ECOtwist – modern & comfortable energy-efficient house

Joanna Gil, Anna Grudzińska, Agata Potaczek

doi:10.5277/arc140208

Abstract

One of the major contemporary challenges architects need to face, is to design structures which combine comfort of use with maximal energy efficiency. This results from high demands regarding thermal insulation of construction partitions, described in building regulations which came into force in 1.01.2014. The ECOtwist house project attempts to become the optimal future construction in terms of energy consumption and economy. The article provides a description of an energy efficient single-family house concept called ECOtwist, developed as a result of cooperation between a group of students and a couple – hypothetical future investors and users of the house. Keeping in mind the idea of sustainable development concerning architecture, strong relations between the site and the building have been developed, distinguishing functional zones inside as well as outside. The selection of structural system, building materials and energy saving solutions was determined to obtain the lowest possible useful energy value. Simultaneously, at every stage of the design process these decisions were confronted with the building’s functionality and aesthetics.

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