DETAIL English 4/2012

The term »cost-effective building« often refers only to the building costs, while a realistic evaluation requires a consideration of the entire life cycle of a building. A study by the Fraunhofer Institute presented in the Technology section, shows which savings in the building process require subsequent renovation measures and which are really sustainable. Developing strategies for creating great architecture using a low budget is something the Dutch architects & planners at Atelier Kempe Thill have been doing for years.

The approach encompasses the actual layout of the apartments as well as offering standardized solutions for details using refined industrial products. In Asia and Africa, the Aga Khan Foundation supports the population by means of social support projects. Roswag Architekten were asked to develop a prototype for a school in Mozambique in this context. The result is pleasing both with regard to building physics aspects and aesthetic quality.