The First Active House in Russia
The First Active House in Russia His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Denmark opened the
First Active House in Russia during his state visit to Russia.
The First Active House in Russia
Societies all over the world are facing the same challenges: to make the demands of modern life meet the need for protection of the environment; to find new ways in which we can ensure healthy and pleasant living. The buildings where we live and work can contribute to sustainable solutions. That is the idea behind the Active House principles, a set of requirements for integration of energy, indoor climate and environment. The Active House principles can be implemented all over the world. But few places offer better opportunities than Russia. With growing affluence, people have become increasingly aware of the importance of good living conditions. The climate offers extreme shifts in temperature and a growing environmental concern highlights the need for energy-efficient solutions. The First Active House in Russia was built to show how a range of available energy solutions offers responses to all these challenges.
Developed in cooperation between the VELUX Group and Zagorodny Proekt, one of Russia's leading construction companies, the Active House has gone from idea to reality. Today, the building is both a showcase of energy-efficient technology and a modern home for a family of five.
The house is also an example of how eye-catching architecture, inspired by local traditions, can contribute to energy efficiency and good living conditions. Designed by Russian architectural office Polygon Lab, the First Active House in Russia is the result of a process involving a range of partners interested in a balanced and holistic approach to building design and performance.
But the ambitions of the First Active House in Russia are not just about energy efficiency and beautiful architecture; the house is part of a broader vision of improving life quality. Located in Zapadnaya Dolina, a new residential community now under construction on the outskirts of Moscow, the Active House will be surrounded by other high quality homes. The developer is currently working on a business model for production of new houses based on the Active House principles.
The creation of a house where design, function and surroundings can serve as inspiration to the future has gained widespread support. Active House Russia is supported by the Russian Union of Architects, the Active House Alliance, Russian Sustainable Building Council, Eco Standard Group, Passive House Institute Russia, Wooden House Association, Construction Physics Scientific and Research Institute and the Russian State Construction University in St. Petersburg.
Thanks to their support, and to outstanding cooperation between everyone involved in the construction, the First Active House in Russia is now a reality. The building is ready to serve as inspiration to everyone with an interest in energy-efficient technology, appealing architecture and good living environment. Welcome to a house with great light and a bright future.
Ground floor 134 m2
First floor 95 m2
Total 229 m2
Terrace area 47 m2 The First Active House in Russia Societies all over the world are facing the same challenges: to make the demands of modern life meet the need for protection of the environment; to find new ways in which we can ensure healthy and pleasant living. The buildings where we live and work can contribute to sustainable solutions. That is the idea behind the Active House principles, a set of requirements for integration of energy, indoor climate and environment. The Active House principles can be implemented all over the world. But few places offer better opportunities than Russia. With growing affluence, people have become increasingly aware of the importance of good living conditions. The climate offers extreme shifts in temperature and a growing environmental concern highlights the need for energy-efficient solutions. The First Active House in Russia was built to show how a range of available energy solutions offers responses to all these challenges.
Developed in cooperation between the VELUX Group and Zagorodny Proekt, one of Russia's leading construction companies, the Active House has gone from idea to reality. Today, the building is both a showcase of energy-efficient technology and a modern home for a family of five.
The house is also an example of how eye-catching architecture, inspired by local traditions, can contribute to energy efficiency and good living conditions. Designed by Russian architectural office Polygon Lab, the First Active House in Russia is the result of a process involving a range of partners interested in a balanced and holistic approach to building design and performance.
But the ambitions of the First Active House in Russia are not just about energy efficiency and beautiful architecture; the house is part of a broader vision of improving life quality. Located in Zapadnaya Dolina, a new residential community now under construction on the outskirts of Moscow, the Active House will be surrounded by other high quality homes. The developer is currently working on a business model for production of new houses based on the Active House principles.
The creation of a house where design, function and surroundings can serve as inspiration to the future has gained widespread support. Active House Russia is supported by the Russian Union of Architects, the Active House Alliance, Russian Sustainable Building Council, Eco Standard Group, Passive House Institute Russia, Wooden House Association, Construction Physics Scientific and Research Institute and the Russian State Construction University in St. Petersburg.
