Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BUILDING AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING SUCH A BUILDING
The invention relates to a building placeable on a surface, for instance a
house or office. The
invention also relates to a method for constructing such a building.
Numerous construction methods are known for the purpose of constructing a
traditional
building such as a house, office or the like. These construction methods have
in common that
different structural parts are placed successively at different stages of
construction. A foundation is
first of all formed in the surface (the ground). This foundation is generally
heavy (for instance
constructed from concrete) and can be arranged directly on the surface, for
instance when the surface
consists of a rocky ground, or additional ground reinforcement measures can be
taken, for instance in
the case of a soft ground in which piles are first driven and only then a
further foundation laid. Once
the construction stage of laying the foundation has been completed, a
subsequent phase moves on to
placing of other structural parts such as brick walls and the like on the
foundation. In a still further
phase a floor and/or roof is arranged on the walls.
In the case of wooden frame construction it is also usual to erect a dwelling
on a foundation
by first placing the wooden walls thereon and fixing a floor and/or roof to
these wooden walls.
A drawback of these traditional construction methods is that the different
structural parts,
i.e. the foundation, walls and floors, are often not fixed to each other at
all, and the stability is
obtained by placing the different structural parts on each other. Even in
cases where the different
structural parts are coupled to each other, this coupling of the different
structural parts is in general
structurally weak. This has the result that in the case of extreme outside
influences, for instance
earthquakes and/or hurricane-force storms, such buildings are damaged
relatively easily or, in some
cases, simply collapse.
Use is more particularly made in a traditional construction method of the
presence of
gravitational force. Such a traditional building (in brick or wooden frame)
therefore typically derives
its strength from this force acting in one direction. If a traditional
structure were to be subjected to
the same load in upward or in lateral direction (for instance in the
horizontal plane), it would then
collapse immediately.
A further drawback of the known construction techniques is that the
insulation, more
particularly the thermal insulation and/or sound insulation, is interrupted at
the position of the mutual
connection between the different structural parts, for instance at the
position of the connection of a
floor to a wall. This can result in a reduction of the overall thermal
insulation and/or sound insulation
of the building. There is also a good chance of cold bridges occurring, and
much care will have to be
taken over the detail of such connections in order to reduce or avoid such
cold bridges.
It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide a building and
method for
construction thereof with which an increased structural strength can be
realized.
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It is a second object of the invention to provide a building which can better
withstand
extreme external influences, for instance weather influences and/or
earthquakes.
It is a further object to provide a building which allows a degree of freedom
of layout
without detracting from the overall thermal properties.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a building with good
insulating properties.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the
above stated objects
and/or other objects can be achieved in a building comprising:
- a support construction,
- an exterior covering mounted against the outer side of the support
construction,
- an interior covering mounted against the inner side of the support
construction,
- insulation arranged between the exterior covering, interior covering and
support
construction;
wherein the support construction comprises a number of successively placed
annular support
elements, wherein the support elements extend substantially parallel and at a
determined mutual
spacing for the purpose of forming an interior space enclosed by the support
elements.
This construction makes it possible to embody the walls, the floor(s) and/or
the roof in
wholly similar manner to each other. The annular elements form a structurally
very strong basis for
the further erection of the building. The annular form of the support elements
and the successive
placing of these elements makes it possible to obtain a construction which is
very stable even if
relatively great forces are exerted on this construction.
In an embodiment of the invention the building, in particular the support
construction
thereof, is embodied such that the building is self-supporting. No further
support provisions are
necessary to keep the building standing. In a further embodiment the building
is even embodied so as
to be liftable as a whole so that the building can be easily displaced.
In a particular embodiment the building is a self-supporting, modular wooden
construction.
The building is further configured to be disposed in any orthogonal direction
(X,Y,Z). The building
can for instance be placed with a first face on the surface but can likewise
also be placed with a
second face, opposite the first face, on the surface. It is further possible
without additional measures
to stack a second building onto a first building.
The support construction can more generally be embodied so as to provide the
building with
substantially the same structural properties, such as strength and stability,
in three orthogonal
directions (X,Y,Z).
