Portuguese studio CORE Architects designed a low energy, white minimalist holiday house in the picturesque landscape of the Algarve coastline.
Photography © Alexander Bogorodskiy
Project
Description
In
the picturesque landscape of the Algarve coastline, on a hill between wild
thyme and rosemary, this low energy house was built for a family based in
Lübbecke, Germany. The family has been coming to this area for 30 years and
finally decided to build their own holiday home. For the retired
couple it was highly important to create a ground-level living. Their previous
holiday home spread over 2 floors and made it difficult to use with ongoing
age. As architects, we were required to design a single-storey house that
allows communicative living on one level, but at the same time blends gently
into the steep hillside allotment. The access to the garden was required to be
made comfortable and effortless.
The
client´s requirement for maximum privacy and yet maximum vision, was the origin
for the design concept. An open space living that opens up to the south,
to the sea, were requested. Large windows should allow as much daylight
into the house but also protect any insides from the
public.
The
neighbors to the right and left, to whom the couple has maintained a friendly
relationship for years, should not get a wall set in front of their nose, but
at the same time, the owners did not want to be in a constant view spot of
them. From the interplay of these almost contradictory requirements, the
wedge-shaped roof overhangs, the perforated curtain walls and the long steps to
the garden have been created. The client’s needs thus determined the shape of
the building and the choice of building materials.
As
passive house architects, we attach great importance to sustainability and the
use of ecological building materials. This combination is not always linear to
solve. As for each of our projects, the bioclimatic study is the basis for
design concept development. On the basis of this study, we determine, among
other things, the prevailing winds, with which we contribute to the cooling of
the living space. The positioning of the façade windows plays a special role
here - "natural cross ventilation" is an important factor, which, in
combination with the clay plaster used in the interior, ensures an ideal living
environment in which temperature and humidity are regulated equally. Out of
concern for the heat, the builders insisted on installing an air conditioning
unit, according to our calculations, but this is unlikely to be used.
Contrary
to popular belief, on the Algarvian coast, it is very damp and cold
in the winter. Although temperatures do not reach negative levels, heating must
be provided for a pleasant living climate. In the villa GK geothermal energy
is implemented. To heat the water a solar thermal system was
installed, which even heats the pool if requested.
Good
thermal insulation in the building envelope is crucial to achieve the desired
energy standard of this low energy house. The heat transfer coefficient
(U-value) for the outer wall construction should be min <0.20 W / m²K. This
was achieved by the use of stated building materials.
Due
to the high earthquake risk in South Portugal, a concrete skeleton structure
was chosen as the type of construction. For the outer walls, heat-efficient
clay blocks were used.
In Portugal, traditional hollow bricks are still being used. Its characteristics are defined by low mechanical resistance, low thermal inertia, and no heat or sound insulation. For building low energy houses those are completely useless.
In our projects we only use thermal clay tiles with mortar-free butt jointing. These are produced in Portugal and are fast and easy to work with. Their thermal performance is more than twice as efficient than the traditional bricks, that are conventionally used.
The use of local building materials is just as important to us as their energy performance. Portugal is the world's largest exporter of cork, thus for the facade insulation we use 10 - 14 cm thick cork boards. Cork caulking is 100% organic. The Deamm plates are cork granules pressed into plates in a steam press at 360 ° C. Pure mechanical production - without binders or synthetic resins.
In Portugal, traditional hollow bricks are still being used. Its characteristics are defined by low mechanical resistance, low thermal inertia, and no heat or sound insulation. For building low energy houses those are completely useless.
In our projects we only use thermal clay tiles with mortar-free butt jointing. These are produced in Portugal and are fast and easy to work with. Their thermal performance is more than twice as efficient than the traditional bricks, that are conventionally used.
The use of local building materials is just as important to us as their energy performance. Portugal is the world's largest exporter of cork, thus for the facade insulation we use 10 - 14 cm thick cork boards. Cork caulking is 100% organic. The Deamm plates are cork granules pressed into plates in a steam press at 360 ° C. Pure mechanical production - without binders or synthetic resins.