Thanks to their support, and to outstanding cooperation between everyone involved in the construction, the First Active House in Russia is now a reality. The building is ready to serve as inspiration to everyone with an interest in energy-efficient technology, appealing architecture and good living environment. Welcome to a house with great light and a bright future.
Ground floor 134 m2
First floor 95 m2
Total 229 m2
Terrace area 47 m2 
VisionActive House is a vision of buildings that create healthier and more comfortable lives for their occupants without impacting negatively on the climate – moving us towards a cleaner, healthier and safer world.
The Active House vision defines highly ambitious long-term goals for the future building stock. The purpose of the vision is to unite interested parties based on a balanced and holistic approach to building design and performance, and to facilitate cooperation on building projects, product development, research initiatives and performance targets that can move us further towards the vision.
Active House proposes a target framework for how to design and renovate buildings that contribute positively to human health and well-being by focusing on the indoor and outdoor environment and the use of renewable energy. An Active House is evaluated on the basis of the interaction between energy consumption, indoor climate conditions and impact on the external environment.
Key principles of Active HouseAn important aspect of the Active House concept is that of 'integration'. Although energy, indoor climate and environment are essential components of the vision, it is the way their integration promotes architectural quality, human health, comfort and well-being which represents the value of the building.
Energy
• A building which is energy efficient and easy to operate
• A building which substantially exceeds the statutory minimum in terms of energy efficiency
• A building which exploits a variety of energy sources integrated in the overall design
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Indoor climate
• An indoor climate that promotes health, comfort and sense of well-being
• A building which ensures good indoor air quality, adequate thermal climate and appropriate visual and acoustical comfort
• An indoor climate which is easy for occupants to control and at the same time encourages responsible environmental behaviour
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Environment
• A building which exerts the minimum impact on environmental and cultural resources
• A building which avoids ecological damage and weeks to add to local biodiversity
• A building which is constructed of materials which have high recycled content and which provides the ability for its own recycling or re-use
Integration of the three main principles of energy, indoor climate and environment
• A building which integrates the demands of comfort, climate, energy, environment and ecology into an attractive whole
• A building where such integration adds to architectural quality and human well-being
• A building whose interactive systems and spaces add to human enjoyment and support environmentally responsive family life
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Architecture
When architect Alexander Leonov and his colleagues in Polygon Lab began working on Russia's first Active House, they were entering new paths. Not only was the Active House concept completely new in Russia, but the architects had to overcome both aesthetical and technical challenges. "We wanted the house to be solid, we wanted to reduce sharp elements, and we had to take energy efficiency into account," explains Alexander Leonov.
Backed by consultancy from energy advisors and house company NLK, the architects collected information about Russian building traditions, energy technology and previous experience with wooden houses. The result is a building that captivates the spectator with its robust, yet warm and inviting, attitude. The inspiration came from modern Nordic wooden houses as well as traditional Russian housing.
To many, Russian architecture brings associations of either lavish palaces or endless rows of concrete blocks. Polygon Lab wanted to show that modern Russian architecture can draw on different traditions and create buildings that offer both a beautiful exterior and good living environment.
"We were inspired by small wooden houses, dachas," Alexander Leonov explains. A dacha is a traditional summer residence or country house that is common throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. Dachas usually have a simple, rectangular structure − a concept adopted by the Active House. Other examples of dacha-inspiration are the extended elements and the big chimney. It is not just for letting out smoke; in the Active House, the chimney also contains pipes and other installations.
The combination of ancient inspiration and modern installations creates a house well suited for a contemporary family. On the inside, the house is divided into two floors. The ground floor consists of large communal areas such as kitchen, living room and office space. The size and flexibility of these rooms allow for many different activities, including a play area for children. Thanks to the open spaces, the parents can easily keep an eye on the children all the time. The private living spaces are on the first floor, with a master bedroom, bathrooms and two smaller bedrooms.
