A Tiny House made out of bio-based materials
A house made out of natural fibres such as burlap, hemp, and flax: the Tiny House in Emmen consists entirely out of bio-based materials. “Raw materials which can all be grown by local farmers,” project leader Daan van Rooijen says. “The Tiny House serves as a strategic step towards full-scale industrial application of biocomposites in construction.”
Over the past few years, NHL Stenden students have worked on building materials that are completely new in construction. They have done this in collaboration with students from Drenthe College, Hondsrugcollege, the Fiber Intstitute Bremen, and other professional partners. “They’ve worked on beams made of burlap and a hemp roof, for instance,” says Daan.
Promising building materials
Sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint are hot topics in construction. Bio-based materials are therefore regarded as one of the most promising building materials of the future. Even so, they are used relatively little. Daan: “With the Tiny House, we demonstrate all the things you can build with biocomposites. From insulation material, cover profiles and sheets, to panels, frames and skeleton constructions. It is proof that you can fully build a house with bio-based materials.”
An impressive achievement
The transition to these new building materials is of paramount importance, Daan knows this like no other. “There is an increasing realisation in construction that we have to deal with our raw materials in a different way. Biocomposites are the perfect substitutes for wood, steel and concrete. Even when considering bigger and more complicated constructions.” With this he is referring to a biocomposite bicycle bridge in Ritsumasyl, with a span of 55 metres, to which NHL Stenden students also contributed. “This bridge makes us worldwide frontrunners. It is an impressive achievement.”
Build and dismantle
A big compliment is due for the many students that contributed to both the Tiny House and the biocomposite bicycle bridge. “They are the builders of the future,” Daan beams proudly. “Our students know it like no other how important it is to develop new building materials that are not only sustainable in production, but suitable for reuse as well. A benefit of biocomposites is that you can both build with it and dismantle it easily. This makes it the solution for circular construction, one of the country’s goals for 2050.”
Building the future
The big question remains if -in ten years’ time- all construction companies will be making burlap beams and hemp roofs. “These materials require a huge change in a builder’s way of thinking,” Daan suspects. “We believe in it, but now we have to convince the world of construction. It is a matter of trust. It is our job to come up with good showcases to show that we are building the future with biocomposites. When we embrace this innovation, the whole sector can continue its development.”
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