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Civil-Comp Proceedings
ISSN 1759-3433
CCP: 7/8
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NON-CONVENTIONAL STRUCTURES
Edited by: B.H.V. Topping
Paper I.3

The Gaia Building System (GBS)

P. Schmidt

Faculty of Architecture and Building Sciences B. Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper
P. Schmidt, "The Gaia Building System (GBS)", in B.H.V. Topping, (Editor), "Proceedings of the International Conference on the Design and Construction of Non-Conventional Structures", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, pp 21-30, 1987. doi:10.4203/ccp.7.1.3
Abstract
The Gaia Building System is a non-conventional structure, based on the principles of a human ecological (bionic) & holistic approach and the criteria of the integral bio-logical architecture. The used materials and energies are taken - as far as possible - from the own region with a minimum of outer transformation and transport. The applied methods, design-, production- and building-processes are environmental- and human-friendly, small scaled and based on recycling in a broad sense. All components and building parts - due to their mentioned principles - are parts of an 'organic' totality. To reach a desirable indoor climate, one already has to use adequate materials and has to apply solar techniques and clean, soft technologies. The aim or function, which can be served by the structure is to see in multipurpose buildings, with a dominance for dwellings: the main structural idea is the combination of heavy and 'closed' earth-, loam- or mud constructions, made in various techniques on the one hand and light and 'open' textile structures of plantfibres on the other hand. The latter ones shelter the mud building parts against rain and snow, can be insulated by organic materials and shape big free spaces. Some supporting wooden beams are integrated in the structural system and wood is also used for some equipment and several components. Several plant materials and products are also integrated. The small and flexible structural units allow lots of varieties in the design as well as geometry and fit the individual needs according the size as well as expression by its shapeable structure. At the same time the system is suitable for different lay outs on the scale of masterplans and in combination of the units. The system has fixed principles, but can be realized also by self-builders who get a lot of opportunities for variation. In a way the idea occurred to develop a kind of modern vernacular building structure by the suggested principles and systems.

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