Architectural concept

Life, light and air reflected in the architecture

The house is 190 m2 and comprises 1 1/2 storey. The window area (vertical windows and roof windows) is equivalent to 40% of the floor area.
The principal architectural idea in Home for Life is to unite single-family house requirements to experience, functionality and energy consumption in an integrated design. It is the light incidence, the active facade, the relationship between in and out and the flexibility of the house that gives the high architectural quality.
The look and feel of this demonstration home is an interpretation of the archetypical residence as a futuristic ‘energy machine’ that interacts with nature and the life lived inside it. The active frontage changes the look of the house and its spatial relationships depending on the time of year and needs. All the rooms contain windows facing in at least two directions, and besides being an entrance point of light, they also function as an exit.
Home for Life is designed with good space for both togetherness and peace and quiet. Emphasis is placed on creating special places for active experiences and flexible utilisation. The house is located on the north-west part of the lot to give the best possible space for gardens as well as utilize the height of the lot against north. The building appears as a total, sculptured building body where the carport and outbuilding are integrated. The house makes use of the zoning plan’s possibility for building in 1½ story which also contribute to optimize the view from the lot.

Dissolution of borders between inside and outside

In the Home for Life the borders between inside and outside are dissolved. The windows and patio doors that reach to the floor make inside and outside flow together so the room appears larger and more airy, while the windows that go completely to the ceiling together with the roof windows, ensure that the daylight comes deep into the rooms.

All roof windows are with io-homecontrol®, which is an electronic control system that helps ensure a comfortable indoor climate and minimal energy consumption, e.g. by closing windows and blinds at night to avoid heat loss, thus minimising the energy loss at night considerably.

In ‘Home for Life’ VELUX is launching a new product which makes the intelligent systems solution CO2 neutral – windows and sun screening open and close using solar-cell operated batteries so no connection to the mains is necessary. 

The active facade

In Home for Life comfort is obtained by the help of an active facade.
An active facade:
 
- Regulates itself how much light and warmth comes in through the windows.
- Airs out itself, so there is always a healthy indoor climate in the house.
 
The active facade changes according to the seasons and needs. It can either be open to let the light and warmth in, or it can be closed to screen against the sun and maintain warmth during the night.

The Facade

The choice of slate covering on the facade and roof reflects both the wish for durability, low CO2 influence and minimal maintenance, but also the wish to integrate the dark surfaces of the solar cells, the solar panels and the windows’ in a sculptural composition. The wood covering and wood flooring, with their feeling of natural warmth, give a contrast to the hardness and cold expression of the slate.

Construction

The house is built of a light wood construction with load-bearing I-beams in wood and beams/joists in laminated wood. In special strained areas, steel beams are used where necessary. Stability and slice effects are obtained with the use of plywood mounted on the I-beams on the roof and outer walls. Corbels around the balcony and utility room on the 1st floor are built with laminated wood as load bearing. The corbel over the kitchen/family room is built as a steel frame.