ArcelorMittal today revealed that a collaboration between the Spanish branch of its construction and global R&D divisions and Spanish architect Sergio Baragaño has resulted in a prototype for a futuristic house forged from steel.
The steel and mining company, headquartered here in Luxembourg, unveiled the housing prototype at its R&D centre in Asturias as an example of an alternative construction approach which would reduce waste, improve the safety of construction workers and produce modern buildings compliant with the latest safety and energy-efficiency regulations.
The plan was developed from architect Sergio Baragaño's 'b home' concept and uses a pioneering approach for constructing high-performance homes and offices which are cost-effective and resource-efficient. The structures in the prototype were assembled in a workshop by Madrid-based Prismas, and then transported to the ArcelorMittal R&D site, where construction was completed in 72 hours.
The prototype features a host of ArcelorMittal steel in the building’s structure, roof, façade, panels, and decking. Produced at ArcelorMittal Asturias, the steel was coated at Lesaka and transformed at the company’s Berrioplano sites. Ondatherm sandwich panels were selected for their aesthetic value and excellent thermal, acoustic and fire resistance.
"Forged from ArcelorMittal steel, this project showcases the versatility of steel, and demonstrates why the material has a firm place in the home of the future," said Nicolás de Abajo, ArcelorMittal’s global R&D manager at Asturias.
He continued: "Steel’s unique strength and aesthetic properties make it highly desirable to architects and engineers alike, and it will continue to satisfy the construction industry’s need for light, economical structures that meet stringent safety and sustainability criteria."
Baragaño’s “b home” approach ensures that housing and office units can be easily extended or adapted to meet a user’s changing requirements. In this way, a one-bed house can be converted into a family residence by simply adding more modules horizontally or vertically. The method also makes it possible to disassemble a building and reinstall it elsewhere.
Another key characteristic of the “b home” approach is the speed of construction, with the possibility of building a property within four months of commission. Baragaño's collaboration with ArcelorMittal precedes his project to build 800 'b home' houses in Chile.
Photos by ArcelorMittal
