| If you are building a new home and you want it to | | | | accommodate the angle at which the sun enters the |
| be durable, unique, interesting and supremely livable, | | | | room each day. |
| you might want to consider STEEL! | | | | A year ago, an international architectural competition |
| The concept of a steel house probably seems | | | | spurred interest in steel houses, designed to be |
| strange to most people, but in fact, it is a growing | | | | usable, and sustainable in any environment. The |
| trend, especially in countries like India, and it should | | | | winning designs will be sold to builders and property |
| not be dismissed out of hand. There are a lot of | | | | owners who want steel houses, but don't know how |
| benefits to a steel house, not the least of which is | | | | to design them and what factors should be |
| weather resistance. | | | | considered. |
| In some communities in the United States | | | | The fact is that steel houses compare very |
| condominium and townhouse association halls, and | | | | favorably to those built with concrete because the |
| new health care facilities are being designed with | | | | steel 'strength to weight bearing' ratio is higher than |
| steel, and the concept of residential steel buildings | | | | any other material, and because it is easy to form |
| and homes is being tested here in the U.S. with good | | | | and join steel components. |
| results. | | | | And, because the materials for a steel house are |
| Architects working on steel home designs say that | | | | ordered to specification, the house is built from |
| the idea may seem radical, but it is no different than | | | | measured, custom pieces that require less on site |
| living in a house made of concrete. | | | | preparation, thereby reducing dust and noise and |
| You may not be able to hang a picture any place you | | | | speeding the construction process, and decreasing |
| want or drive a nail into the wall without some | | | | the total time for construction. |
| thought and planning, but you can decorate a steel | | | | A steel structure uses materials that are sturdy, and |
| home. You just need to limit your wall hangings to | | | | light, and thus easy to use in construction. And, these |
| the spot where the steel support beams run behind | | | | materials can withstand hurricanes, storms and |
| the wallboard. | | | | earthquakes, better than any other building material. |
| You might think that the temperature inside a steel | | | | Steel houses do not require annual maintenance, or |
| house would be very high during hot summer | | | | regular painting to keep them looking fresh and new. |
| months, but that is not the case. Studies of steel | | | | The cost of constructing a steel house or building is |
| houses built in India revealed that, on average, the | | | | slightly higher than the cost for a concrete building, |
| steel house was one degree cooler in summer than a | | | | but costs can vary widely depending on the use of |
| concrete home. | | | | the building, and the quality of finish materials you |
| The chief architect of these Indian steel homes says | | | | want to use in the steel structure. |
| that is because steel walls are smoother than | | | | It might take awhile for U.S. home builders and |
| concrete and reflect more light, and because many | | | | architects to fully embrace the idea of steel houses |
| of the materials he uses in designing the steel | | | | but the trend has started! Some architects are |
| structure have an aluminum coating that increases | | | | designing roof structures with steel and using steel as |
| reflective capacity. | | | | a complementary and holistic component of the |
| Furthermore, steel sheets are thin so there is less | | | | home exterior. |
| heat conductive surface. Materials used to insulate | | | | Commercial architects are also designing with steel |
| the steel home, and the glazing on the windows all | | | | for health care facilities, schools and other institutional |
| help to keep the temperature down inside the steel | | | | buildings. |
| house. Windows in a steel home are typically large | | | | But the real cutting edge of steel structures is in |
| and designed for optimum cross ventilation. | | | | residential home design and building. The questions is: |
| Architectural design always includes an appropriate | | | | Do you want to be the first on your block to build a |
| roof pitch to reduce solar heat in the room and | | | | steel house? |