Interview about the realization of the Šupináč house in Ostrava
The brand Hliněný dům and Přírodní izolace offers a basic range of natural building materials for ecological and healthy living. In addition, it provides expert consulting, processes architectural studies, and develops follow-up project documentation. Our goal is to present customers with the possibilities of reusing traditional materials and technologies in new buildings and renovations. We do not perceive the use of natural materials in construction as an alternative, but as a natural solution with a significant impact on the future.
WHAT PLACE DOES THE SHUPINAC OCCUPY IN THE SPECTRUM OF YOUR REALIZATIONS?
The conversion of the technical building of a former warehouse into an administrative building falls into the area of adaptations and revitalizations of objects. Changing the use of a building offers interesting possibilities, both in structural and material solutions. Our experience with buildings made of natural materials has been drawn from the reconstruction of historical objects, primarily cultural monuments. Today, we are increasingly moving towards applications of ecological materials in new buildings and aiming for an energy-efficient BIO HOUSE with maximum use of natural materials in constructions.
The Shupinac finds itself somewhere in between a reconstruction and new construction.
THE FRAME STRUCTURE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WAREHOUSE, NOW AN OFFICE BUILDING, CERTAINLY REQUIRED A RETURN TO CLASSIC TECHNOLOGIES. WHAT CONDITION WAS THE WOODEN STRUCTURE (VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL) OF THE BUILDING IN? HOW DID ITS RENOVATION TAKE PLACE?
The original wooden frame structure was sheathed on both sides with Heraklit boards. This ensured the protection of the wood. At the same time, this structure was diffusion-open, so the wood was not damaged by moisture. Besides a few places at the base of the wall where some elements needed to be replaced, we merely cleaned and sanded the wooden framework. Although it was labor-intensive, the patina that the original structure has retained today contributes to the unique expression of the interior.
FOR WOOD TO LAST LONG, IT MUST BREATHE. ARE MOST INTERIOR WOODEN STRUCTURES EXPOSED, OR ARE THEY IN A "COAT"?
In the exposed framework of the Shupinac, we built with clay bricks, joined and plastered with clay mortar. The combination of wood and clay is a very favorable option for diffusion-open buildings, ensuring long durability as well. In traditional log houses, wooden beams were paired and plastered on one or both sides with clay mixed with straw chaff, which, in addition to improving thermal mass, helped protect the wooden elements. However, this method, known as "kožuch," was not applied in this building.
YOUR COMPANY OPERATES IN THE FIELD OF NATURAL-BASED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. HAVE THESE MATERIALS FOUND APPLICATION EVEN WITHIN THIS BUILDING? WHAT BRICK AND PLASTER MATERIALS DID YOU USE?
The building features a wide range of natural materials. Alongside unburnt clay bricks and clay plasters, there are also casein paints with natural color pigments used as breathable coatings for the clay structures in the interior. The wooden elements and floors are treated with natural oils and waxes, which protect the wood but do not seal it. The building was not and is not isolated against ground moisture, so the basement floors were thermally insulated using expanded clay fill and a drainage layer of crushed stone.
IF CLAY BRICKS AND PLASTERS ARE USED, WASN'T PRICE A CONCERN?
Fortunately, both the investor and the designers were aware that the quality of the environment created in the building when using natural building materials is incomparable to synthetic materials. This is confirmed during everyday use of these spaces. With the growing demand for natural materials in construction, price development is consistently moving downward. It can be said that for some products, such as clay plasters or natural insulation, materials are now up to 50% cheaper on the market than three years ago. Additionally, these materials are now being produced by Czech manufacturers.
THE EXTERNAL WALLS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THERMAL INSULATION AND A CLADDING OF VARIOUSLY COLORED CEMENT-BASED PANELS. THE CLADDING GIVES PLAYFULNESS TO THE BUILDING. BUT ISN'T IT A LITTLE BIT OF A SHAME THAT THE FRAME STRUCTURE REMAINS HIDDEN FROM PASSERSBY?
To achieve the required thermal-technical parameters of the object, it was necessary to create a sandwich system, where the load-bearing frame structure occupies only part of the width of the construction. The use of the framework in the interior is then one of many successful intentions of the architect, and in my opinion, it is precisely the contrast between the uniform facade of colored scales and the exposure of the load-bearing structure, along with the segmentation of the walls in the interiors, that is a valuable asset of the entire project.
THE MAIN REASON WHY THIS SYSTEM WAS USED IS CLEARLY THERMAL INSULATION REQUIREMENTS. IS THERE ANY COMPROMISE WHEN RENOVATING FRAME BUILDINGS?
Not only for this adaptation, but generally for all wooden buildings, it is appropriate to supplement the internal load-bearing wooden system with a clay lining, infill, or clay plasters applied to structural boards as a thermal mass. For the insulation layer from the outside, we can use natural thermal insulation inserted into wooden frames, finished with a ventilated facade or a suitable plastering system applied to formwork or more sophisticated wood fiber construction boards. Regarding compromises during the renovation of this building, it should be noted that compared to the original state (both sides sheathed with Heraklit, without thermal insulation), the resulting work is architecturally fresh and aesthetically valuable, with parameters and construction solutions that meet the requirements of modern buildings.
