Good day,
This week we feature the final interview with North Carolina architect Frank Harmon. We are also releasing two more Design Studio segments in which we examine the relationship between indoors and out in both a developer house and a custom build project.
Please click below to watch:
THE LAST WORD
Moving beyond stick-built home construction—with “Hook & Build”
By Tony Kryzanowski
'm a born skeptic. When someone tells me they have invented a better, more affordable mousetrap, I always ask them to show me first. Then we’ll talk. So when I heard about an Alberta architect who had invented a building construction model based on the Ikea furniture fastening system, I thought it was a bit early for St Patrick’s Day and the traditional rubbing of the blarney stone. However, having now investigated the trademarked Hook & Build building system, my spider sense tells me that inventor Wolf Wilbert may have actually discovered what will usher in the next evolutionary phase of wood building construction in North America.
What makes me want to step out on a limb? The simplicity of the system, backed by the
scientific evidence from tests conducted at both the University of Alberta and the University of BC, is what leads me to believe that on-site, stick-built construction will soon face some very
stiff competition from the shell housing concept that Wilbert has developed. Furthermore, the
structural strength of his concept and its versatility may be the competitive answer that the wood products industry has been looking for to really take a run at the nonresidential building
construction market.
What’s attractive about this system is that it delivers the building durability that is sometimes
lacking in stick-built construction while making sturdier building construction much more
affordable— without having to make the transition to a timber-built structure.
The foundation of this post and beam building system is an internationally patented fastening
system called the “Wolfhook,” which is similar to the concept used to assemble and provide the
strength inherent to Ikea furniture. To assemble a Hook & Build structure, the hammer is
replaced with a ratchet wrench. So far, 12 homes and commercial buildings have been
designed and constructed using the Hook & Build system and plans are in the works to roll out
the next phase of this system’s evolution through a major development in Western Canada.
It took 15 years for Wilbert to develop his original idea of a proven building system based on
the Ikea concept. He says Hook & Build offers advantages on a number of fronts: • the system
consumes about 30 per cent less wood; • it’s 40 per cent cheaper than buildings constructed
with solid timbers because it uses engineered wood products;
• it generates no on site construction waste;
• the system offers the same versatility as conventional stick-built construction; and
• it has strength—enough strength, in fact, to withstand a tumble down a hill without breaking
apart.
The steel fasteners are very similar in design, but vary in size depending on the weight of the
component they are supporting. They not only connect the post and beam components, but
also lock them into place, thus giving the structure its strength.
Two companies, Western Archrib in Edmonton and Structurlam Inc in Penticton, already have
experience manufacturing both the glulam and fastener components.
To fully understand the Hook & Build system, picture the human body. It consists of a strong
skeletal structure surrounded by an outer skin. That is essentially how this system works. The
fastened glulam beams are the skeleton and the outer skin can be either prefabricated
components or stick-built.
The attraction for builders is that once the structure and outer shell are in place, they can offer
building owners a wider variety of interior design concepts because there are no load bearing
walls. I’ve heard from many experts that stick-built construction is losing its cost
competitiveness because of the high cost of labour, as well as the amount of building material
waste that is generated. That’s where the Hook & Build system really excels.
Paul Knettig recently used the Hook & Build system to construct a three-storey, 4,500-squarefoot home on a steep hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean in an earthquake zone just outside Comox, BC. It took a framing crew, equipped with only ratchet wrenches, five days to erect the glulam structure and another four days to install the prefabricated envelope and roof.
The Hook & Build system also suits the do-it-yourselfer. It took Peter Johner and three friends
two days to erect the glulam structure for a 1.5 storey, 2,500- square-foot, Swiss chalet-style
home near Spruce Grove, Alberta. The envelope also consisted of prefabricated panels. This
system was also used to construct a dome style home near Grande Prairie, Alberta.