Both floors are flooded with generous amounts of daylight. Walls and roof are intersected by numerous windows, creating a building in which seasons, weather and the movements of the sun are always visible.
"There are many reasons why we wanted to provide the house with lots of daylight. One of them is the fact that good daylight reduces the need for electrical light," says Alexander Leonov. The preference for windows affected many aspects of the house. Large windows are heavy, so the house needed a solid structure to support them. Special attention was also paid to the sealing between roof, walls and windows in order to avoid leakage of air and water.
The architects insisted that the Active House had windows on all four sides. In that way, the wind can always be used for natural ventilation, regardless of the wind direction. In addition, having windows on all four sides brings more solar gain to the house, and the huge influx of daylight improves the living environment.
Active Facade
Making the most of the sun
The south facade and sloping roof play an important role in intelligent daylight design. Strategically placed roof and facade windows and integrated VELUX solar collectors utilise the free energy from the sun.
The roof and facade of the First Active House in Russia give the house a distinctive look. But they do much more besides. Thanks to a combination of local expertise and new technology, roof and facade also contribute to the house’s indoor climate and energy efficiency. They harvest free energy from the sun, let daylight and fresh air into the building and keep the cold out.
The sloping roof of the First Active House in Russia consists of wood panels intersected by stripes of windows. They provide the house with generous amounts of daylight. Integrated VELUX solar collectors contribute to the heating of the house, while the automatic sun screening on roof and facade windows ensures a pleasant indoor temperature on sunny days. The windows also provide natural ventilation, thereby contributing to a healthy indoor climate.
In the cold season, the house can cope with the heaviest snowfall and large drop in temperature.
“The windows are designed in such a way that the snow doesn’t stay there for long. The windows have a steep angle, and the stripe-structure makes the snow slide down. The surface of the windows also prevents snow and dust from sticking to the glass,” explains architect Alexander Leonov.
The facade’s multiple layers of wood minimise cold bridges and the use of heavy plaster in the interior walls creates thermal mass in the building.
“We paid a lot of attention to the details, especially the sealing between roofs, wall and windows,” explains Alexander Leonov. He is very happy with the result:
“The facts show we did a good job. When the temperature in Moscow was -30°C, the house was still warm inside.” Family life in a new light
An Active House creates healthier and more comfortable indoor conditions for the occupants and the building ensures a generous supply of daylight and fresh air. Materials used have a positive impact on comfort and indoor climate. For the family inhabiting the First Active House in Russia, moving in was not just a change of address − it was a change of lifestyle. From a crowded apartment in central Moscow to a life with generous amounts of space and light.
“Here, we are surrounded by fields and forests,” relates Asja Dunaevskaya. She is the mother of the family comprising her husband, Korney Krongauz, and their three daughters. They all love their new life in the Active House.
“The children can play hide and seek inside the house. And we really enjoy having a large kitchen,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. The family was chosen to live in the house after contacting the partners behind the building and announcing their keen interest in the Active House concept. They will live in the house for about six months. During that time, their experiences and opinions of the Active House, together with data of consumption and climate control, will be collected to provide valuable information for the next generation of Active Houses.
Some facts are already evident. The Active House can cope with even the harshest Russian winter. Around New Year, the house stayed warm, in spite of the fact that the temperature outside plummeted to -30°C. The house itself takes care of the indoor climate. Thanks to the automatic control system, the installations of the house respond to data of temperature and air quality. For example, the windows can open automatically when sensors in the house register a temperature above the default level chosen by the residents. The control system can also be programmed to switch the lights on and off in response to the activities in the house. But in the biggest room in the house, the living room, there is not much need for artificial light.
“We rarely need to switch on the lights there because we have so much light coming in through the windows,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. She and the rest of the family enjoy the extensive use of windows in the Active House, and not just because of the light. The windows in roof and walls affect the mood on a daily basis.
“With big windows you are closer to the whole world. It really changes your pace of life and state of mind,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. She finds that the large windows have different advantages depending on the season and weather.
