Concept
The LIVO project was developed as part of the diploma thesis at the Institute Industrial Design at the FHNW School of Art and Design.
The basic idea was to plan and design a mobile and as self-sufficient as possible dwelling to enable an interim use of an industrial wasteland. The topicality of this idea can be read in the daily media: Environmental pollution, affluent society, unnecessary consumption, lack of space and urban housing shortage are just a few keywords that describe part of the problems of today. In the area of housing, a change is currently taking place, which has led to new forms of housing and their manifestations through a variety of influences. The term small housing form is becoming more and more widespread. In this context, environmental protection, recycling, sustainability and the "cradle to cradle" philosophy are more relevant than ever.
Our philosophy
The house
Transportation
By dividing the house into 5 individual modules, the mobility of the house is ensured. Two trucks are needed for the transport. At the disassembly and assembly site, a crane vehicle is also required for the assembly of the modules. The house is dismantled in one day or erected at the new location in one day.
Building shell
The Holz100 construction method of the Austrian forest engineer and entrepreneur Erwin Thoma is used for the production of the house walls. Thoma Holz100 elements are 320mm thick, flat wooden building elements consisting of layers of boards and squared timber arranged parallel, crosswise (at right angles) and at 45°, connected to each other by hardwood dowels made of beech. The solid wood panels are used as load-bearing, bracing or non-load-bearing wall, ceiling, roof components. Glue-free, of course. A rear-ventilated larch formwork is used as the exterior facade.
Interior materials
The furniture and interior design are made with solid wood components. The walls in the bathroom are lined with clay wall panels. A linseed oil varnish treatment provides a natural seal against water. Clay wall panels are used as low temperature heating. The window frames are made of oak wood, the toilet and lavabos are made of ceramic. The stove is made of steel and will be used for cooking, baking and heating.
Modules
Rooftop
10m2 are available for PV modules, solar boiler, constructed wetland or green roof.
Terrace
Sunbathe, enjoy a far-reaching view or take care of the roof garden. A lot of light enters the interior of the house through the sliding skylight. In addition, through the sunroof window you get access to the 10m2 terrace. A narrower long window located above the kitchen serves as an extractor for the kitchen and provides a pleasant ventilation of the house.
Kitchen
On 7m2 area can be cooked with two long kitchen elements. In spring, summer and autumn the gas hobs are used. The gas for this comes from our own mini-biogas plant from the Ernergiebox. In the winter months the wood stove hotplates can be used alternatively. The flue gas boiler provides hot water for the house in winter. The kitchen has a dishwasher and an oven. To save electricity in the winter months, the oven can also be used as an oven.
Living
The 160cm round window with a 60cm deep sill, serves as a lounger to relax and read a book. The table is accompanied by a 2-seater bench and two stools, providing seating for 4 people. The size of the table top can be varied by extending or retracting it under the kitchen step. Furthermore, the table top can be freely removed and converted into a temporary guest bed together with the stools and the bench. The wood stove as a fireplace provides a cozy warmth. A panoramic window provides enough light and view on the south side.
Bath / Entrance / Storage
In this module is the entrance door. This module contains almost all water-bearing elements of the house. Shower, sink, toilet, washing machine and a heat exchanger for heating are installed here. Hidden in the partition between the entrance and the bathroom are all the pipes to the kitchen. A small mirrored wall cabinet is used to store the care utensils. The sliding door to the bathroom is also located in the partition. In the back of the wardrobe, this module still has storage space for cleaning utensils and vacuum cleaner.
Sleepingroom
In the bedroom there is room for a double bed with two storage boxes side by side. Above the bed is another 3m3 of storage space for seasonal clothing or sports equipment, for example. The wall furniture is multifunctional and serves as a closet for clothes, as an office workstation and as a staircase. A window door provides floor-level access to the garden. A small fresh air opening on the north side of the house provides fresh air here. Inspired by Japanese studio spaces, the small office desk sits at a corner window with a view outside.
Energybox
Storage volume for water treatment (4m3), mini-biogas plant (3m3) and the salt water battery (5m3). The house is supplied with electricity, water and gas through the energy box. The water is to be kept in the cycle. By means of a constructed wetland on the roof and a carbon filter in the energy box it will be recycled to drinking water. In the mini-biogas plant, food scraps and feces are turned into methane gas by microorganisms. This in turn can be used for cooking. The residual liquid of the mini-biogas plant can be used as fertilizer (slurry) in the garden or greenhouse. A saltwater battery (redox flow battery) serves as power storage. This is particularly environmentally friendly thanks to the easy recyclability of the electrolyte fluids and, compared to battery storage, it cannot burn. The photovoltaic cells (12m2) on the roof provide the necessary energy through the sun.
Foundation
In order to place the house in virtually any desired location, screw foundations made of galvanized steel are used. Adapted to the particular soil conditions, these foundations can be easily rotated out of the ground and reused after the house is moved. The resulting hole is filled with fresh soil and planted a tree.
About us
Damian Breitenstein
CEO
Industrial Designer, former educator and self-employed craftsman in the field of wood construction.
damian@projekt-livo.chPierre Strub
Co-owner & Business Development
nachhaltig wirkt. Owner and founder, over 25 years of experience with the development and implementation of innovative services and projects.
pierre@nachhaltigwirkt.ch