Towards Sutatinable Energy Interventions: A Study of Historic and Modern Seaweed Houses With a Focus on Tectonic Analysis and Interpretation

Material and energy overuse of the past centuries has created a need for energy sufficiency and a sustainable building culture both in new constructions and in existing buildings. But conventional interventions like energy renovation neglect the embedded energy and the tectonics of the existing buildings.
In the vernacular architecture problems of insulation and thermal radiation have also occurred. Their tectonic is rational, built upon material austerity and high levels of recyclability. Through a case study of a philanthropic project on revitalization of seaweed houses at the island Læsø, Denmark, this paper investigates if the historic seaweed material and building technique has informed new constructions. Furthermore, it discusses how new interventions can be integrated into the tectonics of an existing building and if the historic knowledge can contribute to the modern concept of energy interventions with a focus on material recyclability.