Click on indices to view the picture illustrating the commentary. | The construction begins with the earthworks, including the setting aside of arable land. |
| The foundations are summarized in plots of ± 1 meter deep. They will receive directly concrete plinth. |
| A plot of reinforced concrete foundation is poured, the steel bars set a base plate for the building structure. |
| The steel structure arrived on site. It is anti-rust treated and painted in the atelier. At the end of construction, it is advisable to retouch some inevitable touch up chips that occur during installation of cellular concrete slabs. |
| The metallic columns have a top, resting on the base plate (Photo 3). A non-shrink mortar is poured between the seat and the foot of the column. |
| The metallic frame is rising steadily, piece by piece, like a puzzle. |
| We notice easily the hoof of columns. |
| Then come the first elements of the exterior walls, concrete plinths first. These plinths are concrete waterproof, they do not require cementing or coal tar waterproofing. If soil is handed up against the baseboard, a plastic film-type "Platon" is applied beforehand. |
| The metallic frame rising... |
| The cellular concrete slabs are transported on site. Cellular concrete is a brittle material, moreover, handled by cranes. Sometimes the slabs are partially broken at the edges or corners. These chips will be subject to repairs that once brushed will be totally invisible. When chips or cracks are too important to be retouched, the slab is replaced. |
| The cellular concrete slab bind to the metal structure using galvanized nailed legs in the cellular concrete and welded to the structure. It applies also 2 neoprene foam seals between each row of slabs. The first cellular concrete slab is put in place after the placement of a sealing strip DIBA eliminating any risk of damp. |
| Soon, the outer walls will rise. The rains are irrelevant to the material : it is hydrophobic thanks to its cellular structure. |
| All slabs have being raised, we proceeded to tinker with using a cellular concrete paste. The final whitewash ensure homogeneity of the surface slabs. The gaps between slabs are filled with a silicone seal both inside and outside thus ensuring perfect sealing of the walls. |
| A detail of an assembly structure |
| Then it proceeds to assemble the roof, with this specific project (vegetated roof plate) of steel tanks. These steel bins will receive the complex of thermic insulation + waterproofing membrane. For sloping roofs, sandwich panels will be used. They receive directly roof covering (tiles, slates, profiles, flat or corrugated steel). |
| The building is almost close and dry. We can begin laying special techniques before the introduction of the chape. A floor heating is fully compatible with the building system. |
| Floors can be achieved in many ways. Among the technical solutions most prized by the owner warned, the smooth concrete slab. This technique is still very difficult to master : during its drying phase, the concrete shrinks and cracks. Thereafter, the concrete reacts strongly to changes in temperature, with the constant risk of cracks. Nevertheless, the concrete slab smoothed, dyed in the mass, still cheaper than a tiled surface and presents a unique aesthetic. |
| A few days later, the building waits just for its exterior joineries and initiates interior completions. |
| An exterior view of the building before pouring the slab floor. We can notice the seams of cellular concrete slabs, terminated by a line of silicone. The wall awaits final finish or paint, whitewash or lime plaster tinted, possibly. Other materials can be implemented if it is dictated by urbanistic services requirements : bricks, wood siding, ... |
| Finally, the external joineries (aluminum or wood) have been raised. The building adopts already a great look and easily presage his final appearance. |