ruminations about architecture and design

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

innovation week

Sometimes I'm amazed that architects and builders are willing to try anything new. Even incremental changes in building construction methods need to be treated with skepticism and caution. A novel approach to solving a problem presented by a client results in unintended consequences--some of which can be disastrous.

Right now I'm feeling deep skepticism towards structural insulated panels--a.k.a. SIPs. These are used on timberframes or as independent wall and roof systems. They seem to make life hell for electricians, and since electricity is vital to building performance, this conflict steers me back towards a new appreciation of conventional framing.

When a purported solution is more complicated than the problem it's meant to solve, one should not expect rapid adoption.

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