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Virginia Tech Lumenhaus Wins the 2010 Solar Decathlon!
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Andrew Michler
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Architecture,Design,Environment,Interior Design,News,Other Gadgets,Renewable Energy,Solar |
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The homes were packed all week with visitors who gazed at the unusually shaped Fablab house, doted over the cozy interior of the Luukku House, and reveled over the superior craftsmanship of the Bambu house. The 17 houses were probed, prodded, and evaluated on their form, function and innovation. A total of ten separate contests determined this year’s winner including: Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Solar Systems, Electrical Energy Balance, Comfort Conditions and Appliances, Communication and Social Awareness, Industrialization and Market Viability, Innovation and Sustainability.
In light of all the amazing entrants, what we have come to understand is that these are much more than solar homes – they are fully integrated systems able to perform all the functions related to comfort, health and aesthetic, without the harmful impact of fossil fuels dependence or the destruction of natural resources. Each home provides a powerful insight into how we can all thrive within the means of a sustainable world without giving up on any of the creature comforts of modern living. Inhabitat give cheers to all the schools and students who showed so much imagination and resolve during this competition!
+ Solar Decathlon Europe
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The winner of the 2010 European Solar Decathlon is Virginia Tech for the Lumenhaus!Over the last couple weeks we at Inhabitat watched the 2010 Solar Decathlon Design Competition roll out 17 fantastic solar-powered prefab homes, showing the world that completely self-sustaining shelters can easily become a reality if we invest in solar technology. Over one thousand students took part in this phenomenal architectural design-build competition which challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and…
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We can’t help but be excited by an American win at the European Solar Decathlon, especially since German teams have kicked butt at the U.S Solar Decathlon for 3 years running now. Virgina Tech’s Lumenhaus is a potent design that embraces the Bauhaus and
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The Lumenhaus maintains a solar screen that lets light in while keeping the hot Spanish sun out. Coupled with an aero gel thermal panel, the walls an actually have three systems able to perform at an optimal level, irregardless of any extreme weather that may be incurred.
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The Lumenhaus’ interior is as equally adaptable as the rooms, and it can easily be transformed to suit particular lighting and comfort needs.
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Coming in second place was the IKAROS House designed by the University of Applied Sciences. This stunner boasts an incredible shading system, superb energy efficiency and a large solar system capable of generating more than four times the power needed for
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The IKAROS House is characterized by a zig-zag design that is even apparent on the interior. This unique application both functions to shade the home and optimizes the use of sunlight as it changes during the day and throughout the seasons.
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With its sturdy construction, École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Grenoble’s Armadillo Box shows that prefab design is a truly a force to be reckoned with, and it’s no surprise it ranked in the top three coming in third place. A simple and effective shell of solar panels provide a modern finish that is also able to keep the house cool inside.
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The interior of theArmadillo Box has been designed to be simple, efficient and flexible. Spaces can easily be expanded with the large doors that open onto a deck. Furniture was designed to be easily shifted in various configurations that would allow the residents to maximize the functionality of the interior area.
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Stuttgart University’s home+ is a shimmering solar powered gem that performs as efficiently as it looks.
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The home+ also provides elegant living quarters and a proven heating and cooling system.
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A sun-powered house flanked by solar walls and capped by a solar roof, Bergische University’s Wuppertal House provides a lot of power and a multitude of spaces to enjoy the Mediterranean sun.
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The Luukku House by Aalto University of Finland follows a longstanding Finnish tradition of extensive and inventive use of wood as a central construction material.
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Our site reporter was particularly impressed by the Luukku House’s cozy interior. It’s no surprise this entrant swept out the competition, winning first prize in the Architecture category.
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The very unique technology atop the Napovomo House is a “micro-combined cycle heat and power” unit — or CHP. The mirror reflects the sun’s rays onto solar electric cells, which are cooled by water running though the back of the panels. This improves the efficiency of the Gallium Arsenide solar cells, making them upwards of 20% efficient. The overall effort results in a very comfortable home that produces all of its own power and requires zero outside energy.
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The Napevomo House is noted for its very unique tack on design where a combo of two powerful technologies into a single system is able to heat the house and provide electricity at the same time.
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The University of Florida’s Re:Focus House takes the concept of natural ventilation through generous shading and modernizes it with a scalable and satisfying design.
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Re:Focus’ contemporary window louvers are reclaimed lumber from an old home, and tubular solar electric panels are the choice energy system.
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From the School of Architecture of the Vallès (ETSAV) LOW3 is named for the fact that it is low energy and low impact, but it differentiates itself by touting that it’s also low cost (an attribute that people don’t typically associate with green technology).
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The LOW3 is an ingenious design that combines passive solar architecture with bioclimatic optimization to minimize the house’s energy demand.
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The Bambu House also boasts an impressive solar array that generates 9 kilowatts of electricity that powers its one bedroom, one living room layout. One can also find a temperature and humidity control system, high-level thermal insulation systems, and a bamboo enclosed garden.
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The Bambu House is a beautiful sun-powered abode inspired by nature. It has two elegant sloping roofs and is almost entirely constructed from bamboo.
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The FabLab House features a photovoltaic skin that is customized for Madrid’s unique solar resources. It is built on three legs and has space underneath for natural ventilation and a shaded patio. FabLab also features smart energy and temperature-monitoring systems, a garden, and a rainwater collection system on its roof.
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A crowd favorite, the FabLab House is a solar panel-covered passive building designed by a team from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia.
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Apart from its striking black envelope, the Living Equia’s main visual feature is two strips of windows crossing each other through the middle of the house. This simple design aspect allows incredible beaming light to permeate the interior throughout the day.
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Living Equia is designed to run completely off the grid with all of the modern comforts of climate control. This submission is sure to keep the hot Madrid summer at bay.
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The Urcomante House takes sustainability a long way. With a handsome postmodern facade, the house also features walls and a roof covered in photovoltaic panels, and an amply sunlit and adaptable interior with interchangeable rooms.
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Urcomante’s rooftop solar array produces an impressive 10 kWhrs of energy and also features evacuated tube hot water heaters. The side louvers can adjust to let the winter light in and block the harsh summer glare, and the inside is broken into six “modules” that can be reorganized to fit the occupants’ needs.
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