Green Building Forum - Are all buildings temporary?

Are all buildings temporary?

tony — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:50 +0100

In the past I have called some forms of construction insubstantial and temporary in nature

But are all forms of construction temporary?

Are all buildings temporary?

JSHarris — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:13:04 +0100

Posted By: tonyIn the past I have called some forms of construction insubstantial and temporary in nature

But are all forms of construction temporary?

Depends on your definition of "temporary".

To a geologist I'd guess that all of man's creations, even those thousands of years old, might be seen as temporary. For most of us I suspect we'd regard a house that lasted a normal lifetime as being permanent and one that lasted perhaps just a single generation temporary.

Is there a formal definition of temporary when it comes to considering planning matters?

Are all buildings temporary?

CWatters — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:52:06 +0100

Yes. Temporary Planning Permission is frequently granted for wind farms (25 years) and travellers sites (3-4 years). They usually contain conditions stating the land must be returned to it's original condition when permission expires but the owner is free to submit a new application at any time. In the case of a wind farm that would most likely be for another 25 years with larger turbines ("Repowering") or in the case of a travellers site for permanant planning permission.

Are all buildings temporary?

JSHarris — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:14:53 +0100

The only time I've encountered "temporary" in the planning sense, was when putting up a polytunnel as an aircraft hangar in a field. The planners wouldn't accept a block or steel building, but a polytunnel (an opaque one) could be put up without PP as it was classed as temporary. AFAIK, there was no definition of temporary and in one small airfield I know of there has been one of these polytunnel hangars for around 20 years or more.

My guess is that, in planning terms, what constitutes temporary may be subject to a wide range of variation, rather than a specific time period.

Are all buildings temporary?

Ed Davies — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:02:14 +0100

All buildings are temporary if they're not maintained and updated to current requirements. It seems to me that the questions, therefore, should be how do you make that maintenance easy and how do you make the building sufficiently flexible to adapt to changing circumstances that it's worthwhile to continue to do so rather than build another one?

Are all buildings temporary?

jamesingram — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:20:31 +0100

On a slightly different tilt, Perhaps we should be making buildings that are more temporary.

Using materials that are more benign to our environment , materials that come from and can be returned with ease . Creating a constant cycle of production, absorption, back to construction.
Low cost , easily reusable materials , adaptive , (compostable ?)

my first thought is of the tradition buildings in the mid pacific . designed rather than to with stand natures up heavels , but to bend with them. Light and easily reconstructed etc.

Are all buildings temporary?

SteamyTea — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:05:57 +0100

Posted By: jamesingramOn a slightly different tilt, Perhaps we should be making buildings that are more temporary.

Pikey

Are all buildings temporary?

bot de paille — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:33:16 +0100

I think the more pertinent question is
Is it fit for purpose?

Energy consumption, build quality, health and well being, etc etc

Are all buildings temporary?

fostertom — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:38:23 +0100

As far back as the 70s there used to be a rubric in architectural circles - LLLFLE - long life loose fit low energy

Are all buildings temporary?

Cliff Pope — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:59:40 +0100

The pre-fab houses of the post-war years were temporary, yet many are still in use.
I know of a beautiful little house built out of an old railway carriage. Doubtless in 1920 it was temporary, but it has gradually been extended and now the original carriage fronts a much larger bungalow.

60s tower blocks were doubtless meant to be permanent, but now often have to be demolished because they are falling apart.

Are all buildings temporary?

Ed Davies — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:26:26 +0100

Posted By: fostertomAs far back as the 70s there used to be a rubric in architectural circles - LLLFLE - long life loose fit low energy

So what practically changed as a result?

Are all buildings temporary?

fostertom — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:09:50 +0100

Posted By: Ed Davies
Posted By: fostertomAs far back as the 70s there used to be a rubric in architectural circles - LLLFLE - long life loose fit low energy

So what practically changed as a result?

Nothing - that principled RIBA President got ousted by a pro-business one I seem to remember.

Are all buildings temporary?

qeipl — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:49:57 +0100

Posted By: tonyIn the past I have called some forms of construction insubstantial and temporary in nature.

But are all forms of construction temporary?

Yes, all forms of construction are temporary.

And durability is not merely a function of materials and building technology.
Utility, aesthetics, demography, geography, etc. can all have greater influence on decisions to abondon/demolish than mere technology.

Take, for example, the stone-walled, slate-roofed croft house. We cherish it for its durable materials and aesthetic qualities, and are horrified if it's abandoned or demolished.

The steel-framed agricultural shed, in contrast, is generally despised. If a new one appears it's met with cries of outrage.

But the shed-type construction offers much more scope for creating a spacious, comfortable, energy-efficient home/workplace that can adapt over time to changes in living/working patterns and technological advances. It's arguably much more durable than the stone and slate croft house which traps us in an early 20th century idyll/nightmare of cramped, dark, damp, fuel-hungry living quarters.

Don't you think?