In embodiments of the invention a building can be realized which provides
similar
characteristics and resistance to ambient influences in any orthogonal
direction (X,Y,Z). Because the
construction is self-supporting it can as it were be placed upside down or
laid on its side without
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losing its integral form, even when affected by gravitational force, wind or
water pressure or snow
load such as occur in our climate.
In an embodiment the building takes a self-supporting form and is placed via
resilient
dampers on the surface. The self-supporting character of the construction
makes it possible to place
the building as a whole on so-called dampers, resilient elements and piles,
whereby the building can
be put to optimal use in for instance areas with danger of flooding or
unstable ground properties.
The support construction and preferably also the interior and exterior
coverings can
preferably be positioned and/or connected relative to each other via form-
closed connections. The
strength and accuracy of the construction are determined and obtained by
applying form-closed
positioning (the only correct fit determined by the design) and/or by simple
(so inexpensive and
well-known) connections (wherein connecting means such as adhesive, screws and
nails can be
applied). This construction method makes it possible to put together teams
with very limited training
for the purpose of realizing technically high-grade buildings.
In determined embodiments (for instance verandas) the stated insulation is
omitted. In other
embodiments however, insulating material is arranged between the exterior and
interior coverings.
The insulating material can be formed by rockwool and/or mineral wool. In
other embodiments the
insulating material is formed from natural material such as paper or cork. In
determined
embodiments use is for instance made of one or more optionally hollow elements
of cork or material
comprising cork, or use is made of cork or material comprising cork arranged
in hollow spaces. The
advantages of using cork will become apparent from the following.
In embodiments of the invention the annular support element substantially
defines the form
of a ring (the central part of which is of course absent). A support element
more particularly forms an
annular edge, the thickness of which is smaller than the width of the edge. In
further embodiments
the annular support elements are each substantially formed from plate
material. The support
elements therefore have a relatively small thickness. A stiff construction can
however still be
obtained by successive placing and mutual connection thereof. In a still
further embodiment the
annular support elements are a number of successively placed construction
elements forming
completely closed rings for the purpose of together providing a support for
the floor, the walls and
the roof of the building.
The mutual spacing between successive support elements can be selected subject
to the
dimensions, form and purpose of the building in order to obtain a construction
which is as light as
possible but nevertheless sufficiently strong. In determined embodiments the
mutual spacing is
however substantially constant. The mutual spacing can for instance vary
between 10 cm and 100
cm, preferably between 30 and 70 cm.
The support elements can be mutually coupled by providing the outward and/or
inward
directed edge surfaces thereof with respectively an exterior and/or interior
covering. The covering
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can comprise cladding, for instance of wood. The mutual coupling of the
support elements can be
formed by the cladding. Provided at module level however are individual
coupling elements, for
instance of guide pins and form-closed channels, with which the support
elements can be positioned
and fixed at the correct mutual distance relative to each other. In determined
embodiments the
building comprises a number of coupling elements which extend transversely of
the successively
placed annular support elements and with which the support elements can be
coupled to each other.
The building can be constructed from a first support element for forming a
support for
mounting of a front exterior wall thereon (or for forming the front exterior
wall itself), a second
support element for forming a support for mounting of a rear exterior wall
thereon (or for forming
the rear exterior wall itself), and one or more further support elements
arranged between the first and
second support elements.
In embodiments of the invention a layer of cork is arranged on the outer side
of the exterior
covering and/or the inner side of the interior covering. In embodiments of the
invention this layer of
cork provides for a second or even third insulation shell. On the inner side
the layer of cork for
instance provides an increase in the temperature of the wall so that the
amount of radiant heat
increases, this having a positive effect on the comfort in the building.
The use of cork-based insulating material on both the inner and outer shell
(on either side of
the traditional cavity space) breaks new ground in thermal insulation and
sound insulation for
buildings.
The layer of cork can for instance be formed by spraying cork particles onto
the relevant
exterior or interior covering. The thickness of the thus resulting layer of
sprayed cork is preferably
between 4 and 8 mm, still more preferably between 5 and 6 mm.
The annular support elements and/or the exterior covering are preferably
manufactured from
wood, preferably laminated wood. Applying laminated wood (which is affected
less by changes
caused by ambient temperature, air humidity and the like) makes it possible to
work much more
precisely.
