WO2009060117A1

WO2009060117A1 - Dwelling

Info

Publication number: WO2009060117A1
Application number: PCT/FI2008/000121
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tarja Sahramo; Markku Sahramo
Original assignee: Seviso Oy
Priority date: 2007-11-06
Filing date: 2008-11-06
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: EP2220309A1; FI20080613A0; FI20080266A0; FI20080613L

Abstract

A permanent or holiday dwelling (10), which has, at least partially, been excavated into the rock (20) or dug into the earth (20). The dwelling has at least some equipment required by modern building services, such as lighting, a heating system, ventilation system, water supply system and/or sewerage system. In a slope, the wall (11) facing downhill consists mostly of windows. The aggregate or other earth material (21) excavated or dug can be placed on the downhill side of the dwelling so that it forms a plateau, a terrace (22) or a landing (23). The roof (12) of the dwelling can be formed so that it conforms to the shape of the slope and equipped with an eave (31) to prevent water or snow from running into the dwelling.

Description

DWELLING

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a permanent or holiday dwelling.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a permanent or holiday dwelling that has been built in a new way.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INVENTION

The dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the dwelling has, at least partly, been excavated into rock or dug into the earth so that it is essentially located underground.

The thermal economy of a dwelling built in a rock is good, because there is very little variation in the rock temperature. For calculating the thermal economy of the dwelling, the temperature of -28°C is used as the theoretical outside temperature value during the cold season. As the temperature difference between the interior and exterior of the dwelling can be up to 5O⁰C, it is clear that the dwelling building needs to be well heat-insulated. However, the rock temperature is only approximately +6⁰C, which means that an essentially thinner insulation layer is sufficient for the heat-insulation of the dwelling. It is well-known that rock caves are, due to the constant temperature of the rock, comfortably cool during hot summer days. Building in a rock according to the invention provides a new way to create an advantageous dwelling also for regions where winters can be cold.

Building in a rock is advantageous in many ways. The rock provides the dwelling with a solid foundation that will not fail. Additionally, the earth materials from the excavation work can be utilised for constructing a yard or roads. Furthermore, load-bearing partition walls are not necessarily required when building in the rock.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE DEVICE ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION One preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the dwelling located underground has at least some equipment required by modern building services, such as lighting, a heating system, ventilation system, water supply system and/or sewerage system. Another preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the dwelling has been excavated or dug into a slope, and that the wall of the dwelling facing downhill consists mostly of windows.

A third preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the dwelling has been excavated or dug into a slope, and that the aggregate or other earth material excavated or dug out of the slope has been placed on the downhill side of the dwelling so that it forms a plateau or a terrace in connection with the dwelling.

A fourth preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the dwelling has been excavated or dug into a slope located on a shore, - and that the aggregate or other earth material excavated or dug out of the slope has been placed in the water in front of the dwelling so that it forms a terrace or a landing in connection with the dwelling.

A fifth preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in - that the dwelling has been dug into a slope, and that the roof of the dwelling has been formed so that it, at least partially, conforms to the shape of the slope.

A sixth preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the dwelling has a fireplace and a chimney stack that have most preferably been excavated into the rock.

A seventh preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the dwelling has a bore well and sewerage located in a slot or a channel excavated into the rock.

An eighth preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that the front wall of the dwelling consists, for the most part, of glass or is equipped with windows.

A ninth preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that several dwellings have been placed into the slope side by side and/or on top of each other, that the dwellings have been excavated separately so that the walls and/or intermediate planes between them are of rock, or the intermediate plane between at least two dwellings has been cast after the dwellings have been excavated into the rock or the space needed for the dwellings has been dug into the slope.

A tenth preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that - the dwelling has been assembled from pre-fabricated elements in a recess excavated into the rock or the dwelling is formed by a single prefabricated, ready-to-install module, and that there is an insulated or ventilated intermediate space between the dwelling and the rock.

