is to recognize that sustainability begins and ends on a local scale, and where local often implies unique and specific solutions. The site with its abundant qualities makes up the framework. Therefore there are no absolutes, but instead general key steps for achieving a more responsible and smarter production. For example, the production and design of a research facility differ greatly depending on location, infrastructure, local resources and regulations. Whereas snow and cold climate is a factor in this project, the sun or lack of water would be more important in an arid location. What unites these two examples is the universal strive to tap into natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structure and metabolism in a way that does not consume it. The aim is an equilibrium that preferably gives a surplus to its surroundings instead of an irrevocable deficit. First out in the list of key design steps is undoubtedly water. In this project there are several independent water systems for treating drinking water, grey water and black water. No access to treated water and sewerage supply on location plus the fragile nature brought about a design response in the form of bio boxes for water treatment and electric burning toilets for biological handling of the waste, before going back to nature. There is no accumulation of waste but instead a nourishing cycle.

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Second, there is materials efficiency. Indigenous materials often have had time to develop unique qualities that make them a favorable choice. Exotic materials can of course perform better in some circumstances but also pose a greater risk of bioinvasion. We often try to prolong the lifespan and enhance the performance in today’s buildings. By necessity new materials, often toxic or non-biodegradable, are being used. What one wins in less maintenance and lower cost might instead be lost in diminishing health in species and surrounding waters. It is ultimately a question of priority and what we as humans value. Not so long ago it was a natural process for parts to be repainted, mended or replaced in a building. It was planned and therefore inherent in the design. Materials have a limited range of possibilities and a certain lifespan. It is for that reason crucial to design with this knowledge present. This is intimately connected to the notion of flexibility which in turn links to the ideas of multifunctionality and modularity. Building for easy disassembly reduces the risk of unnecessary use of toxins such as adhesives and sealants. The main reason for the 1200mm x 1200mm module occurring throughout the proposal is to bring down the weight of individual building components, and the manner in which one can handle them. It is also about simplifying the transport as well as the production. Having a modular system gives a more adaptive building that can be dismantled, updated, shrinked or enlarged depending on current conditions. This is how nature works and species survive. Adapting as a response to new needs or circumstances in a productive way instead of fighting the inevitable with toxins, questionable materials and a poor design. Multi-functionality in design is a way of maximizing the potential and utilizing the possibilities in a manner which is less energy wasteful. For example, the triangular trusses on the south façade act as a snow barrier, protecting and propelling snow and winds over the house. In this way, entrances and windows are kept clear

and light requirements are met. But they also work as an elevated, external floor to protect the fragile grounds from excessive wear and tear. Multi-functionality is frequently needed in various ways for survival in nature. This is what often makes spices prevail in what is referred to as the survival of the fittest, and what I have called proactive design. In the process of deciding on what works or not, historical experience plays an important role. Old does not mean bad by default and sadly old materials, design and strategies are often overlooked. In my proposal I have tried to show that past strategies and building methods can converge with new materials and technology and create something truly modern. How can we claim progress if we do not learn from the past? There is no intrinsic value in new technology solely based on it being new. I have chosen to view sustainable design in this project in a rather extreme fashion. The building was designed for being able to safely degrade on site. With minimal preparation, such as lifting out window frames and appliances, one can abandon the building and let it go back to nature in a safe metabolism. It is about creating a zero-sum game in the end. The somewhat acidic environment on location can for example benefit from using traditional lime washing with soap for white interiors. The basic lime neutralizes the waters when released during the house’s degrading process. Further, no toxins would be released upon disassembly since no adhesives or foreign materials have been used. Energy efficiency is also a key parameter in sustainable design. This step often includes measures to reduce energy consumption – both the embodied energy required to extract, process, transport and install building materials, and the operating energy to provide services such as heating and power for equipment. In recent times the focus has shifted to the embodied energy which can make up as much as 30 percent of the overall life cycle energy consumption. To lower this number it is crucial to address production and

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design. Just changing use of materials can have a drastic effect. Wood structures have a much lower embodied energy than those built primarily with brick, concrete or steel for example. The proposal also addresses operating energy use with high-efficiency windows and well-insulated walls. The implemented system is an on-site, low-impact, renewable system that is primarily wind-powered. A secondary solar system is also used for securing a stable energy production year-around. To minimize the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy use, all appliances and lightening are of lowenergy type. In summary, it is a closed, selfsupporting system with no waste. So what does the future hold for sustainable building? Based on this experiment several conclusions can be made and some scenarios perceived. First of all, I think it is safe to conclude that local response will be important at several levels. Everything from materials used to energy systems implemented will be an outcome of specific, local circumstances. This has several reasons. Large scattered energy facilities, like the power plants we have today, pose a multitude of problems. Its fundamentals are those of a finite consumption and an inherent, hazardous waste-production. There is very little plus-value, if any, that trickles back to nature in this constellation. By breaking down the energy production into smaller entities they can become tailor-made for the local circumstances and hence more effective, clever and sustainable. A close vicinity also makes the individual more likely to care about what essentially happens in once back yard. It is safe to say that we in the Western world have distanced ourselves to most of the production today, leaving us to mass-scale consumption, which waste product we also try to elude in the end. These smaller energy systems can be viewed as cells in nature. They would be a part of a bigger grid that in turn makes up the body. Small scale repetition is a strong concept that easily adapts and can be expanded or contracted if needed. When looking at production it is predominantly China, India and NICs - Newly Industrialized

