Studio Albori’s Casa Solare is a Self-Sufficient Home Set High Up in the Alps

Perched over 5,700 feet above sea level, <a href="http://www.albori.it/vens_scheda.html">Casa Solare</a> is a three story retreat in the Italian Alps designed by <a href="http://www.albori.it/index.htm">Studio Albori</a>. Located in the village of Vens in the Val D’Aosta region, close to where Italy meets France and Switzerland, the home is built from locally sourced timber and it makes the most of its surrounding environment. The <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/green-architecture/casa-solare-studio-albori-mixes-passive-design-and-gorgeous-wood/">natural aesthetic</a> fits in perfectly with the view of Mount Emilius and Aosta Valley.

Phase change panels absorb the sun’s warmth during daylight hours. That heat is then released at night to keep the house comfortable after sunset.

Casa Solare’s north-facing facade has very few windows, keeping the heat in. Inside and out, the larch timber that supports the house’s frame and lines the interior walls are left untreated.

Casa Solare is designed perfectly to benefit from the sun’s position in sky. The house capitalizes on passive solar design details that allow the house to stay cool on the warmest of days.

Overhangs on the abundant south-facing windows draw in the sun’s heat during winter but block out the more intense summer sun. The views of the Aosta Valley, naturally, are spectacular.

Casa Solare offers a sharp contrast to the homes in the village of Vens, a hamlet home to about 300 people. The house is in the middle of the Italian Alps.

Naturally a passive solar design would include PV panels. The rooftop panels supplement the heating and cooking needs for the house, most of which comes from a wood stove.

One of the models for Casa Solare. Additional projects include a sustainably designed housing development in Costa Rica and renovated apartment buildings in Milan.

This model shows the view of Casa Solare's north facade. Note the minimal amount of windows to keep heat in.

Studio Albori is based in Milan. The studio aims to to match the free spirit of its architects and designers with the need to build its projects as environmentally responsible and energy efficient as possible.