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and easy to foresee a total or partial re-use, for the realization of another product or a re-
direct introduction in the production cycle from which it was generated.
The fulfilment of these three basic requirements involves the design of technical
elements conceived and realized overlapping different functional layers, assembled
using reversible mechanical connections easily de-constructible. The conception of a
building as a
kit of components
, dry assembled can open a field for experimentation and
innovation for the designer, supported by dry construction technology.
Dry construction is opposed to wet construction, traditional technique that employs
binders (mortars, cements, adhesives, resins) to assemble, in a monolithic system, the
elements. It’s a mechanical assembly of components and functional layers realized at
the building site. The site is therefore the place of assembly of high quality components,
which have performances guarantee by the factory production process (certifications, lab
tests). The building is conceived as a sort of "mechanical system" that is assembled on
site by skilled operators (Fig.8).
The
layered dry construction
involves the possibility to vary, without restriction, the
"technological responses" that corresponds to a performance solution, being able to vary
the possible combinations between the components and their choice. "
Dry construction
is not just a way to build, but a philosophy of building project that replaces the monolithic
building to a layered one, mass to lightweight, inertia to the speed of response to stress,
the stiffness to flexibility; dry construction means using the construction technique not
only as a testing time but as time suggesting new architectural spaces and
shapes
"(Tatano V., C. Conti, 2004).
The solutions are the
structure/envelope systems
(Imperadori M., 2006) realized by dry
assembly of functional layers or formed by a supporting structure, an outer casing and
an inner lining. The outer shell withstands the stresses of the external environment and
it’s formed by a finishing and by insulating layers, the inner shell is formed instead by the
interior fittings which characterize the aesthetic quality and management of the interior,
and finally, between the two shells, the supporting structures of the plants are placed
(Fig.9).
The materials with which it’s possible to design are therefore all ready-made products
that maintain low cost and control the performance response, optimizing the choice of
materials also in relation to a sustainable environmental impact. The design solutions are
custom-made and therefore occur by overlapping of several layers each of which
corresponds to a special performance. In this way it’s also possible to propose design
solutions that exploit the positivity both of production design and of custom one. Using
ready-made products, it’s possible to control costs like in a mass production system,
however, overcoming the problem of the lack of flexibility like in the standardization
process and, instead, proposing solutions closer to custom design.
It’s clear that this type of construction methodology involves a big change also during the
design process, realizing an increase and a complex version of factors to consider in
designing technological packages, in order to exploit the characteristics of different
materials and to realized performance solutions. It's also important to know the different
mechanical assembly systems and their applicability to different materials to prevent
damage and to compromise the structural stability and the package functionality. The
components must be assembled in preparation for their dismantling, for the possibility to
change them also during the operating phase allowing replacement without demolition of
a building’s part, and their possible reuse at the end of life.
This allows to achieve quality and performance standards able to meet the technical
standards in terms of functional quality (thermal, acoustic insulation), and operational
one (assemble, inspection, maintainability); to ensure compliance with time and cost of
construction, allowing a total match between design studies and realization outcomes; to
facilitate the reversibility and reuse of systems and components and to minimize impacts
arising from construction phases. Finally, this constructive approach also changes the
