Low Energy MZ House in Barcelona Achieves Energy and Cost Efficiency Through Prefab Construction

Barcelona-based <a href="http://www.calderon-folch-sarsanedas.com/">Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes</a> seeks to create “conscious” architecture that improves people's lives through socially and environmentally responsibly solutions. CFS Arquitectes recently drew upon these goals in their plans to renovate a 1918 home into a modern dwelling that maximizes comfort and energy-efficiency. This renovation, which only took 4 months, not only has created a home with excellent energy performance, but it even used bio-construction materials to reduce its environmental impact!

The warm wood materiality throughout the design includes natural larch wood and heat-treated pine wood. The interior materiality includes 3 ply shuttering panels and linoleum for the flooring.

Large floor-to-ceiling operable, window walls provide daylight and ventilation to these interior spaces while warming the color of the floor and wood through natural light.

OSB panels with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/second-life-rugs-turns-factory-residue-wools-into-beautiful-high-pile-rugs/">natural sheep wool</a> and wood-fiber boards were used for the roof and exterior façade for insulation.

The design team redesigned the home to include: a skylight permitting passive solar gain and natural daylight, a cost-effective <a href="http://inhabitat.com/b-house-is-an-awesome-prefabricated-off-grid-home-in-kumamoto-japan/">prefabricated dry construction system</a> to speed up the construction schedule, and multiple active, energy –efficient systems to lower the project's environmental impact.

The floor plans of the home show the simplicity of the design renovation

The large skylight helps to bring in copious amounts of natural light with very minimal alteration to the existing bones of the building.