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How to design a house to last 1000 years

constructionphysics.substack.com

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Re: How to design a house to last 1000 years

#11

Post by boringg »

criddell wrote: post #3

If I were to design a house with the idea that it should serve future generations, I'd design it to be reconfigured, recycled, or torn down easily. After reading some of Stewart Brand's writing, I've learned to love ugly buildings.

I think the reconfigured / recycled easily makes sense. Tough to build a product in 2000s for life in the 2900s.

That said the cost to make homes reconfigured/recycled easily is probably quite high and who knows if there will be people with knowledge to be able to perform that work in 400 years. Whereas a shelter can always be used by humans...

Re: How to design a house to last 1000 years

#12

Post by lastofthemojito »

boringg wrote: post #8

This is interesting. About to do a major reno on an old home (early 1900s) and definitely had questions about making upgrades that would last a long time. One of the greenest things that you can do to a home is not build a new one as I understand it. Another one would be to build it so it lasts ... not like this throwaway society we live in. That said I don't think I can do steel girders to extend the life of the hou…

But on the other hand, it's probably greener to build a house to last 50-100 years and then tear it down in 75 years when housing preferences change rather than build a house to last 1000 years and then tear it down in 75 years when housing preferences change.

On the one hand I think this is a worthwhile experiment, on the other hand I can see why most houses are not built this way.

Re: How to design a house to last 1000 years

#14

Post by boringg »

DiffEq wrote: post #10

You should still use reinforcement in the concrete: Use basalt rebar instead of steel; it will not corrode. Use a nylon fiber in the mix to protect against impact and spalling from fire. Use 5000 psi concrete instead of 2500. This is much stronger and will be less likely to break down under any environment. Use a vapor barrier underneath to help prevent moisture and gas from coming up into the house. Put the foundati…

Why do you need shudders for your windows? Is that for hurricane/storm protection?

Re: How to design a house to last 1000 years

#15

Post by dahfizz »

Constructing a building that would last 1000 years is not particularly hard with modern engineering and materials.

The hard part is, first and foremost, getting someone to pay for it. I'm not going to live 1000 years. My great grandkids likely won't even live to see the year 3022. Why would I spend orders of magnitude more for a house if a structure meant to last ~100 years serves my needs perfectly?

My friend just needed to redo the foundation on his house. He could have spent 10-100x what he needed to and installed a reinforced concrete foundation with deep steel pylons. But that would have been a waste of his money when wooden peirs works just as well for all his intents & purposes.

The second problem is making sure people want to maintain the structure for 1000 years, or at least not tear it down. I don't think this is as hard as the other comentors are saying, though. Just don't build the house in a city. The house will be torn down if it's in a city. The house has a good chance of staying a house if it's built out in the countryside on a decent plot of land. Nobody will ever want anything from that structure but to live in it, so it will be maintained.

Re: How to design a house to last 1000 years

#18

Post by GavinMcG »

DiffEq wrote: post #10

You should still use reinforcement in the concrete: Use basalt rebar instead of steel; it will not corrode. Use a nylon fiber in the mix to protect against impact and spalling from fire. Use 5000 psi concrete instead of 2500. This is much stronger and will be less likely to break down under any environment. Use a vapor barrier underneath to help prevent moisture and gas from coming up into the house. Put the foundati…

It's "steel" here, and "shutters"

Re: How to design a house to last 1000 years

#19

Post by bigyellow »

Having built my own house, I can definitely say this article is for intellectual stimulation only, and won't result in the construction of an actual home. Not only will you never find contractors and subs that give a shit about this level of detail, but you will struggle explaining these things to permit approvers, county bureaucrats and other people who want to make your life hell because you know more than they do, have more money than them, and are doing something different. Fun article, great information, but won't result in an adobe as planned.

Re: How to design a house to last 1000 years

#20

Post by DiffEq »

boringg wrote: post #14
DiffEq wrote: post #10

You should still use reinforcement in the concrete: Use basalt rebar instead of steel; it will not corrode. Use a nylon fiber in the mix to protect against impact and spalling from fire. Use 5000 psi concrete instead of 2500. This is much stronger and will be less likely to break down under any environment. Use a vapor barrier underneath to help prevent moisture and gas from coming up into the house. Put the foundati…

Why do you need shudders for your windows? Is that for hurricane/storm protection?

Yes. And if a window is broken long term (who knows what 1000 years may bring) the opening can be somewhat protected still and easily so.
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