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Expandable Houses: An Explorative Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Charlotte Cambier

    (Department of Architectural Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Waldo Galle

    (Department of Architectural Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
    VITO Transition Platform, Flemish Institute for Technical Research, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium)

  • Niels De Temmerman

    (Department of Architectural Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

In addition to the environmental burden of its construction and demolition activities, the Flemish housing market faces a structural affordability challenge. As one possible answer, this research explores the potential of so-called expandable houses, being built increasingly often. Through specific design choices that enable the disassembly and future reuse of individual components and so align with the idea of a circular economy, expandable houses promise to provide ever-changing homes with a smaller impact on the environment and at a lower cost for clients. In this paper, an expandable house suitable for various housing needs is conceived through a scenario-based research-by-design approach and compared to a reference house for Flanders. Subsequently, for both houses the life cycle costs are calculated and compared. The results of this exploration support the proposition that designing expandable houses can be a catalyst for sustainable, circular housing development and that households could benefit from its social, economic and ecological qualities. It requires, however, a dynamic perspective on evaluating their life-cycle impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte Cambier & Waldo Galle & Niels De Temmerman, 2021. "Expandable Houses: An Explorative Life Cycle Cost Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-28, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:12:p:6974-:d:579032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henrik Gutzon Larsen, 2019. "Three phases of Danish cohousing: tenure and the development of an alternative housing form," Housing Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(8), pages 1349-1371, September.
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