Chalkboard-Skinned Belgian Passivhaus is a Playground for Neighborhood Kids

This unique chalkboard-clad Passivhaus in Brussels, Belgium turns a clutch of traditional design notions on their head -- from its fabric skin, to its glass interior, to its very unique approach to curbside appeal. <a href="http://www.blaf.be/proj_detail.php?p=17">BLAF Architecten</a> subtly invigorated the potential of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=passivhaus">Passivhaus design</a> while creating a front yard that asks all the neighborhood <a href="http://inhabitots.com">kids</a> to come over and play. Remarkable energy performance and a 3.7 kW solar array make the home an exquisite example of<a href="http://inhabitat.com/sustainable-building/"> sustainable design</a>.

The most eye-catching aspect of the modern home is its front yard -- a basketball court, activity area, and chalkboard facade provide a playground for a neighborhood full of <a href="http://inhabitots.com/">kids</a>. The idea came as a way to mix public and private space, resulting in a much more family friendly neighborhood.

The house is dug into a northern embankment, which makes for a nice sled run in the winter and helps the home remain energy-efficient.

The passive home -- currently pending certification -- pushes the envelope (building pun) of traditional <a href="http://www.passiv.de/07_eng/index_e.html">Passivhaus design</a>, which is the most energy-efficient building system in the world.

The project's passive solar design features high thermal mass and lots of southern glazing, creating a very transparent interior. (Solar gain is a part of Passivhaus design but not a requirement.)

The architects incorporated the space-saving <a href="http://www.mullerovavila.cz/english/raum-e.html">Raumplan principle</a> by joining the living spaces into an open, cohesive whole -- changes in elevation and other visual cues define the interior without walls.

The exterior walls are just as unique. Hung from a post and beam superstructure, the walls are super insulated and carefully detailed to eliminate <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-rstud-significantly-increases-wall-insulation-performance/">thermal bridging</a>. The exterior is wrapped in a black glass fiber cloth above and EPDM rubber below.

The rubberized façade is a perfect blank slate for expressions in chalk, and the southern windows have very discrete shades which pull down to shield the interior on hot days.

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