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The Multikomfort House, a ZEB Pilot Project, in Larvik scheduled to open in September

United Kingdom Architecture News - Sep 02, 2014 - 12:53   9238 views

The Multikomfort House, a ZEB Pilot Project, in Larvik scheduled to open in September

Together with SINTEF, Brødrene Dahl and Optimera, are we these days completing the Multikomfort house, a ZEB Pilot House in Larvik Norway. 

The building is intended for use as a demonstration platform to facilitate learning on building methodology for plus houses with integrated sustainable solutions. The building is scheduled to be completed September 17th. Check out the project to the right to read more about the concepts behind the ZEB house and the Multi-Comfort standard. 

Snøhetta is an active partner within ZEB - The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings. The ZEB Pilot House is a project cooperation between Snøhetta, Scandinavia’s largest independent research body, SINTEF, ZEB partner Brødrene Dahl and Optimera. 

The volume of the house describes a single family house. However, the building is intended for use as a demonstration platform to facilitate learning on building methodology for plus houses with integrated sustainable solutions. The house is also an extensively monitored research platform to enhance understanding of building performance.

The Multikomfort House, a ZEB Pilot Project, in Larvik scheduled to open in September

The Multi-Comfort standard demands beyond current building code in relation to; energy use, air permeability, daylight factoring, acoustic quality, warmth and indoor air quality. The house in Ringdalskogen satisfies the criteria for ZEB-OM classification, which entails zero emission from all materials used in the building process, daily operation, and all user equipment including an electric vehicle with a minimum annual range of 20.000km.

The Multikomfort House, a ZEB Pilot Project, in Larvik scheduled to open in September

In order to meet the demands of ZEB-OM there are also integrated passive energy-saving concepts. These include specification of low energy materials, recycled materials, and energy efficient technical solutions. Energy production from fully integrated photovoltaic panels is central to balancing consumption and emission. The outdoor swimming pool and outdoor shower are heated by solar-generated thermal heat surplus.

The Multikomfort House, a ZEB Pilot Project, in Larvik scheduled to open in September

The project has a strong focus on retaining home-like qualities through non-quantifiable properties. Emotive comfort and sense of well-being have governed the design process to the same extent as energy demands. The grounds employ a variety of spaces that can be enjoyed year-round, with the inclusion of fruit trees and vegetable gardens to accommodate small scale food production.

Project Facts

Location:Larvik, Norway
Size:220m² (house), 200m² (site)
Typology:Zero Emission Building
Client:Optimera and Brødrene Dahl (Saint Gobain)
Status:Under construction

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