An eleventh preferred embodiment of the dwelling according to the invention is characterised in that there is at least one other space in connection with the dwelling, such as a garage, swimming pool room, gym and/or hobby room, - and that a corridor, which is most preferably equipped with an intermediate door, leads form the dwelling to the said space.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, the invention is described using examples with reference to the appended drawing, wherein

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of a dwelling according to the invention, which has been located on a shore. Figure 2 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of another dwelling according to the invention. Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 1 and is a vertical sectional view of a third dwelling according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a front view of the dwelling of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a schematic view of the floor plan of the dwelling of Figure 4. Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 1 and shows a two-storey solution. Figure 7 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of a multi-storey solution. Figure 8 is a schematic front view of a two-storey solution according to another embodiment.

Figure 9 is a schematic horizontal sectional top view of two adjacent dwellings.

Figure 10 is a schematic horizontal sectional top view of a dwelling and its additional spaces.

Figure 11 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of a third embodiment of the two- storey dwelling.

Figure 12 corresponds to Figure 11 and shows a fourth embodiment of the two-storey dwelling. Figure 13 corresponds to Figure 8 and is a front view of a fifth embodiment of the two- storey dwelling.

Figure 14 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of a dwelling solution with windows facing in two directions.

Figure 15 is a schematic horizontal sectional top view of a dwelling with windows facing in three different directions.

Figure 16 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of yet another dwelling according to the invention.

Figure 17 is a sectional view of Figure 16 along the line XVII-XVII.

Figure 18 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of a dwelling according to the invention.

Figure 19 is a schematic vertical sectional side view of yet another dwelling according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows a dwelling 10 according the invention, which has been excavated into the rock 20 located on a shore slope 20a so that the dwelling is essentially entirely located inside the rock 20. The earth material 21 , such as excavated material, obtained from the rock 20 has been placed in the water 30 in front of the dwelling 10. The excavated material 21 then allows for a terrace 22 and a landing 23, equipped with a handrail 28, to be created in a practical way in connection with the dwelling 10. The front wall 11 of the dwelling 10, which faces the shore, is a window wall that consists, in whole or in part, of windows. The large window walls are preferably made sufficiently strong, for example from armoured glass. The heat insulation of the windows also needs to be efficient enough. The windows can be provided with heating elements and/or heat recovery systems, such as heat collecting tubes. The dwelling 10 presented in Figure 2 has been dug into a slope 20 and the earth material obtained therefrom has been placed so that it also forms a plateau or a terrace 22 in front of the dwelling. The front wall 11 of the dwelling 10, which faces the shore and the downhill slope, is a window wall. The roof 12 of the dwelling has been built so that it mainly conforms to the shape of the slope 20 and it can be overlaid to form, for example, a grass or peat roof.

Figure 3 shows a fireplace or stove 16 and a chimney stack 15. The rear wall of the dwelling may be a bare rock surface. In this case, the fireplace 16 and the chimney stack 15 can be excavated directly into the rock wall.

Figure 4 is a front view of the dwelling 10, showing clearly that the dwelling's downhill- facing front wall 11 is essentially of glass or has large windows. The glass can be coloured to match the colour of the environment, for example grey or brown. The window surfaces can also be designed so that the front wall is not straight but of a shape conforming to the natural environment, such as arched.

Figure 5 shows that the room layout, furniture 17 and interior decoration of the dwelling 10 meet modern requirements. Thus the dwelling has, among others, bedrooms 18a, a living room, a bathroom 19a and a kitchen, and additionally, possibly also a sauna 19b. The fireplace 16 and the chimney stack 15 can be excavated directly into the rock wall. The water and sewerage systems can be made according to modern requirements. In that case, the dwelling 10 can have a bore well that has been drilled, for example, through the floor directly into the rock. The sewerage pipes can be placed into the floor or into a slot or channel excavated under the floor. In the kitchen, the existing rock surface can also be utilised for example as a table top.

