Snøhetta, Scandinavia’s largest independent research body SINTEF, Zero Emission
Building (ZEB) partner Brødrene Dahl, and Optimera
Plus House Larvik was today announced the winner of the WAN Sustainable Buildings 2015 Award. By optimizing architectural qualities and technological solutions, the extraordinary family house serves both the living and energy needs of a family house, in addition to generating enough energy surpluses to power an electric car year round.
The house is the result of a collaboration between the architecture and design firm Snøhetta, Scandinavia’s largest independent research body SINTEF, Zero Emission Building (ZEB) partner Brødrene Dahl, and Optimera.
Says Optimera and Brødrene Dahl, “With this house we wanted to demonstrate technical solutions that improve comfort and maintains environment, at the same time as the solutions give low energy costs and are created with the use of wood, in line with Norwegian building traditions. We show the future standard of building with technology and products available in the market today”
The house in the garden has a characteristic tilt towards southeast and a sloping roof surface clad with solar panels and collectors. These elements, together with geothermal energy from energy wells in the ground, serve the energy need for the house. The project has a strong focus on retaining homelike qualities through non-quantifiable properties. Emotive comfort and sense of wellbeing have governed the design process to the same extent as energy demands.
Daylight, views, and contact with landscape and outdoor space are reconciled with the need for balancing sealed walls and windows. Heating and cooling is solved passively through placement of glass surfaces, orientation, house geometry, and volume. Materials have been chosen based on thermal characteristics and embodied energy, but also on the basis of their ability to contribute to a good indoor climate, air quality, and aesthetic qualities.
Says Snøhetta, “We believe that the focus on sustainability and innovation in architecture is of great importance, and we are honored by the chance to bring focus to this in our industry through our work. We believe architecture has an important role in solving the immediate challenge of energy consumption and production. We can actually reduce the CO2 footprint.”