{"id":311980,"date":"2021-10-08T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=311980"},"modified":"2021-10-08T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-08T18:00:00","slug":"adaptive-and-attractive-students-design-a-sustainable-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/adaptive-and-attractive-students-design-a-sustainable-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Adaptive and attractive – students design a sustainable house"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VIRTUe<\/a> \u2013 a student team at the Technical University of Eindhoven<\/a> \u2013 has developed ripple<\/a>, a sustainable house model to reduce the carbon footprint and to create a new model for housing. Ripple uses sustainable materials and features shared facilities and is aimed at encouraging people to adapt to a more environmentally-friendly mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood is the main component of the house, whose solar panels can both generate electricity and hot water. The housing unit can be combined with other ones to create a whole block. Its lightweight structure also makes it installable on top of existing buildings. VIRTUe\u2019s concept addresses the housing problem in European cities by providing a flexible solution which is designed for young professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ripple is taking part in the Solar Decathlon Europe 2021 (SDE21). It is a university-level competition for resource-responsible and energy-efficient architecture and engineering. After 2 years of work, VIRTUe will face its competitors in June 2022 in the German city of Wuppertal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur house is a prototype; it is an example that could be lived in right now. It represents the way we envision the houses and cities of the future\u201d, explains Marianna Angelini, VIRTUe\u2019s Communication Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same way as the ripple effect works, the project wants to have an influence on rethinking urban design. In VIRTUe’s idea, ripple housing units will create new living standards and a renewed connection with the city. For instance, mobility hubs outside the living units will accommodate different mobility options \u2013 shared cars, bikes and scooters \u2013 and will make the urban area more accessible to everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smart energy management <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Repurposed wood covers the house. Each fa\u00e7ade \u2013 except for the one to the north \u2013 has solar panels whose colour match the wood. The external stairs lead to the rooftop where there are other solar panels, a birds\u2019 hotel and a biodiversity garden, as well as a space on the ground floor for growing vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n