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Team Israel’s “All [e] Land” home is a net zero prefab that blends Israel’s traditional building techniques with new technologies and sustainability. The design is based on a Mediterranean “4 Room Israelite House”, which is an ancient building archetype found in archeological remains in the region from about 3500 years ago. The team’s modern interpretation places a strong focus on the courtyard, which provides space for entertaining, relaxing, and gardening. Inside, the home features a large, open living, kitchen and dining area, with a bathroom and bedroom off to one side.
Passive solar design along with daylighting, shading and ventilation help to reduce energy use, while an angled rooftop hosts a photovoltaic and solar thermal system to generate energy. The home is built from prefabricated and recyclable steel beams, and it’s tightly insulated and clad in fiber cement boards. Advanced technologies from Israel, like the PV-integrated windows were incorporated into the home to showcase the country’s innovations. The home also features a night-time radiative cooling system and advanced controls to monitor and optimize efficiency.
Team Israelis made up of about 30 students from the Shenkar College of Engineering & Design, Tel Aviv University, the College of Management Academic Studies, and the Neri Bloomfield School of Design. This will be the first time a team from Israel competes in the Solar Decathlon, which will take place from August 2nd-13th in Datong, China. After the competition, the home will return to Israel where it will be placed on permanent display for educational purposes.
Images ©Team Israel
