The home is based on designing row house neighborhoods that have a minimal environmental impact. Built as an affordable multi-story house, Maison Reciprocity is organized around a central Container for High-performance Operation, Recirculation and Distribution (CHORD) that houses all mechanical, plumbing, and electrical services, and serves as an internal divider between public and private spaces. Maison Reciprocity has an intelligent, energy-producing façade.
Related: French Student Team Rhône-Alpes Wins the 2012 Solar Decathlon Europe
The house is wrapped with a “living” brise-soleil modular building shell that integrates renewable energy technologies into the design. The skin is conceived as a lattice-like grid with a secondary envelope that optimizes shading of both interior and outdoor spaces. The envelope also reduces thermal gain and minimizes energy demand and consumption. Lastly, it comprises photovoltaic panels, living planters, shading devices and open cells.
+ Maison Reciprocity
+ Solar Decathlon Europe 2014
Photos by Liz Eve for Inhabitat
