Understanding life cycles of wooden vernacular architecture – Material and energy flow of Niemelä tenant farm
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Date
2022
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Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Arkkitehtuurin maisteriohjelma
Language
en
Pages
98+12
Series
Abstract
The transition to an industrialized, standardized and globalized world left also its marksnon the developments in the building industry. Consequentially, official ISO and EN standards had to establish guidelines in order to minimize the environmental impacts of building projects and their materials - the basis for Life Cycle Assessment. LCA is commonly used to prospectively predict contemporary building life cycles and their impacts, but this study investigated whether Life Cycle Assessments can help to gain retrospectively understanding of the life cycles and resource flows of pre-industrial building activities, or rather, of wooden vernacular architecture. The research object was 18th century Niemelä tenant farm, since it is a well preserved and well surveyed example of wooden vernacular architecture from Central Finland. The intention of this thesis was to combine the principles of sustainability assessment with the field of architectural conservation. Both fields have established their own boundaries and rules, and are aware of uncertainties and limitations in the approach of reconstructions. The chosen method is thus a combination of following the LCA guidelines with an individualized project scope while considering that complete accuracy of a reconstruction will be unreachable. The hypothesis of gaining insightful results for both fields was confirmed by achieving numeric estimations of the material [kg] and energy flow [kcal], but the main conclusions were drawn beyond those rational categorization. The historical reconstruction added a personal level to the complex dynamics of the buildings. From the flows of energy and material emerged a representation of local culture and building traditions. Wood was used as building material and as primary source of energy. The matter of reuse or gradually complete replacement of whole buildings are two examples of bringing the concept of building life cycle, as it is defined nowadays, into question. The significant difference in energy input and output during pre-industrialized times clearly demonstrates the luxury and energy surplus as its experienced today. Additionally, two further resource flows emerged from a retrospective study: time and inhabitants, which are not part of the standard resource inventory of contemporary assessments. This study highlights thus also the change in the mindset of humanity. The findings of this thesis show not only the approaches of two different architectural fields, but also show how interdisciplinary collaboration can help to inspiringly raise questions and develop topics beyond the own field.Description
Supervisor
Savolainen, PanuThesis advisor
Kuittinen, MattiKeywords
life cycle, vernacular architecture, wood, energy flow, material flow, Niemelä