A Study of Eco-housing Design Based on the Concept of Eco-modernism

1. What is ecological modernism?

First of all, it is necessary to clarify the extreme difference between Ecological Modernism and Ecological Modernization, as they are extremely similar. Ecological Modernization focuses on intrinsic human creativity and separates the direct correlation between economic growth and environmental degradation through science and technology (Symons and Karlsson, 2018); while Ecological Modernization focuses more on improving environmental problems through extrinsic political systems and social changes, as to achieve sustainable development. Eco-modernism believes that science and technology are not a roadblock to environmental protection, on the contrary, only with the help of advanced scientific and technological means can environmental problems be solved (Arias-Maldonado, 2013); at the same time, eco-modernism puts economic development and environmental protection on an equal footing, believing that the two are complementary rather than contradictory and antagonistic. Eco-modernism is a modernized ecological concept that is both technological and economic, which is more in line with the development trend of today’s human society.

2. Examples of designs based on the concept of eco-modernism

-Luukku House

As Finland’s first zero-energy house, the building aims to reduce the loss of heat in Finnish homes during the winter months, from the base materials to the form and structure, with the goal of achieving “zero energy”. 42 square meters of floor space, the Luukku house is supplied with all the energy it needs through solar panels that cover the roof. The main construction material of the house is wood-based, and the humidity, insulation, and spatial density of the building are regulated by the wood panels on the façade, which are shaped to create a surface area that buffers the heat and humidity of the building, with the goal of minimizing the carbon footprint of the building. The Luukku house uses biodegradable wood fibers as well as low-cost argon-filled glazing to reduce the cost of the building. Large areas of the building panels are exposed to the air, allowing the panels to act as water vapor absorbers and releasers, balancing humidity and heat in the house. Positive technological interventions provide technical support for the eco-house. Emerging technologies such as sustainable technology, intelligent control technology, and passive technology have become important design keywords for the eco-house, which reflects the core of the eco-modernist design philosophy – the use of science and technology to achieve sustainable development.

Residential facade, Luukku, Finland, 2010

Image source: https://inhabitat.com/virginia-tech-lumenhaus-wins-2010-solar-decathlon/aalto-universitys-luukku-house/

Interior space of Luukku Residence, Finland, 2010

Image source: https://inhabitat.com/virginia-tech-lumenhaus-wins-2010-solar-decathlon/aalto-universitys-luukku-house/

-House for the homeless

The temporary housing advocated by Finnish architect Rajalta Kotiin is not a simple, disposable containerized house, but a built-in modular home. His “Homes for the Homeless” explores how existing building blocks can be utilized to create more resilient homes. Curtin believes that one way to increase the resilience of housing is to embed temporary housing as functional blocks in conventional housing instead of constructing stand-alone temporary buildings. This design solution allows a conventional home to be converted into a temporary housing module in just a few hours, and the original owner does not have to move out of the home, but only temporarily compresses his or her living space, which can then be returned to use as a conventional home at a later date. The flexible module can also be adapted to suit the owner’s other living needs, as the temporary module can be used as a bedroom, home office or nursery, as a space for visiting grandparents and a place for children to practise living on their own, or even as a temporary rental for students or others in need of a small, temporary home to provide additional income for the owner in times of financial hardship.

Schematic of the Vagabond House space as well as conceptual drawings, 2017

Image source: https://www.archdaily.com/867339/7-architectural-solutions-for-asylum-seekers-shown-by-the-finnish-pavilion-at-the-2016-venice-biennale?ad_medium=gallery

3. Conclusion

The successful experience of eco-house design not only provides a reference for residential construction, but also reminds designers to go beyond anthropocentric thinking and pay attention to the relationship between human beings and the natural environment. From passive protection to two-way constraints to active change.

Today, the main problem facing residential housing in all regions is that people still conceptualize housing as an iterative commodity and lack enthusiasm and research on the residential attributes themselves. As a result, although eco-housing in many regions has made great progress in technical issues such as energy consumption and life cycle, it has not paid enough attention to issues related to the essence of housing, such as the flexibility and sociality of housing. Based on the theory of eco-modernism, eco-housing design has made more determined exploration and practice on the basis of traditional eco-architecture, believing that the construction of modern technology is an important way of “separating” human well-being from the destruction of nature, and at the same time transcending the technology to develop the understanding and practice of living in a socially sustainable direction.

4. Reference list

Arias-Maldonado, M. (2013) ‘Rethinking sustainability in the anthropocene’, Environmental Politics, 22(3), pp. 428–446. doi:10.1080/09644016.2013.765161.

Baranyk, I. (2017) 7 architectural solutions for asylum seekers shown by the Finnish Pavilion at the 2016 Venice biennale, ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/867339/7-architectural-solutions-for-asylum-seekers-shown-by-the-finnish-pavilion-at-the-2016-venice-biennale?ad_medium=gallery (Accessed: 15 May 2024).

Design-Training.com (2010) Finland’s Luukku House wins architecture prize at Solar Decathlon!, Finland’s Luukku House Wins Architecture Prize at Solar Decathlon! Available at: https://inhabitat.com/finlands-luukku-house-wins-architecture-prize-at-solar-decathlon/ (Accessed: 15 May 2024).

Symons, J. and Karlsson, R. (2018) ‘Ecomodernist Citizenship: Rethinking political obligations in a climate-changed world’, Citizenship Studies, 22(7), pp. 685–704. doi:10.1080/13621025.2018.1508414.