While the Hook & Build system is exciting, what worries me is that the forest industry will spend too much time fiddling while stick-built Rome burns, thus letting this opportunity pass by. The Hook & Build system has proven itself in wood structures, but the Wolfhook fastener works equally well with precast, fibreglass, solid timbers, plastics and metals.
I would strongly suggest that anyone involved in the forest products industry pick up Wilbert’s
new book, Unwrapping the Hook & Build Building System. It offers detailed illustrations and
descriptions of how the system works. In my view, it may be the most important book
concerning the future of the wood building construction industry in North America that you will
read in the next 10 years.
THE LAST WORD
Moving beyond stick-built home construction—with “Hook & Build”
By Tony Kryzanowski
'm a born skeptic. When someone tells me they have invented a better, more affordable mousetrap, I always ask them to show me first. Then we’ll talk. So when I heard about an Alberta architect who had invented a building construction model based on the Ikea furniture fastening system, I thought it was a bit early for St Patrick’s Day and the traditional rubbing of the blarney stone. However, having now investigated the trademarked Hook & Build building system, my spider sense tells me that inventor Wolf Wilbert may have actually discovered what will usher in the next evolutionary phase of wood building construction in North America.
What makes me want to step out on a limb? The simplicity of the system, backed by the
scientific evidence from tests conducted at both the University of Alberta and the University of BC, is what leads me to believe that on-site, stick-built construction will soon face some very
stiff competition from the shell housing concept that Wilbert has developed. Furthermore, the
structural strength of his concept and its versatility may be the competitive answer that the wood products industry has been looking for to really take a run at the nonresidential building
construction market.
What’s attractive about this system is that it delivers the building durability that is sometimes
lacking in stick-built construction while making sturdier building construction much more
affordable— without having to make the transition to a timber-built structure.
The foundation of this post and beam building system is an internationally patented fastening
system called the “Wolfhook,” which is similar to the concept used to assemble and provide the
strength inherent to Ikea furniture. To assemble a Hook & Build structure, the hammer is
replaced with a ratchet wrench. So far, 12 homes and commercial buildings have been
designed and constructed using the Hook & Build system and plans are in the works to roll out
the next phase of this system’s evolution through a major development in Western Canada.
It took 15 years for Wilbert to develop his original idea of a proven building system based on
the Ikea concept. He says Hook & Build offers advantages on a number of fronts: • the system
consumes about 30 per cent less wood; • it’s 40 per cent cheaper than buildings constructed
with solid timbers because it uses engineered wood products;
• it generates no on site construction waste;
• the system offers the same versatility as conventional stick-built construction; and
• it has strength—enough strength, in fact, to withstand a tumble down a hill without breaking
apart.
The steel fasteners are very similar in design, but vary in size depending on the weight of the
component they are supporting. They not only connect the post and beam components, but
also lock them into place, thus giving the structure its strength.
Two companies, Western Archrib in Edmonton and Structurlam Inc in Penticton, already have
experience manufacturing both the glulam and fastener components.
To fully understand the Hook & Build system, picture the human body. It consists of a strong
skeletal structure surrounded by an outer skin. That is essentially how this system works. The
fastened glulam beams are the skeleton and the outer skin can be either prefabricated
components or stick-built.
The attraction for builders is that once the structure and outer shell are in place, they can offer
building owners a wider variety of interior design concepts because there are no load bearing
walls. I’ve heard from many experts that stick-built construction is losing its cost
competitiveness because of the high cost of labour, as well as the amount of building material
waste that is generated. That’s where the Hook & Build system really excels.
Paul Knettig recently used the Hook & Build system to construct a three-storey, 4,500-squarefoot home on a steep hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean in an earthquake zone just outside Comox, BC. It took a framing crew, equipped with only ratchet wrenches, five days to erect the glulam structure and another four days to install the prefabricated envelope and roof.
The Hook & Build system also suits the do-it-yourselfer. It took Peter Johner and three friends
two days to erect the glulam structure for a 1.5 storey, 2,500- square-foot, Swiss chalet-style
home near Spruce Grove, Alberta. The envelope also consisted of prefabricated panels. This
system was also used to construct a dome style home near Grande Prairie, Alberta.