SHUPINAC
conversion of a technical building of a former warehouse into an admin building
Architect: Flying Engineers | T. Havlíček, P. Magnusek, M. Hloch
Address: Brandlova 9, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Investor: NOKO reality s.r.o.
Implementation: 2006-08
Clay House: supply and implementation of interior clay plasters and lining of frame structures made of unburnt bricks.
The conversion of the technical building of a former warehouse into an administrative building falls into the area of adaptations and revitalizations of objects. Changing the use of a building offers interesting possibilities, both in structural and material solutions. Our experience with buildings made of natural materials has been drawn from the reconstruction of historical objects, primarily cultural monuments. Today, we are increasingly moving towards applications of ecological materials in new buildings and aiming for an energy-efficient BIO HOUSE with maximum use of natural materials in constructions.
The Shupinac finds itself somewhere in between a reconstruction and new construction.
THE FRAME STRUCTURE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WAREHOUSE, NOW AN OFFICE BUILDING, CERTAINLY REQUIRED A RETURN TO CLASSIC TECHNOLOGIES. WHAT CONDITION WAS THE WOODEN STRUCTURE (VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL) OF THE BUILDING IN? HOW DID ITS RENOVATION TAKE PLACE?
The original wooden frame structure was sheathed on both sides with Heraklit boards. This ensured the protection of the wood. At the same time, this structure was diffusion-open, so the wood was not damaged by moisture. Besides a few places at the base of the wall where some elements needed to be replaced, we merely cleaned and sanded the wooden framework. Although it was labor-intensive, the patina that the original structure has retained today contributes to the unique expression of the interior.
FOR WOOD TO LAST LONG, IT MUST BREATHE. ARE MOST INTERIOR WOODEN STRUCTURES EXPOSED, OR ARE THEY IN A "COAT"?
In the exposed framework of the Shupinac, we built with clay bricks, joined and plastered with clay mortar. The combination of wood and clay is a very favorable option for diffusion-open buildings, ensuring long durability as well. In traditional log houses, wooden beams were paired and plastered on one or both sides with clay mixed with straw chaff, which, in addition to improving thermal mass, helped protect the wooden elements. However, this method, known as "kožuch," was not applied in this building.
YOUR COMPANY OPERATES IN THE FIELD OF NATURAL-BASED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. HAVE THESE MATERIALS FOUND APPLICATION EVEN WITHIN THIS BUILDING? WHAT BRICK AND PLASTER MATERIALS DID YOU USE?
The building features a wide range of natural materials. Alongside unburnt clay bricks and clay plasters, there are also casein paints with natural color pigments used as breathable coatings for the clay structures in the interior. The wooden elements and floors are treated with natural oils and waxes, which protect the wood but do not seal it. The building was not and is not isolated against ground moisture, so the basement floors were thermally insulated using expanded clay fill and a drainage layer of crushed stone.
IF CLAY BRICKS AND PLASTERS ARE USED, WASN'T PRICE A CONCERN?
Fortunately, both the investor and the designers were aware that the quality of the environment created in the building when using natural building materials is incomparable to synthetic materials. This is confirmed during everyday use of these spaces. With the growing demand for natural materials in construction, price development is consistently moving downward. It can be said that for some products, such as clay plasters or natural insulation, materials are now up to 50% cheaper on the market than three years ago. Additionally, these materials are now being produced by Czech manufacturers.
THE EXTERNAL WALLS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THERMAL INSULATION AND A CLADDING OF VARIOUSLY COLORED CEMENT-BASED PANELS. THE CLADDING GIVES PLAYFULNESS TO THE BUILDING. BUT ISN'T IT A LITTLE BIT OF A SHAME THAT THE FRAME STRUCTURE REMAINS HIDDEN FROM PASSERSBY?
To achieve the required thermal-technical parameters of the object, it was necessary to create a sandwich system, where the load-bearing frame structure occupies only part of the width of the construction. The use of the framework in the interior is then one of many successful intentions of the architect, and in my opinion, it is precisely the contrast between the uniform facade of colored scales and the exposure of the load-bearing structure, along with the segmentation of the walls in the interiors, that is a valuable asset of the entire project.
THE MAIN REASON WHY THIS SYSTEM WAS USED IS CLEARLY THERMAL INSULATION REQUIREMENTS. IS THERE ANY COMPROMISE WHEN RENOVATING FRAME BUILDINGS?
Not only for this adaptation, but generally for all wooden buildings, it is appropriate to supplement the internal load-bearing wooden system with a clay lining, infill, or clay plasters applied to structural boards as a thermal mass. For the insulation layer from the outside, we can use natural thermal insulation inserted into wooden frames, finished with a ventilated facade or a suitable plastering system applied to formwork or more sophisticated wood fiber construction boards. Regarding compromises during the renovation of this building, it should be noted that compared to the original state (both sides sheathed with Heraklit, without thermal insulation), the resulting work is architecturally fresh and aesthetically valuable, with parameters and construction solutions that meet the requirements of modern buildings.
SHUPINAC
conversion of a technical building of a former warehouse into an admin building
Architect: Flying Engineers | T. Havlíček, P. Magnusek, M. Hloch
Address: Brandlova 9, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Investor: NOKO reality s.r.o.
Implementation: 2006-08
Clay House: supply and implementation of interior clay plasters and lining of frame structures made of unburnt bricks.
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