A sustainable house design has been designed by students of the Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany which have won them the Solar Decathlon competition. The winning design is a two-storey, cube-shaped building covered in two types of solar cells, is highly insulated and has automated lourve window shades to reduce unwanted heat-gain.
The Solar Decathlon design of the Darmstadt University of Technology is aimed to demonstrate innovative sustainable design and to make it an object of discussion. The architectural vision offers an alternate lifestyle which introduces the concept of energy efficiency and sustainability as a substantial element of everyday life. The interior concept consisting of a single room provides maximum space and flexibility. For different atmospheres and grades of privacy the east side floor (bedroom) has been lowered while an open gallery above offers additional space for cocooning and leisure.
The choice of interior materials supports the overall idea of a light and airy feeling. Light colors on the walls contrasts to a structured wooden flooring. The functional body attains its solitaire character by the glossy acrylic glass surface. Windows are placed to support the different functions and ambiences of the room and allow different views from and into the in- and outside.
The construction of the façade is based on the traditional principle of shingles, which is commonly practiced with slate or wooden plates. The students picked up this technique and transferred the principle onto a new appearance and modern materials such as glass PV-modules and acrylic glass. Via
