RGU shortlisted in international building innovation award

An innovative all-timber housing design by a professor of architecture at Robert Gordon University has been shortlisted for an international award

Posted by Julian Owen | September 04, 2018 | Bricks & mortar

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• #construction-scotland-innovation-centre-csic
• #integra-house
• #building-innovation
• #housing-design

Professor of Architecture at Robert Gordon University (RGU),  Gokay Deveci, has seen his Integra House become one of four shortlisted in the TTJ Timber Innovation Awards 2018 Innovative Product Development category, which celebrates pioneering product design.

The design - the first of which is being built in Tyrie in Aberdeenshire - offers an affordable low-energy concept for rural living by applying the roof truss concept to the whole house.  

The project has been developed at the university with support from Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), and two industry partners, Sylvan Stuart and Pasquill ltd.  

Professor Deveci said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted in the TTJ Timber Innovation Awards, and it’s great for RGU and the industry partners involved in the project to gain this recognition. 

“At present there is an acute shortage of affordable homes in rural communities - just one in ten homes are considered affordable, in comparison with one in five in urban areas. In addition, fuel poverty is still a main problem.” 

Integra House offers “an entirely new construction concept for rural living”. Roof trusses are the most common and cost-effective way to build roofs in the UK, and the house will use new truss types providing the super structure and envelope for the entire house, including floors, walls and the roof.  

The design utilises the 600mm thick-blown wood wool insulation solution to meet the breathable wall construction, as well as meeting low-energy standards in a cost effective manner.    

Professor Deveci added: “The design enables a reduction of operations on site - and the time spent erecting the structure - while simplifying the processes involved. Also, the project targets the ease of buildability, and addresses [the issues of] fuel poverty and healthy living in remote rural locations by using locally available workforce or self-build opportunities.”