SALT VILLA
OFFICE: Roth Architecture
LOCATION: AlUla, Saudi Arabia
ROTH R&D PROJECT TEAM: Elizabeth Cohn-Martin, Fernando Artigas, Estefania Mejia, Doria Reyes
ROTH INNOVATION TEAM:
Estefania López
IMAGE CREDITS: Roth Architecture, LLC
ASSEMBLY DEVELOPMENT
Salt is not a material commonly used in construction--in fact, building assemblies traditionally seek to keep salt out due to issues of corrosion and salt blooms on wall surfaces. Our work throughout this process considered both material composition as well as assembly and fabrication methodology. Our team sought to explore the benefits of working with crystallized salt brine; being able to work with a by-product/waste product, potential natural humidity regulation, heat and fire resistance, and the health benefits of utilizing salt as a finish material were each explored.
During RIBA Phase 1 & 2, with an international consultant team, we began pilot-scale studies that included early phase physical samples, ASTM testing, and analysis of results that impacted our considerations of any final machining or infrastructural needs that would be required to produce to-scale quantities of material.
