A life-size prototype will be on display in the Marinaressa Gardens throughout the Biennale, accompanied by an exhibition at Palazzo Mora explaining the development of the project. Framed in the theme of the Biennale, "Laboratories of the future", this research project focuses on the debate on access to basic housing for all.
“How can we ensure that everyone, including some of the world's most vulnerable populations, can have decent living conditions? During the Venice Biennale we show our starting point around this idea: the result of our collaboration with Holcim.”
Norman Foster, President of the Norman Foster Foundation.
Essential Homes Research Project, by Norman Foster Foundation. Photograph by Chiara Becattini.
“I am very excited about the potential impact of this collaboration. It enables the construction of essential housing with circular, energy-efficient, and low-carbon building solutions, demonstrating that sustainable construction can be possible.”
Jan Jenisch, President and CEO of Holcim.
Essential Homes Research Project, by Norman Foster Foundation. Photograph by Chiara Becattini.
The Essential Homes research project provides security, comfort, and well-being. Highly sustainable, this prototype has a 70% lower CO2 footprint than traditional structures. This is because it includes a number of sustainable construction solutions from Holcim that make it low-carbon, efficient, and circular. It is composed of:
- Roll-up concrete sheets that serve as exterior coating and provide security.
- ECOPact low-carbon concrete pathways that connect homes and include aggregates that absorb light and reflect light at night, reducing energy consumption and light pollution.
- Energy efficient insulation systems, from Elevate boards to low carbon Airium foam, to guarantee thermal and acoustic comfort.
- Driving circular construction, Holcim's ECOCycle® recycled demolition materials are used to make the base of the Essential Home more resistant.
- Circular design, each component of the Essential Homes model can be reused or recycled.
- ECOPact low-carbon concrete pathways that connect homes and include aggregates that absorb light and reflect light at night, reducing energy consumption and light pollution.
- Energy efficient insulation systems, from Elevate boards to low carbon Airium foam, to guarantee thermal and acoustic comfort.
- Driving circular construction, Holcim's ECOCycle® recycled demolition materials are used to make the base of the Essential Home more resistant.
- Circular design, each component of the Essential Homes model can be reused or recycled.
The Essential Homes research project opens a fundamental debate on how to make sustainable construction accessible to all, thus guaranteeing the future of people and the planet.
METALOCUS is live reporting from the Venice Architecture Biennale, which takes place from 20 May to 26 November 2023. See METALOCUS Guide LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA for all the latest information you need to know to attend and know the best events and pavilions in LA BIENNALE.
METALOCUS is live reporting from the Venice Architecture Biennale, which takes place from 20 May to 26 November 2023. See METALOCUS Guide LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA for all the latest information you need to know to attend and know the best events and pavilions in LA BIENNALE.
