Manfred Hegger Book order

The first comprehensive reference work on energy-independent Active Houses The Active House is a logical development of existing building standards. It draws renewable energy from the sun and wind in order to cover energy needs as completely as possible. The basic ideas of the Active House are described in detail in this standard work and serve as a planning guide for all parties involved in the construction of Active Houses. From the principles of sustainable and energy efficient construction to planning tools and technical details, the reader learns what constitutes active houses, how they developed, and the components required for its construction. Active House architecture is illustrated by fourteen built works in the areas of residential, non-residential, new construction, and renovation.

The book provides strategies for an energetically sensible and suitable approach to building conditioning as well as its design and constructional integration.

The book explores the slow progress of efficiency and sustainability in the construction industry compared to other economic sectors. It highlights the increasing attention from global, European, and national policies aimed at addressing these shortcomings through legal requirements and regulations, such as the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV), building certifications, and competitions. The focus is on the need for a more robust framework to promote sustainable practices in construction.

The materiality of buildings and constructions is an important aspect of architectural design. The approach to and use of materials is a fundamental building block of architectural training.

Until now, the few existing systematic texts on construction materials have primarily been directed at building engineers. An overview for architects, which also considers the importance of construction materials in the sensory perception of architecture—including tactile qualities, smell, color, and surface structure—has not been available. With the publication of the Construction Materials Manual, all that has changed. As a basic work aimed equally at the questions and perspectives of architects and building engineers, it will bring together all of the above-mentioned viewpoints. It addresses fundamental questions of sustainability, including life-span, environmental impact, and material cycles, while also presenting material innovations. All of the principal conventional and innovative construction materials are comprehensively documented, with attention to their production, manufacture, fabrication, treatment, surfaces, connections, and characteristics. International examples help to illustrate their use in architecture, where a building’s appearance is often defined by a single material. Thus, the Construction Materials Manual will support the daily work of architects and engineers in the choice of construction materials in a comprehensive and at the same time vivid and stimulating manner.