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- Aerial den: scientists have developed "floating" houses for the northern regions
Aerial den: scientists have developed "floating" houses for the northern regions
Russian architects have developed an experimental model of prefabricated houses for living in the Arctic. It consists of structures in the form of triangular supports and residential modules suspended on them. Their dimensions are standardized for the size of cargo containers for ease of transportation. According to the shape of the structure, it can be correlated with the chums, the traditional dwelling of the northern peoples. The assembly of such houses can be carried out by teams of two or four people without the use of heavy machinery.
How to quickly build residential buildings in the North
Architectural scientists from the P. Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, together with specialists from the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU), have developed experimental prefabricated modular residential complexes designed for the conditions of the Far North.
The proposed Arctic homes project combines sustainability, energy efficiency and ease of transportation. According to experts, the development can be the key to comfortable and safe living in one of the harshest regions of the world.
— To avoid contact with permafrost and its thawing, the building must be "floating". For these purposes, it is suspended on special supports. They are connected to each other in the form of a triangle, which gives stability to the structure. The modules themselves have rounded corners to reduce wind load. Their compact shape, close to a cube or cylinder, minimizes the area of the exterior walls, which reduces heat losses," Sergei Ogorodnikov, one of the project developers and a graduate student at the Department of Architecture, Restoration and Design at the RUDN University Academy of Engineering, told Izvestia.
The dimensions of the modules are standardized for the dimensions of 20- and 40-foot cargo containers. This makes it easier to transport them by any means of transport, he added. The components of the future houses are selected in such a way that the assembly of the structure can be carried out by a team of two or four people without the use of heavy machinery. If necessary, temporary buildings can be quickly folded for transportation or safe storage. The project provides color accents and lighting that will help combat possible depression during the polar night. The roof and walls of the houses are designed to install solar panels.
Initially, the research was conducted in order to develop options for campsites and hotel complexes adapted for the Arctic zone, explained Olga Volichenko, co-author of the development, Doctor of Architecture, Professor of Architecture, Restoration and Design at the RUDN University Engineering Academy.
There are many places in the Russian North that are attractive to travelers. For example, the Putorana Plateau, Lake Lama and others. However, the tourist development of the region is hindered by extreme frosts, winds, ground thawing under buildings and other factors, the expert noted. The presented development will help overcome these limitations.
In what areas will modular designs be in demand?
— We are used to having our homes on solid ground. But the Arctic is different in that it has permafrost soils, where it is difficult to drive piles. In addition, a significant part of the northern territories is a swampy area, so during the summer period, when the main influx of tourists occurs, the placement of temporary "floating" buildings is fully justified," said Olesya Kiselyova, associate professor of the Department of Architectural Design at the Institute of Architecture and Design of the Siberian Federal University.
The futuristic look of the triangular structures, she added, will attract people's attention, which is positive from a marketing perspective. At the same time, the reference to the chums, traditional northern dwellings, will contribute to the favorable inclusion of the proposed buildings in the surrounding landscape.
— The development of buildings adapted for construction in conditions of permafrost degradation is an urgent task. According to some estimates, about 40% of buildings in the Far North have already been deformed for this reason, so it is important to look for new ways to create living spaces independent of climate change," explained Svetlana Kizilova, associate professor at the Moscow Institute of Architecture and head of the Russian Science Foundation's Spatial Adaptation of Housing to Permafrost Degradation: Design Patterns.
In her opinion, the disadvantages of the project include acoustic and vibration loads, which can occur due to vibrations of cable-stayed structures in strong winds. However, the problem can be solved by using special stabilizing and sound insulation materials.
— The diversified development of the Arctic is one of the objectives of the development strategy of the Russian Federation. It requires the creation of multidisciplinary research bases and observatories in the north. This entails the need for comfortable placement of appropriate personnel near such facilities," commented Andrei Kotov, a researcher at the O. Y. Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In this regard, the concept of modular designer houses can become a good alternative to classical construction in the Far North and contribute to accelerated scientific study of the region, the scientist noted.
The search for new structures deserves support, but requires verification during trial operation, says Dmitry Sergeev, head of the Geocryology Laboratory and a leading researcher at the Sergeev Institute of Geoecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
A similar solution, with triangular supports, was implemented when suspending the main pipe of the ESPO-1, the expert said. However, oil companies do not share information about how successful this experience is.
— The idea of building buildings on stilts in the Arctic is not new. Nevertheless, the use of triangular supports with cable suspension can simplify their installation. The proposed system will also make it possible to adjust the level of elevation of modules above the ground, for example, depending on the height of the snow cover," said Maria Pogoeva, a researcher at the Laboratory of Geoecology of the North, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University.
In her opinion, the project is suitable for creating small stations for several people. But large shift settlements will also require complex life support systems (water supply, sanitation, waste disposal, and so on), which is problematic for suspended houses.
At the same time, it is necessary to think over the logistics processes, she stressed. For example, difficulties may arise when unloading containers on an unequipped coast. And in the summer, a helicopter may be required to move the blanks of the modules, which is expensive.
"The northern houses project turned out to be attractive, which is often lacking in Arctic construction," said Ruslan Zhestkov, a leading researcher at the O.Y. Schmidt Institute of Earth Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a participant in six scientific expeditions of the Russian Geographical Society to the high—latitude Arctic.
However, constructive solutions raise questions. For example, a high triangular frame may collapse, unable to withstand the pressure of strong winds, the expert added. Large windows contribute to heat loss, and the light outside the window during the polar day will interfere with sleep. In addition, polar bears can break the glass.
In his opinion, it is advisable to use cargo containers as residential modules. This practice is common in Arctic construction.
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