Construction Materials

We looked at a plethora of materials to construct our multifamily housing project. One relatively new material that came up during our research was bendable concrete, form of concrete that displays properties of ductile material rather than the brittleness of traditional concrete. It has self healing properties and is lighter than traditional concrete. The issue with this material was the mass amount of greenhouse gasses that are released during the construction process, and the requirement of skilled workers to lay the concrete correctly.

Another construction material that came up during our research is mycelium. This extremely new method of building is stronger than concrete pound for pound and very renewable because it is made from mushrooms. It is also very eco-friendly and quite a low cost construction material. Mycelium, however, has very few practical building examples, which means it would be a risk to build out of it. The water resistance also decreases over time which makes the building prone to mold and humidity.

After lots of researching, we decided that Ecococon is the best construction material for our project. It is made from natural materials while still allowing energy-efficient and comfortable living. It is created from layers of wood fiber and straw insulation, 98% natural renewable material, that allow Ecococon to achieve Passivhaus while still being vapor-permeable (excess humidity can escape). It is compatible with a variety of interior finishes and is ideal for clay plaster. It is also Prefabriacted in a controlled environment allowing for high precision and quality, which helps reduce constructions time and costs.

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