“On sunny days, the rooms are full of light and the house seems even bigger. It's great when you lie on a carpet and watch warm shiny specks of dust dance in the air. I get a feeling of enormous calm and happiness watching the nature around me. It’s as if I am outside − but without the cold in winter and the heat and mosquitoes in the summer”, she says, adding, “of course the most practical thing is being able to look after the kids outside while you are inside.”
The larger window area also enables the family to stay in contact with the surrounding neighbourhood.
“It's especially great to wake up and see the world waking up with you. Not only is the sun rising, but people are starting to move around, dogs are barking and running in the distance and the shadows are disappearing,” says Asja Dunaevskaya.
Family facts:
The first residents of the First Active House in Russia are: Asja Dunaevskaya, journalist, Korney Krongauz, web-designer, and their three daughters.
Family blog:
Sharing the Active House life with the world.
As residents of the First Active House in Russia, the family is not just testing the house’s functions and technical installations. They are testing the entire experience of the Active House. In the Russian-language blog “Diary of a family living in the Active House”, they share their thoughts with readers. In a humorous style, Asja Dunaevskaya and Korney Krongauz write about the ups and downs in Russia’s first Active House. From the joy of relaxing in front of the fireplace to the experience that men and women tend to be fascinated by completely different aspects of the house’s features.
But the fireplace is popular among everyone and has a special place in the house as well as in Asja Dunaevskaya’s heart.
“I love staying at home in the evenings. It's dark outside, and it's warm and cosy inside. When it was cold, we lit the fireplace almost every day,” she says.
Family life in a new light
An Active House creates healthier and more comfortable indoor conditions for the occupants and the building ensures a generous supply of daylight and fresh air. Materials used have a positive impact on comfort and indoor climate. For the family inhabiting the First Active House in Russia, moving in was not just a change of address − it was a change of lifestyle. From a crowded apartment in central Moscow to a life with generous amounts of space and light.
“Here, we are surrounded by fields and forests,” relates Asja Dunaevskaya. She is the mother of the family comprising her husband, Korney Krongauz, and their three daughters. They all love their new life in the Active House.
“The children can play hide and seek inside the house. And we really enjoy having a large kitchen,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. The family was chosen to live in the house after contacting the partners behind the building and announcing their keen interest in the Active House concept. They will live in the house for about six months. During that time, their experiences and opinions of the Active House, together with data of consumption and climate control, will be collected to provide valuable information for the next generation of Active Houses.
Some facts are already evident. The Active House can cope with even the harshest Russian winter. Around New Year, the house stayed warm, in spite of the fact that the temperature outside plummeted to -30°C. The house itself takes care of the indoor climate. Thanks to the automatic control system, the installations of the house respond to data of temperature and air quality. For example, the windows can open automatically when sensors in the house register a temperature above the default level chosen by the residents. The control system can also be programmed to switch the lights on and off in response to the activities in the house. But in the biggest room in the house, the living room, there is not much need for artificial light.
“We rarely need to switch on the lights there because we have so much light coming in through the windows,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. She and the rest of the family enjoy the extensive use of windows in the Active House, and not just because of the light. The windows in roof and walls affect the mood on a daily basis.
“With big windows you are closer to the whole world. It really changes your pace of life and state of mind,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. She finds that the large windows have different advantages depending on the season and weather.
“On sunny days, the rooms are full of light and the house seems even bigger. It's great when you lie on a carpet and watch warm shiny specks of dust dance in the air. I get a feeling of enormous calm and happiness watching the nature around me. It’s as if I am outside − but without the cold in winter and the heat and mosquitoes in the summer”, she says, adding, “of course the most practical thing is being able to look after the kids outside while you are inside.”
The larger window area also enables the family to stay in contact with the surrounding neighbourhood.
“It's especially great to wake up and see the world waking up with you. Not only is the sun rising, but people are starting to move around, dogs are barking and running in the distance and the shadows are disappearing,” says Asja Dunaevskaya.
Family facts:
The first residents of the First Active House in Russia are: Asja Dunaevskaya, journalist, Korney Krongauz, web-designer, and their three daughters.
Family blog:
Sharing the Active House life with the world.
