Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:35:34 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8444#Comment_8444 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8444#Comment_8444 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:23:28 +0100 tony
Should all new green buildings be round? It is the shape with the maximum volume but the lowest surface area, and therefore the smallest heat losses.

What do we think?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8447#Comment_8447 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8447#Comment_8447 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:34:25 +0100 Mike George https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8450#Comment_8450 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8450#Comment_8450 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:46:23 +0100 jon
However, pure hemispheres are difficult to construct and finish unless you don't need to care about the finishes (as is the case above). They also have higher initial embodied contents although, given that the surfaces are in compression for parabolics rather than hemispheres, they should have exceptionally long life spans and thus low annualised embodied contents: The trick would be to separate the external skin from replaceable internal elements.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8454#Comment_8454 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8454#Comment_8454 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:56:54 +0100 jon
On a large mass-produced scale, the least annualised embodied would seem to be (horror) reinforced concrete ribs with, if it can be found to work in the long term, panels made of limecrete. However, at the moment, limecrete isn't sufficiently proven.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8455#Comment_8455 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8455#Comment_8455 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:02:57 +0100 Mike George https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8460#Comment_8460 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8460#Comment_8460 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:15:42 +0100 jon
Doesn't stike a bell. What does ASMET stand for?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8461#Comment_8461 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8461#Comment_8461 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:33:46 +0100 biffvernon http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/the_yurt.htm]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8462#Comment_8462 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8462#Comment_8462 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:39:52 +0100 Mike George http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=174&page=1]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8463#Comment_8463 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8463#Comment_8463 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:44:56 +0100 Bluemoon https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8464#Comment_8464 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8464#Comment_8464 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:47:25 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8465#Comment_8465 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8465#Comment_8465 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:07:01 +0100 jon
I couldn't tell from the decription what ASMET was about. Sounds intriguing but didn't, given the description, sound similar.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8472#Comment_8472 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8472#Comment_8472 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:23:51 +0100 fostertom Posted By: Mike GeorgeSomething like ASMET then?Mike, we agree yet again - ASMET's ideal for u/ground shells, if full of cautions for any other uses. From http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=174&page=2:
"Would asmet build homes like 'Bag End' in lord of the rings? If so there will be a large demand. Steveleigh did you get that! There must be lots of plots in the UK with Bag End potential."
"It's the bilbocious future, man http://www.lordoftherings.net/legend/gallery"
http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/gardens/bilbo-baggins1.jpg]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8475#Comment_8475 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8475#Comment_8475 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:34:23 +0100 Jeff Norton (NZ) https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8484#Comment_8484 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8484#Comment_8484 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 10:16:52 +0100 jon
Can you give a link so that I can see what an ASMET house is?

Jeff

Yes, that is almost entirely the principle of the design mentioned using a part plane hemispherical line collector and arm at 1/2r. Good for 30% efficiency or so but, as the inner surface of the ring roof is tiled mirrors, the effective cost is significantly reduced and winter efficiency can be made the priority. As with the desription of ASMET in the link above, the project is open source and has been going for a few years though I'm reluctant to post the website address as it hasn't been updated, since about january from recollection, to include the part plane hemispherical collector modfications (originally the project started as just a ring parabolic form for minimum materials content using lateral earth pressures to modify the parabolic form to a more usable version)

bluemoon

If the principle of the design allows say 500-1000 years design life then mass production of the shell form is less of an issue if one can pre-fabricate the internal elements using pre-fabricated volumetrics: On a large scale (containg say 10+ residential units) the costs of fabrication of the shell form can be significantly reduced using rotating 'spiral' formers on a rail system. This reduces the cost of production on a mass scale. Planners within green belt areas that I have spoken to, rather than having kittens, would like to incorporate this form of construction into their town plans for post 2020 construction!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8486#Comment_8486 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8486#Comment_8486 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 10:27:03 +0100 Jeff Norton (NZ)
http://www.roofkrete.co.uk/]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8487#Comment_8487 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8487#Comment_8487 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 10:28:41 +0100 fostertom Posted By: jonCan you give a link so that I can see what an ASMET house is?Several links in the last few posts. No pics of complete ASMET house - it's still just a prototype box inside a shed - links incl. video in the main ASMET thread.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8539#Comment_8539 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8539#Comment_8539 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:24:35 +0000 jon
From reading Roofcrete's site, it appears to be a waterproofing system? What does ASMET stands for?