The dwelling 10 presented in Figure 6 has been excavated into the rock 20 located on a shore slope 20a so that the height of the excavated space corresponds to two dwelling storeys 10a and 10b. The intermediate floor 12a between the storeys 10a and 10b, which forms the ceiling of the lower storey 10a and the floor of the upper storey 10b, has been cast in place following the excavation work. Due to the shape of the slope, the lower storey 10a naturally becomes advantageously larger in area. In that case, the intermediate floor 12a forming the ceiling of the lower storey 10a is so large that an outdoor terrace 22 is naturally created on top of it in connection with the upper storey 10b. The large window walls 11 a and 11 b of both of the storeys 10a and 10b face the downhill slope, i.e. the shore in the example presented in Figure 6. In this solution, too, the material 21 excavated from the rock 20 has been placed in front of the dwelling 10, thus forming a terrace-like plane in connection with the lower storey 10a as well. If the dwelling 10 is located on a shore, as in the example of Figure 6, the plateau located in connection with the lower storey 10a forms a landing 23.

Figure 7 shows a vertical sectional side view of dwellings 10a, 10b and 10c, which are located on top of each other, forming a kind of multi-storey dwelling solution. In each of the storeys, the large window walls 11a, 11b and 11c of the dwellings 10a, 10b and 10c face the downhill slope, which at the same time faces the shore, if the dwellings have been excavated into the shore rock 20. In the example of Figure 7, an access route or at least an emergency exit has been arranged for the dwellings 10a, 10b and 10c by connecting the storeys with a staircase 24. The storeys and dwellings 11a, 11b and 11c can also be connected with an elevator shaft 25 and an elevator 26.

Figure 8 is a schematic front view of a two-storey dwelling solution. The dwellings 10a,

10b, 10c, 10d, 10e and 10f have been placed both next to and on top of each other so that the dwellings 10a, 10b and 10c are located in the lower storey. The dwellings 10d, 10e and 10f are located in the upper storey. The dwellings can each be excavated separately so that the walls between all of the dwellings consist of rock 20. This is naturally the most efficient solution in terms of sound insulation. However, two or several dwellings can be built so that the walls or intermediate floors between them are cast after excavating. In the multi-storey solution, the different storeys have been connected with each other with a staircase 24. The access route between adjacent dwellings is formed by the corridors 27a and 27b. They can be located outdoors as in two-storey apartment buildings. The corridors 27a and 27b can, however, be covered and/or equipped with walls, in which case they are entirely comparable to indoor spaces.

Figure 9 shows a schematic horizontal sectional top view of two adjacent dwellings 10a and 10b. Both of them have been excavated separately into the rock 20, and both of their window walls 11a and 11b face the downhill slope, which, in case of a shore, naturally faces the shore. The access route between two adjacent dwellings is formed by the corridor 27, which is located outdoors or covered. It is also possible to create, between the dwellings 10a and 10b or otherwise in connection with them, a space, such as a terrace, which is used jointly by the occupants of both dwellings.

Figure 10 is a schematic horizontal section top view of a dwelling 10 excavated into the rock 20, in connection with which a swimming pool 29 has been provided. In the embodiment of Figure 10, the swimming pool 29 has also been excavated into the rock 20, in a space separate from the dwelling so that there is a connecting corridor 27 between the dwelling 10 and the swimming pool 29. However, doors also lead from the terrace 22 to both of these spaces.

Figure 11 presents a two-storey solution, in which the dwellings 10a and 10b excavated into the rock 20 either belong to the same dwelling or are separate from each other. The access route to the dwellings 10a and 10b is not illustrated in this figure. Access takes place through a staircase and/or an elevator, as illustrated in other figures. A light shaft 13 has been excavated into the roof of the upper dwelling and a skylight 14 has been connected to it, allowing for daylight to enter the dwelling 10b also through the roof 12. The terrace 22 of the lower dwelling 10a has also been raised above the ground level 32 so that access to the terrace takes place through the lower staircase 24b.

