Feature Article /
Feb 7, 2018

Design/Build Firm Unveils First Home Constructed From Upcycled Agricultural Waste

The Biological house by Een til Een

Danish design/build firm Een til Een says it has constructed the world’s first “biological” house, a building made from recovered grass, straw, seagrass, and eco-treated wood.

The firm says the Biological House is a modern, sustainable, and modular housing concept with a specific focus on materials, indoor air quality, and unique design. Built primarily from upcycled residual products from the agricultural industry, including grass, straw and seaweed—products that would normally be considered waste and burned for energy—the house diverts the environmental impact that burning them would cause, the company says.

Eco-friendly biological home built with recycled agricultural waste

 “It’s been a long project, and we have all certainly learned a great deal over the course of planning and construction,” says Een til Een CEO Kim Christofte. “It has been a pleasure to watch the team find so many clever solutions to the problems encountered along the way, and we are delighted to finally open the doors to share this unique house with the public.”

The Biological House is loaded with innovative products and technology.

Recycled biological home by Een til Een

Instead of a traditional concrete foundation, the building sits on screw piles, which are typically used for building deep foundations and are installed with minimal noise and vibration. “This type of foundation enables the house to be moved and rebuilt in another location, either in its original form or as part of an entirely new design,” the firm says.

The house also features products from NovofibreHorn GroupThermocell (wood-based insulation), DerbigumRheinzink, and Kebony (eco-treated softwood).

Een til Een home built The Biological House with recycled agricultural waste

Tomato stems and wood chips are the basis for the composite boards that were used to build the house. What’s more, Een Til Een used digital manufacturing and production technology so that the home can be quickly assembled and disassembled.

The company says the house is an example of how to build affordable, healthy, and sustainable.

Bathroom of The Biological House by Een til Een

Comments

Has a list of products been made along with their ingredients so we know how much of the structure was made from waste materials ? That would be helpful as well as how the various products were fabricated.

nmaynard's picture

We have a call out to the firm and they are working on that list for us. As soon as we get it, we will update the story. Thank you.

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