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Friday, September 17, 2010

Amsterdam Townhouse Has All The Green Gizmos But Is Gorgeous Too

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto
from: http://www.treehugger.com/

green townhouse amsterdam passivhaus photo interior
photos by I See For You / Föllmi Photography via DailyTonic

Suzanne Labarre at CoDesign is "smitten" with FARO Architecten's Woonhuis Weijnen 2.0, a townhouse near Amsterdam. No wonder; it is one of those rare combinations of true green and great design.

green townhouse amsterdam passivhaus photo kitchen

The layout is open and airy, all warm and wood-lined. There is some clever structural work, with the mezzanine held up by a monster tree trunk. But the systems are there too; according to Daily Tonic,

Thermic mass is reached by using clay plaster with phase changing materials for some walls. A very large boiler feed water container of 2 m3 provides a large accumulation of energy. The heat exchanger in combination with the high level of insulation and triple glazing provides a great level of comfort. The air supply comes via the outside and will be heated by a Sole ground source heat exchanger two meters under the house. Extra energy for space heating and warm water will be supplied by warm water collectors. These are integrated in the cornice of the façade. The temperature can be increased if needed by use of a pellet stove with a heat pump. The horizontal windows lie deep in the façade to prevent excess sun coming into the house.

green townhouse amsterdam passivhaus photo den

The large windows have adjustable sun screens. Rain water is used for both toilets and laundry. The large openings in the facade allow the use of solar heat. When there is a surplus of sun, sun screens will be used. The deep lying windows keep most of the sun out on a daily basis. The sun heats through vacuum tube collectors in the cornices the water for heating. Warm water collected in the large collection vats is used for floor heating and warm tap water. A heat exchanger is used for ventilation, returning heat from the 'used' air to the fresh air without mixing these (HR technique). For extra support, an earth heat collector can cool air in summer and heat air in winter. A wind turbine produces energy when the wind blows. This can be used directly in the house. Overcapacity can be send to the grid, and can be used again by no wind. The grid works as a buffer.

green townhouse amsterdam passivhaus photo home office

I want that home office. More images at Daily Tonic

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