Vertical Extension and Improving of Existing Buildings

Abstract

Low-density urban models, widely diffused in Spain until 2008, have been strongly criticized because they produce a great strain on the land, high infrastructure costs, increasing maintenance expenses, energy waste and pollution from excessive transport, time wasted commuting and more bedroom communities. To counterbalance this effect, opponents are claiming for a review of the capacity that the conventional city, with its higher population density and mixed uses, may still possess.One possibility that has been explored is the vertical extension of buildings, which capitalizes on the remaining buildable space characteristic of many older buildings, and at the same time, refurbishes the housing block and improves standards of energy efficiency, safety and accessibility.The challenge is not only technical -it is clear what needs to be done and how to do it -but it is also social and fiscal; in other words, how do we get organized and how do we finance such a project? The preferred construction system for vertical extensions is industrialized and uses two main materials: steel and wood. The system involves the use of two-dimensional panels and 3D pods that, once completed in the factory, are transported to the worksite, lifted by a crane and installed on the roof of the building. From refurbishing the existing building to adding the new vertical extension, the entire operation takes four months.The experience of this vision and its application in the area of the Example in Barcelona, coming soon to other central neighborhoods in Spanish cities, allows us to present our first results: the detection of over 2,000 buildings with remaining buildable space, the need to vertically extend 50 buildings and our completed projects, in some cases already inhabited, of which half a dozen are currently undergoing environmental evaluation using our own tool.

Greenery in Intermediate Spaces of the Dwellings in the City of Barcelona

“…According to a study made by LCT, there are around 1,800 buildings in Eixample that can be vertically expanded [32], and they have potential intermediate spaces and surfaces that can be naturalized. In that case, this will result in approximately 65,52 ha.…”

Re-Naturalization of the City of Barcelona, Spain: Introducing Greenery in Mediterranean Buildings

“…The main development of the company is in the Eixample district. This district has around 1,800 buildings that could grow vertically and about 65.2 ha of surface of roof tops and façades that can be naturalized [9].…”

“…This difference is due to the changes in the city ordinances during the years. The Land Plot Ordinance of 1860-1890 set a maximum height of 20 m. The Ordinance of 1942-1976 increased the maximum height to 24.4 m. The Metropolitan General Plan Ordinance of 1976 readdress the maximum height to 20.75 m. As a result the Eixample district presents a discontinuous skyline, with a stepped geometry [9].…”

Conceptual framework for off-site roof stacking construction

“…The lightest weight for construction was found to be 80 kg/m2 [39], that case claimed to be using timber construction for the structure and building envelope. For other cases using lightweight steel construction materials, the total construction weight ranged between 120 kg/m 2 and 180 kg/m 2 [11], others were listed with 330 kg/m 2 [46,47,57]. Generally, for the best practice, it can be recognized as the lighter the better; however, other considerations are involved to choose the most suitable materials as shown in the previous mentioned criteria for load bearing and installation methods in addition to design necessities, performance requirements, available technology and experience.…”