Compared to traditional wooden frame construction, the construction of the
building can be
based substantially on absolute tolerances in the different structural parts,
resulting in a likewise
known absolute tolerance for the whole construction. In traditional timber
construction the
construction is based on relative tolerances in relative structural parts
because of the known working
of wood under the influence of temperature and moisture differences. This
means that for instance
the holes at the end of the beam are positioned taking tolerances into account
relative to this same
outer end. Whether the beam is straight or warped is not taken into
consideration here. According to
embodiments of the invention use can thus be made of absolute tolerances and
positioning because
of the structural properties of laminated wood.
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In determined embodiments the proposed building structure is characterized by
a realized
construction which is however also necessarily accurate to the millimetre,
this enabling highly
industrialized, wholly repetitive construction.
In embodiments of the invention an annular support element is manufactured
integrally. In
5 other embodiments the support element is assembled from two or more
element parts which can be
coupled to each other. An annular support element can in use for instance
comprise two standing
element parts connected via a lower lying element part and an upper lying
element part, wherein the
element parts are embodied for arranging respectively wall cladding, floor
cladding and roof
cladding thereagainst. The mutual coupling takes place with coupling means
such as (though not
limited to) corner pieces to which the element parts can be operatively
attached, for instance using
nails, screws or similar fixing means.
The building can be placed with said support elements directly or indirectly
on a traditional
foundation. Other embodiments provide for a placing unit, for instance a
wooden or steel frame,
which can be arranged on or in the surface.
In embodiments of the invention an annular support element is provided with a
peripheral
recess in which a separate panel-like part is placeable, for instance a wall
part with glass and/or a
door. The recess and the panel-like part are embodied here such as to enable a
(limited)
displacement, for instance several millimetres, in the plane of the panel-like
part. The panel-like part
is however fixed in the recess in a direction perpendicularly of the plane of
the panel-like part.
The invention can also relate to an annular support construction as defined
herein.
According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the above stated
and/or other
objects of the invention can be achieved in a method for constructing a
building, the method
comprising of:
- arranging a number of standing annular support elements with mutual spacing
and
substantially parallel to each other on a surface;
- mutually coupling the support elements so as to form one structural whole;
- providing the support elements with a covering on the inner side and/or
outer side.
Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be
elucidated on the
basis of the following description of an embodiment thereof. Reference is made
in the description to
the accompanying figures, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a building
according to the
invention; and
Figure 2 is a perspective front view of the embodiment of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment of figures 1 and 2 before the roof
covering is
arranged;
Figure 4 is a front view of the embodiment of figures 1-3;
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Figure 5 is a side view of the embodiment; and
Figure 6 is a rear view of the embodiment.
Figures 1-7 show an embodiment of a building 1 according to the present
invention. The
building is placed on a foundation comprising a steel or wooden frame 2. Frame
2 is assembled from
four support legs 3 which are mutually connected using girders 4. The support
legs are anchored in
known manner in the surface and girders 4 define a surface to which a frame 5
provided on the
underside of the building can be attached. The building itself comprises a box-
like assembly 6, on the
outer side of which a wall covering 7, a roof covering 9 and an exterior wall
8 can be arranged.
Assembly 6 comprises a number of support elements 10. Support elements 10 can
take a
substantially annular form. In the shown embodiment a support element
substantially defines a flat
annular form and forms an independently standing construction element.
Support elements 10 (in the shown embodiment seven elements, although this
number can
of course be greater or smaller) are placed successively, this such that they
extend substantially
parallel relative to each other. The mutual spacing (a) between adjacent
annular support elements 10
can vary. In the shown embodiment a smaller distance (a) is realized between
the first and second
support elements (as seen from the exterior wall) than between each of the
following support
elements 10. In the other embodiments this mutual spacing (a) can be
different.
In the shown embodiment the annular support elements are constructed from a
lower girder
11, an upper girder 12, a right-hand upright 13 and left-hand upright 14, and
a number of corner
pieces 15-18 which connect girders and uprights to each other. In a determined
embodiment the
girders, uprights and the corner pieces have the same or substantially the
same construction, so that
the annular support elements formed thereby have an essentially equal
structural strength in all
directions parallel to the plane of the support element. While in the
traditional construction method
the floor(s) often take(s) a heavier form than the walls, in the shown
embodiment there is essentially
no difference between walls and floors. The walls and floors are further not
only fixed relative to
each other by means being placed but are actually anchored firmly to each
other using the corner
pieces 15-18.