Countries - which make the world spin today. Cheap oil, poor regulations and an underpaid workforce have enabled an enormous machine of production. It is hard to withhold economic development for these countries and it would not be fair. The challenge is instead to find a sustainable way of development. The Western world needs to step up and use our know-how and technological advances for the benefit of us all. Rising oil prices will probably self-regulate the extensive world shipping somewhat, but we still need to address our way of producing, obtaining, designing and discarding of material resources. Much is won by starting with a local emphasis while learning from history and old techniques. There is obviously a huge discrepancy in endorsing localized response in an ever globalizing world. No matter what production and energy form we chose in the future (and it will probably be several) it is fundamental for them to embrace the wastefree notion of cradle-to-cradle production: where waste instead becomes a surplus and essentially food. 13.1 Summary of key parameters -

Have a local emphasis Recognize the holistic character Realize the economic insensitivity Stop the short-term gain strategies Social and economical responsibility Surplus instead of waste and irrevocable deficits Water efficiency Materials efficiency Indoor environmental quality enhancement Energy efficiency Use self-supporting system with little or no waste Proactive design Flexibility Multi-functionality and an adaptive design Modularity Design for easy disassembly Plan for a safe degradability Learn from historical experience Material and energy production into smaller entities Use our know-how and technological advances

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14 REFERENCES 14.1 Books Daniels, K. 1995. The Technology of Ecological Build ing - Basic Principles and Measures, Examples and Ideas, Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel

http://www.dalarna.se/sv/Hotell/Fulufjallet1/Nationalparken/ Vaxter/

Fredman, P. 2005. Friluftsliv och turism i Fulufjället - Före – efter nationalparksbildningen, Naturvårds verket, Sandvikens tryckeri

http://www.dalarna.se/sv/Hotell/Fulufjallet1/Nationalparken/ Faglar/

Kieran, S. 2008. Loblolly House - Elements of a New Ar chitecture, Princeton Architectural Press, New York

http://www.fjallen.nu/fakta/djur.htm

Kopparbergs län, Länstyrelsen. 1978. Bilder ur Dalarnas byggnadskultur - Med råd i vårdboendet: Planenheten Kopparbers län, Falun

http://energimyndigheten.se/sv/Statistik/vindkraftsstatistik/

Kullman, L. 2005. Gamla och nya träd på Fulufjället – vegetationshistoria på hög nivå: Svensk botanisk tidsskrift 99

14.3 Photo credits

Kullman, L. 2000. Tree-limit Rise and Recent Warming: a Geoecological Case Study From the Swedish Scandes. – Norw. J. Geogr. 54 McDonough, W. 2002. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, North Point Press, New York Oldhammer, B. 2002. Fulufjällets nationalpark – ett moss- och lavparadis. – Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 96 Woolley, T. 2000. Green Building Handbook, Volume 2. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall

September 14, 2011 11:13 AM

September 14, 2011 02:14 PM

September 16, 2011 04:35 PM

January 27, 2012 12:45 AM

Daniels, K: Darby, Kelly: Kullman, Leif: Nilsson, Mats:

17,18,19,74 21,61 33,39, 22,27,52,57,60,62,65,66,68,72,75,76,77,78,79, 80,81,82,83,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95, 96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106,107, 108,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,116,117,124, 125,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135, 136,137,138,139,140,141,142,143,144,145,146, 147,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,155,156 SMHI: 119,120,121, Länstyrelsen: 49,50,51,53 Google search: 8,10,12,14,16,18,23,24,26,29,30,34,35,37 38,41,42,43,44,45,47,55,59,63,64,67,69, 71,73,118,122,159

Woolley, T. 1997. Green Building Handbook, Volume 1. E & FN Spon, Taylor & Francis group. Cornwall 14.4 Program used 14.2 Digital sources http://www.dalarna.se/sv/Hotell/Fulufjallet1/Nationalparken/Djur/ January 27, 2012 12:45 AM

Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Illustrator CS5, Adobe Indesign CS5, Adobe Acrobat Professional 8, Autodesk Maya 2011, Rhinoceros 4.0, Autodesk Auto CAD Architecture 2011, Ecotect Analysis 2011, SketchUp 8 Pro, V-Ray, Microsoft Office Word 2007.

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