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- Renai House Solar Decathlon Europe<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/chiba-university" target="_blank">Chiba University's</a> <a href="http://solardecathlon.jp" target="_blank">Renai House</a> just placed second in the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/solar-decathlon-europe-2014/" target="_blank">2014 Solar Decathlon Europe’s</a> architecture division. Designed to address the issue of natural disasters in urban areas such as those that had been afflicted by the devastating <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/japan-earthquake/" target="_blank">2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake,</a> Renai House looks at the big picture of long-term post-disaster design. Rather than create temporary post-disaster architecture, the Chiba University students developed the design concept of "urban seeds" that will help rebuild sustainable cities from the ground up.1
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeDeeply affected by the Tohoku-Oki earthquake that decimated northeastern Japan in March 2011, the students of Chiba University focused on creating post-disaster architecture and communities for their 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe entry.2
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeEach energy-efficient prefab housing module can be easily and flexibly joined together to create long-term housing and sustainable communities in disaster-afflicted areas.3
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeThe designers focused on three main ideas to form the foundation of "urban seeds": speed, flexibility, and dignity.4
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeEach wooden prefab home can be quickly constructed at the nearest factory and then shipped out to the disaster-stricken zone.5
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeOnce the house is in place, refugees will be able to customize the home to accommodate a variety of family sizes or other uses such as clinics or offices.6
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeTaking climatic differences into consideration, the Renai House can be easily modified depending on its location.7
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeBy using efficient insulation, natural materials, and solar panels, each Renai House unit can achieve an 80% reduction in energy consumption as compared to conventional Japanese housing.8
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeMoveable hanging space dividers can be pulled out to create a variety of spatial configurations.9
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeThe panels are made from a composite of cement, wood fiber, and recycled fly ash.10
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeHighly reflective and natural light ducts reflect light from the outside in.11
- Renai House Solar Decathlon EuropeHigh tech low energy appliances are installed throughout the house.12