While the Hook & Build system is exciting, what worries me is that the forest industry will spend too much time fiddling while stick-built Rome burns, thus letting this opportunity pass by. The Hook & Build system has proven itself in wood structures, but the Wolfhook fastener works equally well with precast, fibreglass, solid timbers, plastics and metals.
I would strongly suggest that anyone involved in the forest products industry pick up Wilbert’s
new book, Unwrapping the Hook & Build Building System. It offers detailed illustrations and
descriptions of how the system works. In my view, it may be the most important book
concerning the future of the wood building construction industry in North America that you will
read in the next 10 years.
Contact info
Name: Anthony Bak
Email: info@naturalinteriorpaint.com
Website: www.naturalinteriorpaint.com
Intro:
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For this very reason, ECOtrend Collagen received GREENGUARD approval under their most stringent certification program, GREENGUARD Children & SchoolsSM.
A few of ECOtrend Collagen’s benefits:
-Odorless
- No VOCs
- All natural product
- Receive LEED credits
- Anti-bacterial & Anti-mold
- Short drying time
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- Excellent hiding power
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- Competitive pricing
-Color matching availability
For more information, please visit www.naturalinteriorpaint.com or give us a call toll-free at 888-889-5925.
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I've written quite a bit in this blog about central vacuum systems and their use in green building. Sixty years ago my husband's father founded Central Vacuum Stores. He began selling vacuum cleaners. We have diversified over the years, but we don't want to get too far from our roots. We are really excited about the Blue Line Sanitaire by Electrolux. These vacuums are the workhorses of the industry. So much so, Electrolux is giving a ten year warranty on these machines. They are ideal for industrial use, but we know that homeowners will love their power and longevity and their new enhanced filtration. The Sanitaire S677 is equipped with ARM & HAMMER® odor eliminating capabilities, this highly featured upright offers a unique combination by capturing allergen sized dust particles while eliminating odors caused by mold and bacteria, leaving the room smelling fresh and clean. It also has the CRI Green label which means it can satisfy any job requiring a higher level of filtration. The CRI Green Label signifies a superior cleaning vacuum that has passed stringent testing for soil removal, dust containment, and carpet appearance retention. The unit's innovative dual zipper design makes bag changing quick and easy.
Other Great Features:
• 7 Amps of Power • Disposable Dust Bag • 35' Power Cord
10 Year Warranty on the Motor
See the Sanitaire S677D on our website
Power 7 amp
Filtration Allergen
Container Disposable Dust Bag
Dust Capacity 9.5 dry qts.
Cleaning Path 12''
Cord Length 35'
Tools- N/A
Hose N/A Motor CFM 145
dB per ASTM 81
From the OnQ Legrand Website:
"As the recognized leader in Home Systems, On-Q/Legrand understands the importance of preserving our environment. This is why On-Q has committed to developing Home Systems that not only make life better in the home, but preserve life outside the home as well.
On-Q/Legrand strives to make sure all our facilities are implementing programs to help preserve our environment, such as recycling, decreased energy usage and decreased water and paper consumption.
Our efforts even go outside our own walls. On-Q offers educational materials to all of its employees on how they can lead a greener life. We also offer an employee purchase program that encourages employees to put green On-Q products in their own homes. With small efforts such as these, we believe that we can help build not just greener houses, but also a greener world."
Look at OnQ's Six Ways to Green
Hi Folks,
This week we have the last of our interviews with Danish architect Anna Maria Indrio. In Design Studio, we analyze the River City House by the Australian firm Biscoe Wilson architects.
Please click below to watch:
California, perhaps the most ambitious state with respect to adopting green building standards, can add another feather to its cap. On April 22, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragos signed an ordinance establishing green building standards designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tons by 2012. Approved unanimously by the City Council, the Private Sector Green Building Plan makes L.A. the largest city in the nation to adopt such a program.
