The book discusses combining timber and glass, two eco materials, with a view to developing an optimal contemporary energy-efficient house with an attractive design. Furthermore, the book connects an architectural design approach with structural research to show the possibilities of stabilizing the building with an increased size of the glazing. Research results where the glazing is considered as a load-bearing structural element are therefore presented in a manner leading to the development of an optimal model of the timber-glass house, considering both the structural and energy related aspects. The presented research work can be useful to designers and future experts in their planning of optimal energy-efficient timber buildings. The study is based on using timber and glass, which were previously neglected as construction materials. With suitable technological development and appropriate use, they are nowadays becoming essential construction materials as far as energy efficiency is concerned. However, their combined use is extremely complicated, from both the constructional point of view as well as from that of energy efficiency and sets multiple traps for designers. A good knowledge of their advantages and drawbacks is thus vitally important, which is shown in the present monograph.
COBISS.SI-ID: 17175062
This book presents a history of roundabouts, an introduction to their design, calculations of their capacity and traffic-safety features. It describes the key features of standard roundabouts and their limitations. Alternative types of roundabouts are a fairly recent development and have only been implemented in a few countries to date. The book illustrates a broad variety of these recent alternative types of roundabouts, as well as proposed types still in the development phase, explaining for each the specific needs it meets, its advantages and drawbacks. In closing, the book offers an outlook on the role of roundabouts in future street traffic.
COBISS.SI-ID: 18312470
The paper presents an approach in the determination of the most economically efficient building from the viewpoint of the costs of envelope's composition, the present value of heating costs and the costs incurred in fitting out the boiler room (hereinafter: the costs of the boiler room). The process of determination starts with the selection of a certain building in the phase of project engineering, next different combinations of envelope composition are numerically analysed and finally the optimal solution or approximation of that solution is defined on the basis of the analysed results. The approach is presented on the simulation case of a single-storey house. The result of the study is presented by a set of parameters showing different costs of building envelope from the point of initial investment for a selected energy demand of building. In the second step we calculated the present value costs of heating and compared them with the additional cost of initial investment in the envelope and additional investment in the building's boiler room in order to determine which combination of envelope and heating system is the most economically efficient.
COBISS.SI-ID: 17875222
The conservation of cultural heritage and the renovation of other historical buildings requires a whole and interdisciplinary approach, cooperation between experts and the use of modern computer-based instruments, appliances and tools with a single goal sustainable renovation. The sustainable approach also requires a high professional level of activity and time to study and do research on the buildings. The criteria for renovation are made-up of agreements and compromises between the interests of the local government and the common motives and interests of the individual owners and prospective investors. In order to achieve a sustainable renovation, certain supportive elements are needed such as financing, successful project management, and an adequate number of qualified craftsmen with special skills. This article tries to clarify what types of systems and subsystems need to be considered when renovating cultural heritages, when and why we come to deal with a probability stochastic system, and what would be needed to successfully re-establish a determined system. By analysing the different methodologies within the framework of a complete renovation, we are developing a methodology for introducing the determined system for renovation projects and a model for analysis and decision-making during the preliminary design with the use of modern IT.
COBISS.SI-ID: 17610518
Designing timber-frame houses with enlarged glazing mostly placed on the south side of the building offers numerous possibilities of creating structures with a highly attractive shape. Nevertheless, some general design guidelines claim that a non-compact building shape usually results in the increased energy demand for heating [1]. The aim of the present research therefore is to demonstrate possible avoidance of the latter energy related problem. The research is based on a case study of a one-storey timber-frame house, taking into account the climate data for three different European cities, those of Ljubljana, Munich (Muenchen) and Helsinki, whose average annual temperature and solar potential differ significantly. Apart from the climate data, the main variable parameters are the building's shape factor (Fs) and the AGAW (glazing-to-wall area ratios) in the south façade of the building. With the ground floor area and the heated volume remaining constant, the parametric analysis is carried out for different building shapes, i.e. square, rectangular, L, T and U, with the three-layer insulating glass placed in the south façade only. The results point out that the total annual energy demand for heating and cooling depends on the increasing shape factor to a considerably higher extent in cold climate conditions with a lower solar potential (Helsinki). On the other hand, the analysis of the regions with a higher average annual temperature (Ljubljana) and solar potential in the heating period shows that the influence of highly attractive building shapes on the energy demand is evidently less important, especially when using the appropriate size and position of the insulating glazing.
COBISS.SI-ID: 18755094