No similarities to what we're up to (as far as I can tell).]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8544#Comment_8544 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8544#Comment_8544 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 16:56:33 +0000 fostertom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8547#Comment_8547 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8547#Comment_8547 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:01:06 +0000 jon
I read the information. It appears to be a form of thin reinforced concrete. With an "alkaline cementitious matrix permanently prevents deeper rusting": Ordinary concrete also is an alkaline cementitious matrix: The impact of carbonation changes the matrix of the cementitious layers over time to allow delamination (and other deleterious effects also impact on the steel layers below)

If I were to compare your ASMET folded structure to a thin wall concrete structure of the same relative scale as one of Peter Rice's, what would be the intrinsic difference apart from scale? Or, re-phrasing, what is new about the idea?

Can anyone simply describe what ASMET is? The links are interesting but I cannot, at first glance, see what is new.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8549#Comment_8549 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8549#Comment_8549 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:15:31 +0000 Mike George https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8551#Comment_8551 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8551#Comment_8551 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:25:12 +0000 fostertom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8552#Comment_8552 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8552#Comment_8552 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:35:06 +0000 Mike George https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8553#Comment_8553 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8553#Comment_8553 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:52:21 +0000 fostertom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8554#Comment_8554 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8554#Comment_8554 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:13:19 +0000 jon
This worries me too. The techo speak quotes (I realise it isn't yours Tom) sounds very dubious: It sounds exacly like fine crushed agg mix concrete. Small agg concrete is great for folded panels with low covers providing you want low quantities but don't care too much about durability. The phrase "alkaline cementitious matrix permanently prevents deeper rusting" strikes me as unusual as does "apparently Roofkrete doesn’t display thermal expansion".

If he won't tell people what it is then there's no chance whatsoever that anything will be built with it. If it's just what Tom describes above then it's been done before but low cover concretes have too low a durability relative to cost so, if it is ever built as an external structure, will prove to destroy itself by delamination spalling fairly quickly.

If there is something new that really does allow "alkaline cementitious matrix permanently prevents deeper rusting" or "apparently Roofkrete doesn’t display thermal expansion" then perhaps he is being selfish by not patenting the invention?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8555#Comment_8555 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8555#Comment_8555 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:19:28 +0000 Mike George
I spoke with John a couple of months ago and he told me he has a trade background]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8556#Comment_8556 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8556#Comment_8556 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 21:00:15 +0000 fostertom
Trade background - he says he's learnt everything he knows self-building a series of houses subsequently sold. I suspect there's more to it than that - many questions he just stonewalls - neither yes nor no.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8557#Comment_8557 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8557#Comment_8557 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 21:19:58 +0000 Bluemoon
http://www.smallworld.org.uk/CBB.html]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8585#Comment_8585 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8585#Comment_8585 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:26:47 +0000 steveleigh https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8586#Comment_8586 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8586#Comment_8586 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:31:30 +0000 steveleigh
Before repair:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/steveleigh/Repair/roofshots2015.jpg

After repair:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/steveleigh/Repair/DSC00559.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/steveleigh/Repair/DSC00560.jpg]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8587#Comment_8587 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=795&Focus=8587#Comment_8587 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:40:05 +0000 jon
7mm thick on top of insulation? Would have to be very hard insulation. It sounds like a good product. However, the same thing could be achieved with fine wire mesh, small agg concrete and, say an SBR additive perhaps with additional plasticiser.

There's no criticism of the product. Just a question as to why it is more environmentally beneficial, special or otherwise superior to any other specification I could use to achieve the same thing.

I agree it is interesting. But I can't see why it is special.. or any more special than any similar mix that I could use.]]>