In the solution of Figure 11 , a remarkably large, gutter-like eave 31 has been added onto the slope 20 to prevent water and snow from running into the dwellings. The eave can be designed so that the water running off the slope 20 is guided to the sides of the dwellings 10a and 10b, as illustrated hereinafter in Figure 13.

In Figure 12, access to the dwellings 10a and 10b excavated into the rock 20 takes place via an elevator 26 located in front of the dwellings 10a and 10b or via a staircase 24, such as a spiral staircase, for example, built inside the rock 20. In Figure 12, the intermediate floor 12a between two storeys 10a and 10b is of rock 20. At the intermediate floor 12a, the rock 20 has been left unexcavated. An alternative solution was presented in Figure 11 , where the space needed for the two storeys 10a and 10b was first excavated so as to form one single space, which was then divided with the intermediate floor 12a.

As illustrated in Figure 12, an intermediate space 13a can be provided between the dwelling 10a or 10b and the rock 20 on one or several sides of the dwelling. The intermediate space 13a can serve as an insulating zone against heat and moisture and/or as an emergency exit. Service gangways and emergency exits can be provided around the dwelling on any side of the dwelling as needed.

Figure 13 presents a two-storey solution, wherein access to the dwelling 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d takes place through the staircase 24 located between the dwellings. This makes it possible to access the dwellings without passing another dwelling's windows, which could disturb the occupants. Nevertheless, the dwellings may additionally be provided with an elevator located either in front of the dwellings or excavated inside the rock, as illustrated in other figures. Figure 13 also shows the gutter-like eave 31 located above the dwellings 10c and 1Od, which efficiently steers the water and snow running off the slope 20 to the sides of the dwellings 10c and 10d.

Figure 14 shows a solution, wherein so much rock 20 has been excavated that the excavated space opens up in two different directions. This creates two window walls 11a and 11b facing downhill and terraces 22a and 22b in front of them. The space thus created can belong to just one dwelling, but it can also be divided into two separate dwellings 10a and 10 b with the partition wall 32. In the solution of Figure 14, two light shafts 13a and 13b have been excavated into the rock 20, with skylights 14a and 14b arranged in connection with them. Thus, daylight can enter the excavated space through the roof 12 from two different directions. It can be imagined that the skylight 14a lets light in mainly before noon and, correspondingly, the other skylight 14b lets light in mainly in the afternoon. On the other hand, if the excavated space has been divided into two separate dwellings 10a and 10b, each dwelling has its own skylight.

Figure 15 is a schematic horizontal sectional top view of the dwelling 10, which has been excavated into the rock 20 so that the dwelling 10 has window walls 11a, 11 b and 11c facing in three different directions. As the dwelling 10 presented in Figure 15 is essentially rectangular in shape, three separate terraces 22a, 22b and 22c are thus created on three sides of the dwelling. These terraces can naturally also be connected, for example by constructing the window walls 11a, 11b and 11c differently or facing in different directions. Similarly, the shape of the dwelling 10 can also be easily changed. By making alterations to the window walls 11a, 11b and 11 c it is also possible to reduce the number of terraces or eliminate them completely, if this is preferred.

Figure 16 shows a dwelling 10 located inside the rock 20, the roof 12, floor 12b and walls 12c of which dwelling are located at a distance from the rock 20 so that an intermediate space 13a is created. The intermediate space 13a is most preferably provided with a heat insulator serving at the same time as an underdrain in case water or moisture is seeping in from any fractures in the rock 20. The material under the floor 12b can be, for example, underdrain gravel, and there can also be a system of pipes for exhausting radon gas. The rock 20 under the floor 12b has been excavated so as to form an inclined plane or surface. Its inclination angle can be for example 3°, in which case water drains away efficiently from underneath the floor 12b. The underdrains can be led, in addition to the base 12b of the dwelling 10, also into the walls 12c and the roof 12. Alternatively, the rear wall 12c or the floor 12b of the dwelling 10 can also be of natural stone slabs which have been left visible after excavation or separate stone slabs.