In the shown embodiment the annular support elements 10 are manufactured from
plate
material of a relatively small thickness, for instance of wood or similar
natural material.
Insulating material (not shown in the figures) can be arranged in the
intermediate space
between peripheral edges 20 of each of the support elements 10. In a
particularly advantageous
embodiment elements of cork and/or material comprising cork are arranged
between the walls.
The insulating material can be arranged all around the assembly, i.e. at the
position of the
two floors as well as at the position of the walls. The insulation can more
particularly be arranged all
the way around so that possible cold bridges are avoided as far as possible.
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Covering 7, 9 can be arranged against outer edges 21 of support elements 10.
Wall covering
7 can comprise exterior cladding 25 and covering 9 can comprise plate 26
provided with bitumen. A
covering can optionally be omitted on the underside of assembly 6. Plate
material 28 is likewise
arranged on the inner side, more particularly on the inner peripheral edges of
the annular support
elements, in order to finish the interior of the building.
In the shown embodiment a construction which is as it were duct-like or box-
like is obtained
which has yet to be sealed on the front side with an exterior wall 8. In the
shown embodiment the
front side is for instance sealed with a wall part consisting of a window
frame 29 in which glass
panes 30 are provided. The wall part is arranged against the first annular
support element 10,
although window frame 29 is more particularly arranged (not as structural
part) against the front side
of the associated support element.
An (at least partially) box-in-box construction can be formed in embodiments
in which both
exterior cladding and interior cladding are applied. Such a construction can
result in exceptionally
good insulating properties.
Because essentially no distinction is made between the wall and the floor in
terms of
structural strength and each of the annular support elements more particularly
forms one whole, an
exceptionally sturdy structure can be obtained. In determined embodiments it
is even possible for the
building to take a sturdy form such that it can be lifted up using hoisting
means (not shown) and can
be placed as one whole on the foundation, or at least on frame 2.
A particular feature of an embodiment of the construction according to the
invention is
further that the cavity between inner and outer plate of the walls can extend
into the cavity at the
position of the floor or the cavity at the position of the roof. As shown in
figure 1, the cavity can be
wholly and continuously filled with insulating material. This results in an
exceptionally high
insulating value of the building as a whole. Use can particularly be made here
of hollow insulating
elements of cork-like material, for instance as described in the Netherlands
patent application NL
2009530, the content of which must be deemed as incorporated herein.
Although figure 1 appears to show that cladding 25 on the outer side of the
building is first
formed into one whole and then placed over the annular support elements 10 in
order to fix the
exterior cladding against the building, the invention is not limited hereto.
Any manner of fixing the
exterior covering against the support elements is possible, for instance when
plate material is
arranged between two successive support elements at a time in order to
successively seal the cavity
parts on the outer side.
It has been found that the proposed construction method produces a strong
construction such
that the buildings constructed in this manner can withstand very heavy storms,
and sometimes even a
hurricane-force storm in some cases. It is further possible to construct the
building entirely from
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natural material, for instance by embodying both the support elements and the
cladding in wood. It is
of course also possible to use other materials.
In traditional construction it is usual to make use of a cavity wall or the
like, wherein (also in
the case of wooden frame construction) insulation in the cavity or space
between inner and outer wall
is typically utilized for insulation purposes. In order to improve the thermal
and sound-insulating
properties of the building, in determined embodiments a construction method
can be applied wherein
use is made of shells which result in a multi-layer compartmentalization. The
construction is
characterized by a cork-based outer layer which serves as thermal insulator,
but also as water
(moisture) air barrier. The construction uses the cavity space between the
construction elements to
provide stationary air in addition to thermally or sound-insulating materials.
A cork-based
(insulating) layer is again arranged on the inner side, whereby a second large
thermally insulating
transition (in addition to the known cavity) forms part of the construction.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments thereof described
herein. The rights
sought are rather defined by the following claims, within the scope of which
numerous modifications
can be envisaged.
