Architects: Artau Architecture Location: Stavelot, Belgium Project Year: 2008 Photographs: Courtesy of Artau Architecture
Project Area: 200 sqm Budget: € 375,000
This house, open to nature and sun, offers an unusual volumetry; It meets on one hand a planning constrain by being parallel to the road and on the other hand also displays multiple asymmetric openings on its southern side. The house sets on a steep land and enjoys a magnificent view across the forested area.
Internal spaces are open but still provide distinct relaxation spaces and play areas, assuring therefore a pleasant family life. The game of transparency between the different spaces encourages exchanges and communication.
This house is also “passive”. The 46cm insulation in the roof, 50cm for the façade and 40cm for the ground enable a very low energy consumption for the heating. Sanitary water is controlled by solar thermal panels and the installation of photovoltaic panels will allow to almost reach the “zero energy consumption”.
Well in its time, this dwelling is also contemporary by its use of innovative and sustainable materials:
- Wooden structure using self-supporting wall
- Balanced ventilation system with 90% energy recovering, combined with an air/water heat pump
- Triple glazed unit for the window frame with thermal break k=0.8
- Wooden vertical cladding made of fir wood.