'PO.LIN.S' by marco acerbis studio

The Bergamo based architect Marco Acerbis has been known for his designs for companies such as Alias, Desalto and Fontana Arte. With this multifunctional building for the Portogruaro Council and Portogruaro Campus (Ca’ Foscari University, Venice) he recently unveiled his newest architectural project. The Polo per l’Innovazione Strategica is certified CasaClima Class A+, it is made of eco sustainable materials and uses only renewable energy fonts like FV solar panels and geothermal power.

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Woonhuis Weijnen 2.0, photo by I See For You / Föllmi Photography

The Dutch practice FARO Architecten recently completed this energy-neutral row house in Ijburg near Amsterdam, built according the cradle-tocradle principles. The CO2-reduction of 100% was realized by bringing the house to a passive house level with an insulation value of Rc=10 using triple glazing, 100% liquid-tight joints and heat exchangers. Even the insulation materials are organic.

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A glazed window has been tucked into the front opening

The Truffle, aka “La Trufa”, is a piece of architecture that is not only characterised by its distinctive form, but also its extraordinary process of development.

Cutting the concrete with a quarry machine

As real truffles do, the shape of the hollow concrete rock “grew” in the earth. A hole was dug in the ground and the concrete was poured inside. To retain a hollow space within “La Trufa”, hay bales have been included in the volume.

Detail of the silicon-glazed window

To get rid of the hay from the interior, a calf called Paulina was brought in; she enjoyed 50m3 of the nicest food, which she ate for a year. She left a healthy adult, weighing 300 kilos.

Entrance into the core of "La Trufa"

After that, a quarry machine was used to reveal the core again and create openings. The small holiday house situated on the Costa da Morte in Spain provides a shower, toilet and a bed with a view, but, as the project’s name “La Trufa” suggests, a kitchen wasn’t necessary: the Spanish Atlantic coast boasts of a wide range of restaurants which impress even spoiled gourmet food lovers.

The bed with a view is located directly in front of the generous window, which floods the cave-like interior with light

Although the inside seems to be hewn out of natural rock, the volume has been constructed out of concrete