As residents of the First Active House in Russia, the family is not just testing the house’s functions and technical installations. They are testing the entire experience of the Active House. In the Russian-language blog “Diary of a family living in the Active House”, they share their thoughts with readers. In a humorous style, Asja Dunaevskaya and Korney Krongauz write about the ups and downs in Russia’s first Active House. From the joy of relaxing in front of the fireplace to the experience that men and women tend to be fascinated by completely different aspects of the house’s features.
But the fireplace is popular among everyone and has a special place in the house as well as in Asja Dunaevskaya’s heart.
“I love staying at home in the evenings. It's dark outside, and it's warm and cosy inside. When it was cold, we lit the fireplace almost every day,” she says.
Family life in a new light
An Active House creates healthier and more comfortable indoor conditions for the occupants and the building ensures a generous supply of daylight and fresh air. Materials used have a positive impact on comfort and indoor climate. For the family inhabiting the First Active House in Russia, moving in was not just a change of address − it was a change of lifestyle. From a crowded apartment in central Moscow to a life with generous amounts of space and light.
“Here, we are surrounded by fields and forests,” relates Asja Dunaevskaya. She is the mother of the family comprising her husband, Korney Krongauz, and their three daughters. They all love their new life in the Active House.
“The children can play hide and seek inside the house. And we really enjoy having a large kitchen,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. The family was chosen to live in the house after contacting the partners behind the building and announcing their keen interest in the Active House concept. They will live in the house for about six months. During that time, their experiences and opinions of the Active House, together with data of consumption and climate control, will be collected to provide valuable information for the next generation of Active Houses.
Some facts are already evident. The Active House can cope with even the harshest Russian winter. Around New Year, the house stayed warm, in spite of the fact that the temperature outside plummeted to -30°C. The house itself takes care of the indoor climate. Thanks to the automatic control system, the installations of the house respond to data of temperature and air quality. For example, the windows can open automatically when sensors in the house register a temperature above the default level chosen by the residents. The control system can also be programmed to switch the lights on and off in response to the activities in the house. But in the biggest room in the house, the living room, there is not much need for artificial light.
“We rarely need to switch on the lights there because we have so much light coming in through the windows,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. She and the rest of the family enjoy the extensive use of windows in the Active House, and not just because of the light. The windows in roof and walls affect the mood on a daily basis.
“With big windows you are closer to the whole world. It really changes your pace of life and state of mind,” says Asja Dunaevskaya. She finds that the large windows have different advantages depending on the season and weather.
“On sunny days, the rooms are full of light and the house seems even bigger. It's great when you lie on a carpet and watch warm shiny specks of dust dance in the air. I get a feeling of enormous calm and happiness watching the nature around me. It’s as if I am outside − but without the cold in winter and the heat and mosquitoes in the summer”, she says, adding, “of course the most practical thing is being able to look after the kids outside while you are inside.”
The larger window area also enables the family to stay in contact with the surrounding neighbourhood.
“It's especially great to wake up and see the world waking up with you. Not only is the sun rising, but people are starting to move around, dogs are barking and running in the distance and the shadows are disappearing,” says Asja Dunaevskaya.
Family facts:
The first residents of the First Active House in Russia are: Asja Dunaevskaya, journalist, Korney Krongauz, web-designer, and their three daughters.
Family blog:
Sharing the Active House life with the world.
As residents of the First Active House in Russia, the family is not just testing the house’s functions and technical installations. They are testing the entire experience of the Active House. In the Russian-language blog “Diary of a family living in the Active House”, they share their thoughts with readers. In a humorous style, Asja Dunaevskaya and Korney Krongauz write about the ups and downs in Russia’s first Active House. From the joy of relaxing in front of the fireplace to the experience that men and women tend to be fascinated by completely different aspects of the house’s features.
But the fireplace is popular among everyone and has a special place in the house as well as in Asja Dunaevskaya’s heart.
“I love staying at home in the evenings. It's dark outside, and it's warm and cosy inside. When it was cold, we lit the fireplace almost every day,” she says.
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