Extra-Ordinary Solutions for Useful
Smart Living
Elisabetta Ginelli, Claudio Chesi, Gianluca Pozzi, Giuditta Lazzati,
Davide Pirillo and Giulia Vignati
Abstract The project ‘cHOMgenius. PrototipeSystem and SharedProject. Soluzioni
straordinarie per l’abitare intelligente’ studies a modular constructional system and
experiments with design solutions, examining constructive, structural and plant engineering techniques for OFF-GRID dwellings featuring home automation control and
managed by digital tools with relevant verification and monitoring instruments, in
a logic of complete disassembly, reuse and recycling according to the most recent
European directive. This project, which includes as partners two Lombard companies
together with the Politecnico di Milano, is supported by 20 national and international
companies and by the UNI ‘Ente Italiano di Normazione’. The OFF-GRID prototype consists of entirely ‘clamping’ technical-constructive solutions, digital management/energetic solutions, innovative maintainability solutions for seismic safety
and economic sustainability, in relation to the high-energetic performance offered
and the technical solutions adopted. cHOMgenius is a shipping container building
totally placing itself within the circular economy, through the reuse of HC 20
and 40
containers made of corten steel as supporting structure of the dwelling. The approach
to the theme of circular economy pursued is intrinsically linked to the 3Rs concept,
understood as: (i) reduction of material in terms of quantity, embodied energy and
time, resulting in a better use of products and giving them a multi-functionality character; (ii) recycling of products and materials through the use of dry technologies,
offering the option to use decoupling materials in order to avoid not only dismantling
costs, often uneconomical, but also to avoid polluting industrial cycles due to recycling; (iii) reuse/reapplication, seen as the most evident plus of the circular chain as
it is considered synonymous with the increase of products’ life.
Keywords Accomplished project · Industrialization · Useful life cycle costs ·
Experimentation sharing · Evolutionary process · Recombining innovation ·
Prediction
E. Ginelli (B) · C. Chesi · G. Pozzi · G. Lazzati · D. Pirillo · G. Vignati
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department,
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: elisabetta.ginelli@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_32
347
Smart Living
Elisabetta Ginelli, Claudio Chesi, Gianluca Pozzi, Giuditta Lazzati,
Davide Pirillo and Giulia Vignati
Abstract The project ‘cHOMgenius. PrototipeSystem and SharedProject. Soluzioni
straordinarie per l’abitare intelligente’ studies a modular constructional system and
experiments with design solutions, examining constructive, structural and plant engineering techniques for OFF-GRID dwellings featuring home automation control and
managed by digital tools with relevant verification and monitoring instruments, in
a logic of complete disassembly, reuse and recycling according to the most recent
European directive. This project, which includes as partners two Lombard companies
together with the Politecnico di Milano, is supported by 20 national and international
companies and by the UNI ‘Ente Italiano di Normazione’. The OFF-GRID prototype consists of entirely ‘clamping’ technical-constructive solutions, digital management/energetic solutions, innovative maintainability solutions for seismic safety
and economic sustainability, in relation to the high-energetic performance offered
and the technical solutions adopted. cHOMgenius is a shipping container building
totally placing itself within the circular economy, through the reuse of HC 20
and 40
containers made of corten steel as supporting structure of the dwelling. The approach
to the theme of circular economy pursued is intrinsically linked to the 3Rs concept,
understood as: (i) reduction of material in terms of quantity, embodied energy and
time, resulting in a better use of products and giving them a multi-functionality character; (ii) recycling of products and materials through the use of dry technologies,
offering the option to use decoupling materials in order to avoid not only dismantling
costs, often uneconomical, but also to avoid polluting industrial cycles due to recycling; (iii) reuse/reapplication, seen as the most evident plus of the circular chain as
it is considered synonymous with the increase of products’ life.
Keywords Accomplished project · Industrialization · Useful life cycle costs ·
Experimentation sharing · Evolutionary process · Recombining innovation ·
Prediction
E. Ginelli (B) · C. Chesi · G. Pozzi · G. Lazzati · D. Pirillo · G. Vignati
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering—ABC Department,
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
e-mail: elisabetta.ginelli@polimi.it
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Della Torre et al. (eds.), Regeneration of the Built Environment
from a Circular Economy Perspective, Research for Development,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33256-3_32
347