Sustainability and autonomous are words that entered the lexicon without asking permission. Its importance is taken seriously by several sectors of activity, namely in a post-pandemic scenario, which its seems it's over. Real estate and construction are no exception. On the contrary, several players and specialists consider this one of the central themes to be taken into account in the present and in the future. But what will the houses of the future look like, after all? How will they be built? Will they be wooden? There is no doubt that the future of housing also involves the construction of sustainable wooden houses, an “incredible material that has been dormant in the markets of southern Europe, but is making a comeback on a large scale” and the option of behing automous.

What stands out the most is the perception of the potential of this system and its contemporary presentation in a market that is beginning to be saturated. The national market has been proving to be interesting, growing and increasingly receptive. Today, anyone looking to buy or house is not limited to what they already know, they have easy access to information and use it. And they quickly understand the advantages of the new constructive systems.

Perhaps the COVID pandemic has awakened something about our individual perception as human beings who inhabit a planet that must be preserved. Our notion of survival was clearly put to the test. Which is excellent, because we are talking about ourselves, our future, our relationship with sustainability and our integration in an ecological action that guarantees a future with quality not only for our children but, more and more we understand, for us own too. by AS

Adapting houses to the current pace of life and the true needs of the people who inhabit them is one of the great challenges for design and architecture ateliers. This is an even more complicated goal when   changes happen as quickly as in recent years, in different aspects: from leisure to work. Incidentally, the latter is one of the most important, largely due to the expansion of teleworking, with what this implies in the organization of domestic spaces. 

A prefabricated module of approximately 26 square meters (m2) with interiors that can be reconfigured throughout the day to suit different activities, for example eating, sleeping, working or socializing.

Tiny home construction just got a lot easier with the plug-and-play prefab C2X from Nestron. All plumbing, electrical and other smart systems come preinstalled in this tiny home, which includes electric heated floors, smart tablet and a standard-size washing machine. 

Nestron designed its Cube 2 series and Legend to be packed with amenities and mobile as well. It’s a zero-carbon, self-supplied energy optionally solar home that comes in a one or two-bedroom configuration. All Nestron homes are termite-resistant as they’re not made of timber, and since they’re not built on site you won’t have to deal with construction waste, pollution or environmental damage from the build. You can simply move your Nestron tiny home wherever you want it and start using it immediately. All sewer, electrical and smart systems are ready to go on delivery. 

C2X has heated towel racks, an invisible stove, range hood and even a sofa bed for extra guests. It’s 35 square meters with outdoor ambient light strips and a double-door refrigerator. 

Nestron suggests using this mobile tiny home as a vacation home, but you could put it to all kinds of uses, including a backyard guest suite or small apartment. The C2X stands apart as the newest model in the Cube 2 line with its long living room window to let in more natural light, which has been raised to also ensure more privacy. 

All Cube 2 line tiny homes come fully furnished, so no need to worry about how to fit traditional furniture in this super efficient space. You can optionally add the solar power system for renewable energy and A/C, plus a smart toilet and other smart devices like projectors and security cameras.

Autonomous. house is defined as a house that can function independently of support and services from public facilities. The autonomous house movement does not require users to lead solitary, penny-pinching lives, however. The key characteristic of an autonomous house is the use of green energy technology to reduce environmental load, while also creating a sustainable, high-quality, comfortable living environment. In the field of architecture, “autonomy” has two implications: autonomous control and self-sufficiency. Autonomy means that one can independently manage one’s own affairs and make independent decisions without influence or control by others. Self-sufficiency means that one can maintain self-sufficiency in resources such as food, water and energy.

Sustainability. Consists of fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations, while ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being.

The focus of sustainability is as much on humanity (the social corner of the sustainability triangle) as it is on nature (the ecological), and to reduce this inequality and provide a basic standard of living conditions for the earth’s inhabitants is paramount to the sustainability challenge.

Viewpoints for sustainability. Let’s just consider motivations for exploring sustainability – these can be different depending on your world view: logic, emotion or instinct can be the drivers. Generally they are based around concepts of humanity inherently striving for survival. The following are three viewpoints for sustainability:

1. The Ecologist doesn’t see the human race as a separate entity from the planet and its resources, but part of it. Their motivations for preserving the planet are that nature and humanity have an inherent value and should be protected because of that.

2. The Environmentalist sees nature or the planet as separate from the human race. It is there for humans, and as such humans should have stewardship over the world. They see the planet as something to be preserved so that humans can survive and evolve.

3. The Economist understands the measures of unsustainability arising from a consumer led culture treating finite resources as an income, but has faith that market forces and a “business as usual” approach will result in a natural crisis aversion occurring; that the system will sort itself out through technological advances if left to its own devices.

It is helpful to ask ourselves what our motivations are for seeking sustainability. This can help us in articulating our understanding of sustainability and our commitment (or not) to achieving it.

Tiny Home. Tiny home or tiny house are moveable dwellings up to 50m2 that are suitable for residential use. Tiny houses can be largely grouped into 3 categories: on wheels, on skids or shipping containers.