A BUILDINGS LIFE 1

year 2020

A married couple has made enough money to fulfil their dream of having a nice home in the forest.

A clearing allows to avoid cutting down any trees and gives enough space for an elongated building. The dark and carbonized wood facade relates visually to the bark of the surrounding pine trees. Small details in light and untreated wood, as the window frames and facing of the gutter, as well as the simple geometry without roof overhangs make this building up-to-date.

The ground floor houses bathroom, kitchen and living area. In the attic one can find a roomy bedroom as well as a work corner. The space under the stair and a large build in wardrobe in the attic provides plenty of storage space.

The location of the building in the forest is not optimal for solar energy production. The electric and heating energy demand is therefore covered from the grid by using a renewable energy provider.

year 2028

Back in 2020 the couple was not sure if or when they want to have children. They were also not ready to build an extra room, just in case, as this would have exceed their financial possibilities at this time. But the building was positioned at the clearing in a way, that gives enough room for extension. This was a wise decision, as the couple was discovering later. They got a boy in 2025. The first three years it was no problem to have the child in the bedroom. There was enough space for all. However, as the child gets older the parents want to provide their child an own room.

In the early summer of 2028 starts the construction work for the child room. The used building system gives the advantage that the extension can easily be added. In addition, the building envelope of the initial building can stay closed during the whole construction process, which enables the family to stay in their home without any negative impacts. The windows and wall materials from the former outer wall can be reused in the new child room again. In this way it was possible to save nearly one quarter of the material costs.

year 2028

In late summer of 2028 the four years old boy is able to move into his own new room. He is very happy.

The parents are likewise happy as the layout of the initial building had not to be changed at all and as all of the wall material and windows could be reused again in the extension, saving a lot of work and money.

year 2050

With the years the boy grew up. The living in the forest awakes his interest for animals and plants early in his childhood.

It is therefore not surprising that he decides to study biology after he has finished school. This means consequently that he has to move out of his family home and has to go to the capital, Riga.

In Riga, he finds soon his girlfriend under his fellow students. They married after some years in 2049. With both their studies finished they want to move back to the countryside and build their own house.

The parents want to support their child and his wife as good as possible. But their own house needs a lot of repair. The wood facade and the window frames are worn off over the years. Moreover, they get older and want to make their home more accessible.

Therefore, they decide to renovate and rebuild their building and at the same time give all the material which is still useable but not needed anymore from them to their child and support his house construction in this way.

year 2051

The child room was removed as well as the attic. The wooden studs and beams could be easily disassembled and can be used for the construction of the child’s own home. A lot of insulation material, especially from the roof can be passed on, as well.

For their own renovation new options occured, as a new window provider has opened nearby. He offers large scale glazing and also more extravagant but affordable products. The couple decides to use this new option to increase the connection between their home and the surrounding nature. Their growing age is also not preventing them from following the newest trends. In line with the concurrent revival of modernism they change the appearance of their home.

As the attic is removed, large dome windows can provide additional light and views in the rooms beneath. The bedroom is moved at the place of the former staircase and is therefore way more accessible.

year 2073

Sadly, after living 53 years happy and together in their home, the husband past away. The widow is not willing to live alone at the forest ground and would prefer to move to a close small town. There, one could find places for assisted living.

She tried to sell the building, but the demand for properties at the countryside is very low. However, the building can still be disassembled and the materials can be sold for reuse in other building projects. Especially the wood construction and the wooden construction boards are in a good condition. In this way, she can earn a bit of extra money and other home builders profit from low-cost but good quality building materials.