Expecting Space: an enactive and active inference approach to transitions (completed)

Moving from one space to another encompasses spatio-temporal and motor related systems in the body to make sense of the environment. At the cross-section of cognitive neuroscience, philosophy and architecture, this project investigates how action potentials, or affordances, in a given space change the way we perceive, and thus experience, transitions. Bodily action intrinsically relate to perception beyond traditional cognitive models. That action influence cortical processes of perception is studied using electroencephalography and virtual reality.

Thesis available here.

Primary investigator: Zakaria Djebbara

Design of Holistic Zero Energy Building Design (completed)

Through a multidisciplinary approach to architecture and building design, and with a point of departure in the Integrated Design Process, this research project presents a number of Design Principles illustrating Design strategies and technologies that are especially important to consider and to deal with during the design process when designing zero energy homes.

Publication: Zero Energy Buildings - Design Principles and Built Examples. (2014 ) in Danish publication and English publication. The project is developed under the auspices of the Danish Strategic Research Centre for Zero Energy Buildings www.zeb.aau.dk which was established with support from the Strategic Research Council, the Programme Commission for Sustainable Energy and Environment and Aalborg University.

Primary investigators: Mary-Ann Knudstrup and Anne Kirkegaard Bejder

Trivsel og Boligform / Well-being and Housing (completed)

The project aimed at uncovering and systematizing existing research-based knowledge in relation to well-being and type of accommodation for frail elderly that need care and to present research-based knowledge that can be used by decision-makers of Danish municipal authorities and other key actors in connection with the establishment of accommodation for senior citizens. The project was carried out in cooperation with CAST at the University of Southern Denmark.

Primary investigator: Mary-Ann Knudstrup

Minus carbon and plus energy refugee house (completed)

Various natural and man-made disasters force the affected population to flee from their homes to other safe places. Providing these affected people with quick and cost-efficient shelters is always a challenge. The minus carbon and plus energy house in Brunnnshög, Lund , Sweden is an eco-cycle refugee shelter with the aim to reach a six ‘Z’ target (i.e. ‘6Zs’), meaning zero emissions, zero energy, zero waste, zero cost, zero indoor air pollutants and zero impact on the environment after the house demolition. The key idea of this eco-cycle shelter is to reach a net 6Zs during all stages: material extraction, building construction, operation and maintenance until the shelter’s end of life, which depends on plant-based raw materials are brought in from the surrounding area to the building site. The main building materials used are straw, reeds, wood, clay and lime. The house is water and rodent resistant and fire proof due to the compressed straw panels used. All the waste outcome is re-used or recycled again in different forms like bio-gas, compost and liquid fertilizers.

As the house prototype is independent of fossil sources of energy and is fully supplied with renewable energy. It depends on three main passive systems for heating, cooling and natural ventilation which are Trombe wall, green wall and earth pipes. The low energy requirement for the operation is sufficient to provide a constant supply of energy all year long, even during overcast and muggy days. The house is equipped with an earth fridge and dry washing machine which helps also in reducing energy consumption. The house is 40 % more energy efficiency compared to conventional buildings in Sweden due to utilising natural passive means. Living in a shelter house that has a minimal carbon footprint can bring about other changes in the occupants’ lifestyle that also have a positive impact on the environment, including growing their own food. In addition, raising children in a passive and zero carbon house will also bring about positive change for the next generation whose lives are expected to improve even more.

The house was built in 11 working days with the help of average 4 workers using only a screwdriver and a small electric cutting saw. The holistic idea of this shelter design notion is to benefit from living in a passive, zero energy and zero carbon house which also provides high levels of overall comfort without compromising the environment and with a lower cost of living than conventional houses. When it is time to demolish the house, it will decompose back to nature with zero impact on the environment. The beneficiaries of this project include not only refugees but also the majority of those seeking affordable housing and healthy living. The shelter is designed for the cold Swedish climate, but the method can be adjusted to other climates or geographical contexts.

Publications:

Dabaieh, M., Alwall, J., 2018. Building now and building back. Refugees at the centre of an occupant driven design and construction process. Sustain. Cities Soc. 37, pp.619–627.
Dabaieh, M. 2017. A minus carbon eco-cycle earthen refugee shelter: a feasibility study. In:  Mileto Camilla et al., (Eds.), Proceedings of SOSTierra 2017, Vernacular and Earthen Architecture: Conservation and Sustainability, 14-16 September 2017, Valencia, Spain. ISBN (978-113-803-546-1)
Dabaieh, M., 2017. The 6 Zs Refugee Shelter, in: Brotas, L., Susan, R., Fergus, N. (Eds.), Proceedings of 33rd PLEA International Conference- Design to Thrive. NCEUB, 3-5 July 2017. Edinburgh, Scotland. ISBN (978-0-9928957-5-4)
Dabaieh, M., 2017. Minus carbon and plus energy design home kit. ISBN: 978-91-628-9221-0. ISBN 978-91-7104-884-4

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoTDVg3OzU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB41pUI84fI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD5GfqHZwFA

Primary investigator: Marwa Dabaieh