By
Udita Chaturvedi
Photography:
Bertil Hertzberg; courtesy Tengbom Architects
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Student housing is now smarter
and cheaper, thanks to Tengbom Architects. Along with Lund University students
in Sweden, Tengbom has designed student units of only 10 square meters in
collaboration with wood manufacturer Martinsons and real estate company AF
Bostäder.
The prototype unit, currently
exhibited at the Virserum Art Museum in Sweden (until Dec.8, 2013) explores the
“possibilities of cross-laminated timber” for a “sustainable, affordable, environment
friendly and smart unit; both, in terms of design and choice of materials,”
informs Linda Camara, from Tengbom architects.
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The "truly compact
unit" has been innovatively designed and well-thought of from a student’s
perspective. It contains a kitchen with shelves and cupboard, a window with
shutters that can be pulled down and used as table, a washroom, a living space
with a hammock and small wooden steps fixed in the wall that lead to the
sleeping loft overhead. Not to forget, a small garden and a patio as well and
green interiors "compliment the wood,” says Camara.
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In 2014, 22 such units will be
ready for students to move in. Considering these units are for students, the
material used ensures they are easy on the pocket too. While most flats rent
out at about 4,000-5,000 SEK (around Rs. 38,600 - 48,280), these ‘smart student
units’ will be rented at 2,500 SEK (about Rs. 24,140) for Lund students.
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Through an efficient layout and
use of cross-laminated wood, the rent is reduced by 50% and the ecological
impact and carbon footprint is also significantly reduced. The current
overwhelming response to these units means an enhanced effort by Tengbom to
come up with solutions, especially for the exteriors, to meet different weather
conditions if they have to meet their growing world demand.
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“To meet the future in a
sustainable way, we must be innovative and have the courage to break new
grounds,” says Camara, adding that she hopes their design will inspire others
to think differently.
We need this in India!
ReplyDeleteI have seen this before. Very clever use of the openings as the form for a table or desk top. I doesn't show the heat source but I am assuming a unit heater of some kind. Regardless, I find it difficult to believe these little units are more efficient than, for example, reusing existing buildings. To quote a dear friend of mine, "The greenest building is the one that already exists." Do they really need to build new little huts for the students? How much area will be required for this community of tiny homes? What about the infrastructure required for such a development? I don't know about this. They make a very cute little vacation cottage but student housing? Maybe I am too old.
ReplyDeleteMike
Project Architect at Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
I see what you mean Mike. If you're gonna build something new anyway, why build these little huts? Just build a student housing building that's LEED platinum....
ReplyDeleteGrace
Designer at DG Architects