In Figure 16, the reference number 33 indicates technical equipment located in connection with the dwelling 10, which system has been connected under the floor 12c to one or several bore holes drilled into the rock 20. The technical equipment 33 includes, for example, a bore well pump for supplying household water from the bore hole 34. It can also include a heat pump for supplying geothermal heat from the other bore hole 34 to heat the dwelling 10. However, this lead-through can, if needed, be used to connect the dwelling 10 to the municipal water supply and, similarly, to connect a drain pipe to a municipal sewerage system or to a wastewater treatment facility or absorption field outside the dwelling.

When the water supply and drainage and heat and moisture insulation have been handled efficiently, any conveniences usually related to dwellings, such as a sauna, Jacuzzi, swimming pool or rock garden, can be added to the dwelling 10. The heating of the dwelling 10 can naturally also be based on oil, electricity or wood instead of geothermal heat. It can naturally also be fitted with a tiled stove or a heat-storing fireplace. As a result of the advantageous thermal economy of the rock 20, the rock 20 can provide perhaps 40- 50% of the heat needed to heat the dwelling. The rest according to one of the methods presented above.

Figure 17 shows a sectional view of the dwelling 10. The dwelling is essentially made by excavating an opening the size of the dwelling 10 into the rock 20. After that, the space needed for building services, such as a bore well etc, is excavated into the base of the cave. The base and possibly also the walls are fitted with underdrains, insulated against moisture and coated, for example by applying sprayed concrete. An intermediate space 13a is left between the rock 20 and the dwelling structures, such as the walls 12c, the floor 12b and the roof 12, in which intermediate space heat insulation and/or servicing spaces or emergency exits can be placed. The rock 20 underneath the floor 12b can also be made laterally inclined so that water that has entered under the floor 12b runs to both sides of the crest located in the middle and is evacuated through the underdrain pipes 35 located at the edges.

Any known construction materials can be used in the interior decoration of the dwelling excavated into the rock 20 and in the structures and surface materials of its internal and external parts. However, it is particularly suitable for the character of the dwelling that stone surfaces are, at least partially, left visible in the interior decoration as well. In such a case, the stone surface can be a floor, ceiling or inner wall or some part of them which has been left unfinished after excavation. The stone surface can, however, also be polished or coated in the desired manner. It is also possible to take a piece of the aggregate material extracted from the rock 20 and to shape it and polish and/or coat it to make a floor or wall slab or a table top.

In Figures 16 and 17, the dwelling 10 is presented so that it is a module, in which at least some of the different parts of the dwelling, such as the roof 12, the floor 12b and/or at least part of the walls 12c have been assembled together already before installing the dwelling 10 into the recess excavated into the rock 20. In that case, the entire dwelling 10 can be a single module, which is taken to the installation site as such and installed as a whole at its final location inside the rock 20.

Figure 18 shows a dwelling 10, which has been built inside the rock 20 by forming, in the recess created in the rock 20, a broken stone or gravel foundation layer 36, on top of which footings 37 are placed. The walls 12c, the intermediate floor 12a and the roof 12, which have been formed from prefabricated elements, are then connected onto the base plate forming the floor 12b. A space 13a has been left between the elements, , such as the walls 12c and the roof 12, and the wall excavated into the rock 20, , which space is most preferably a ventilated intermediate space capable of accommodating an emergency exit at the same time, for example.

Figure 19 shows a dwelling 10 which has been formed in the space excavated into the rock 20 from the elements described above, for example. A door 38 and a corridor 27 lead from the dwelling 10 to another space 39 excavated into the rock 20, which space is a garage.

