The 7-story building features triple-glazed windows, a high level of insulation, and it’s practically airtight. The photovoltaics mounted on the roof produce energy primarily for the building, although excess electricity is fed into the public power grid. Energy produced by solar panels power the ventilation system, which is a key ingredient to the building’s energy efficiency. The mechanical ventilation system provides fresh air and climate control while reducing heating (and cooling) requirements.
Related: The Velux Sunlighthouse is Austria’s First Carbon Neutral Home
A metal structure supports wooden shades on the building’s south façade and controls the amount of natural lighting that penetrates the interior. The 21 apartments within the building are designed with a high degree of flexibility and can be reorganized, merged and divided depending on specific user requirements. The open-plan layout of the apartments creates airy and spacious rooms separated by slight denivelation and discrete partitioning.
Related: Berlin’s Effizienzhaus Plus Home Generates More Energy than it Consumes
The Boyenstrasse apartment building was chosen as a finalist for the 2014 Passive House Award, which aims to recognize EU-based projects which deploy and promote the use of passive design principles. Submitted projects are classified into five categories according to their typology and use.
+ Deimel Oelschläger Architekten
+ 2014 Passive House Award
Photos by Svea Pietschmann and Andrea Kroth