The new law requires projects 50,000 square feet and larger and residential buildings with over 50,000 square feet of floor space, 50 or more units, or over six stories high to meet the LEED-Certified standard. The law offers expedited permit processing for projects pursuing LEED-Silver. The law also calls for a slate of other environmentally responsible initiatives, including a review of all city codes to ease the use of environmentally sound materials and processes, the creation of a cross-department Sustainability Team to review and revise green building policies and projects, and staff training and certification in green building methods.
This law follows on the heels of an ordinance introduced last month in San Francisco that would require projects involving more than 25,000 square feet to meet the LEED-Gold standard, which the SF City Council is set to vote on shortly. While we can quibble with some of the specifics of these laws, there is no doubt that by passing them, it mainstreams green building techniques, something that is good for everyone.
Those of us interested in LEED were excited last year when the USBGC launched its LEED-H certification for homes. Minnesota currently has about five houses in the process of being certified under this new LEED-H program. One of these is being built in Minneapolis by the design/build firm III AD. This house, being certified in the Gold category, helps shed the old “Earth Shoe” image of environmentally responsible building. See how architect Jonathan Query articulates his "warm modernist" vision in the context of this emerging sustainable vocabulary, at www.3-ad.com.
Postgreen of Philadelphia has contracted ZeroEnergy Design of Boston to perform energy consulting on the 100K House project in order to design the most energy efficient home possible on a small budget of $100,000 in the Delaware Valley region of the US. Postgreen and ZeroEnergy Design are determined to create an urban infill home that uses only 53% of the energy consumed by a standard new home while using a substantially smaller construction budget than is typical in the area. The combined effort is part of a case study - The 100K House - being built by Postgreen in an effort to prove that quality, green homes can be built for the same or even less cost than traditional homes. Postgreen is working on a construction budget of only $100,000 USD to build the infill home in Philadelphia with the goal of achieving high energy performance and a LEED Platinum rating. The average US home of the same size will consume 2.5 times as much energy as the 100k house. "In order to accomplish the lofty energy goals for the home on our budget, more time and care must be taken during the planning and design phase of every aspect of the home from insulation to HVAC equipment," states Chad Ludeman, President of Postgreen. "ZeroEnergy Design is the perfect company to ensure that we will get the most bang for our buck in terms of energy efficiency on the 100K House and we are excited to have them be part of the project," continued Chad. ZeroEnergy Design focused on cost effective passive aspects of the house first, looking for additional ways to conserve energy. Then the active systems that consume energy were analyzed for efficiency, including heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, appliances, and lighting. And finally, renewable energy systems were considered with solar thermal being the top contender. Each improvement was reviewed on a cost versus benefit basis, considering the incremental change upon the home’s annual utility bills and Postgreen’s strict construction budget. “Knowing that 38 of the 136 possible points for the highest LEED certification score are energy related, any performance improvements we can make will not only be good for the LEED rating, but also good for the environment and the homeowner’s utility bills,” said Jordan Goldman, Principal Engineer of ZeroEnergy Design.
About Postgreen: Postgreen is a real estate development company focusing on modern, green and affordable buildings and homes in Philadelphia's urban neighborhoods. Our success is measured using a triple-bottom-line approach that ensures that each project benefits not only the bottom line, but the people in our community and the planet as a whole. Find out more at http://www.postgreen.com
About ZeroEnergy Design: ZeroEnergy Design is a professional services firm providing Custom Home Design and Energy Design services for residential new construction. The unique collaboration between in-house architectural designers, mechanical engineers, and financial analysts drives a competitive advantage and enables the firm to deliver fully integrated design for high performance homes. (ZeroEnergy Design was formerly known as Independence Energy Homes). Find out more at http://www.ZeroEnergy.com
California, perhaps the most ambitious state with respect to adopting green building standards, can add another feather to its cap. On April 22, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragos signed an ordinance establishing green building standards designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tons by 2012. Approved unanimously by the City Council, the Private Sector Green Building Plan makes L.A. the largest city in the nation to adopt such a program.