The dwellings excavated into the rock 20 described above can have all of the equipment required in modern dwellings and their equipment can be constructed according to the requirements of modern technology. These include, for example, geothermal energy, solar energy, a bore well, thermal glass, a sauna and a swimming pool. The energy stored in the rock during summer can be utilised in winter. If the dwelling is located on a shore, it is also possible to use, in connection with the heat pump, piping placed in the water or on the bottom. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Dwelling

11 Front wall

12 Roof

12a Intermediate floor

12b Floor

12c Wall

13 Light shaft

13a Intermediate space

14 Skylight

15 Chimney stack

16 Fireplace or stove

17 Piece of furniture

17a Chair

17b Table

18 Room

18a Bedroom

19 Wet area

19a Bathroom

19b Sauna

20a Slope

20 Rock

21 Earth material

22 Terrace

23 Landing

24 Staircase

24b Lower staircase

25 Elevator shaft

26 Elevator

27 Corridor

28 Handrail

29 Swimming pool

30 Water

31 Eave

32 Ground level

32 Partition wall

33 Technical equipment Bore well

Underdrain pipe

Foundation layer

Footing

Door

Garage

Claims

1. A permanent or holiday dwelling (10), cha racterised in that the dwelling (10) has, at least partially, been excavated into the rock (20 ) or dug into the earth (20a) so that it is essentially located underground.

2. A dwelling (10) according to claim 1 , cha racteri sed in that the dwelling (10) located beneath the earth (20, 20a) has at least some equipment required by modern building services, such as lighting, a heating system, ventilation system, water supply system and/or sewerage system.

3. A dwelling (10) according to claim 1 or2, characterised in that the dwelling (10) has been excavated into the rock (20) or dug into the slope (20a), - and that the wall (11) of the dwelling (10) facing downhill consists mostly of windows.

4. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 cha racterised in that the dwelling (10) has been excavated or dug into the slope (20, 20a), and that the aggregate or other earth material (21) dug out of the slope (20a) or excavated from the rock (20) has been placed on the downhill side of the dwelling (10) so that it forms a plateau or a terrace (22) in connection with the dwelling.

5. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-4, cha racterised in that the dwelling (10) has been excavated or dug into the slope (20) located on the shore (30). and that the aggregate or other earth material (21) excavated or dug out of the rock (20) of the slope has been placed into the water (30) in front of the dwelling (10) so that it forms a terrace (22) or a landing (23) in connection with the dwelling.

6. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-5, ch a racterised in that the dwelling (10) has been dug into the slope (20a) and that the roof (12) of the dwelling (10) has been formed so that it, at least partially, conforms to the shape of the slope (20).

7. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-6, ch aracterised in that the dwelling (10) has a fireplace (16) and a chimney stack (15) that have most preferably been excavated into the rock (20).

8. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-7, cha racte rised in that the dwelling (10) has a bore well and sewerage located in a slot or a channel excavated into the rock (20).

9. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterised in that the front wall of the dwelling (10) is essentially of glass or equipped with windows.

10. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-9, characterised in - that several dwellings (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e and 10f) have been placed into the slope side by side and/or on top of each other, that the dwellings (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e and 10f) have been excavated separately so that the walls and/or intermediate planes between them are of rock (20), or the intermediate plane (12a) between at least two dwellings has been cast after the dwellings have been excavated into the rock or the space needed for the dwellings has been dug into the slope.

11. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-10, characterised in that the dwelling (10) has been assembled into a recess excavated into the rock from prefabricated elements (12, 12a, 12c) or the dwelling is formed by a single, prefabricated ready-to-install module, and that there is an insulated or ventilated intermediate space (13a) between the dwelling (10) and the rock (20).

12. A dwelling (10) according to any one of claims 1-11, characterised in that there is at least one other space (39) in connection with the dwelling (10), such as a garage, swimming pool room, gym and/or hobby room, and that a corridor (27), which is most preferably equipped with an intermediate door (38), leads from the dwelling (10) to the said space (39).