The new law requires projects 50,000 square feet and larger and residential buildings with over 50,000 square feet of floor space, 50 or more units, or over six stories high to meet the LEED-Certified standard. The law offers expedited permit processing for projects pursuing LEED-Silver. The law also calls for a slate of other environmentally responsible initiatives, including a review of all city codes to ease the use of environmentally sound materials and processes, the creation of a cross-department Sustainability Team to review and revise green building policies and projects, and staff training and certification in green building methods.
This law follows on the heels of an ordinance introduced last month in San Francisco that would require projects involving more than 25,000 square feet to meet the LEED-Gold standard, which the SF City Council is set to vote on shortly.
While we can quibble with some of the specifics of these laws, there is no doubt that by passing them, it mainstreams green building techniques, something that is good for everyone.
I got so sick of my weeds I ate them.
http://www.greenmodernkits.com/2008/05/garden-revenge.html
(Forgive the picture of me in my jammies with yesterday's makeup falling off my face, but I still like it anyway because it shows how large the burdock grows!)
By the time you read this, it will be my birthday.
I'm ugly and old as dirt.
So, in honor of the sands of time passing, imminent doom and whatnot, I thought I'd show you these *recycled* coffin couches.
You know, I'm still a goth girl at heart, and I'm certain the Addams Family would approve.
Read the hilarious commentary here:
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/04/28/coffincouchescom-rec.html
And the website: http://coffincouches.com/
"We at Coffincouches.com have the mindset of thinking "Green" and we know it is different but we strongly believe in recycling. Our niche happens to be 18 gauge steel coffins which we collected from local funeral homes primarily in Southern California. It is a health and safety law that funeral homes cannot resell used coffins to the general public. We approached funeral directors with the attitude of recycling. These coffins are not used for burial due to slight cosmetic inconsistencies. They are reconfigured and modified resulting in a finished product - a unique one a kind coffin couch. If you notice (although it may be too small) the six cast iron heavy duty legs are embossed with the universal biohazard insignia. The reason we utilized this sign was because safety was our utmost concern. If you are not aware, once a human body is placed in a coffin it is considered biohazard tissue. The legs have the embossed insignia for precautionary reasons in the event body fluids are exchanged on these coffins. Perhaps you would feel safe knowing that you are in designated biohazard scene!
Ha!!"
Ha, I like these guys! There's something... a touch o' goth rockabilly in 'em.
This week we feature a video trailer for the documentary film "Subdivided" by Dean Terry. Also new this week is our third interview with Danish architect Anna Maria Indrio in which she discusses the Vaedbaek Station project.
Please click below to watch:
ATTENTION: Green builders often choose Beam central vacuum power units for the homes they build. If you would like to buy a Beam on the Internet, it is going to get harder beginning May 1, 2008. In an effort to build a stronger dealer network and cut down on unauthorized Internet companies selling their product, Beam has placed some restrictions on their dealers who sell on the Internet. Because Central Vacuum Stores is an Authorized Beam Dealer, from now on we will only be allowed to ship Beam power units and attachment sets within 100 miles of our physical location. For us, that's Tampa Bay. If you are outside of this area, give us a call at 1-800-221-8227 and we will help you locate a Beam dealer in your area. If you run across anyone selling Beam central vacuums and they do not have bold text explaining Beam's new policy, then they are not an authorized Beam dealer, and you need to be careful. Consider this, a Beam product purchased from anyone other than an authorized dealer may not have a factory warranty. Don't take that risk...If you buy a Beam make sure you buy from an authorized dealer. If you just want to buy a central vacuum on the Internet, we have products equivalent to Beam central vacs, manufactured by the parent company of Beam. You may want to look at this Electrolux PU3900. See the Electrolux PU39002 on our website
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