Location   Hamburg, Germany

Surface area   9,902 square feet

Photographs   © Kennedy & Violich Architecture © Michael Moser

	Landscape integration   Good transportation and walkability
	Photovoltaic solar energy: orientable panels   CO2 low consumption
	Local material: wood   Recyclable materials   Sustainable wood
	Natural daylighting   Natural ventilation
	Domotics: Soft House smart building management system (BMS)   Smart curtains

Completed in June 2013, this is a set of four housing units designed for life and work. The project’s construction gains its character from a traditional structure made of solid local wood, which can be fully recycled at the end of the building’s life span. The architectural shell is simple, solid, and durable. The organization of the design shows how a domestic infrastructure can become a “soft” attractive, ecological, solid-wood construction.

The clean domestic energy, lighting, and elements that liberate the internal spaces are transformed into a type of mobile furniture, and are interactive, upgradable, and connected to the home’s wireless network, an intelligent building management system. Thus designed for a flexible life, the wireless controls of the building articulate an infrastructure of sensitive textiles that establishes a new public identity for architecture.

This Kennedy & Violich Architecture project meets and exceeds the stringent German Passivhaus Institut environmental standards: it transforms the rigid typology that these environmental requirements impose, to create a free house with zero carbon footprint, which is adaptable and can be personalized to meet the changing needs of the owners and of the house itself.

Site plans

Upper floor

Middle floor

Ground floor

 The solid wood floors and walls give the architectural structure permanence yet are totally recyclable upon the completion of the building’s useful life.

West elevation

South elevation

East elevation

North elevation

Sections

   I. Terrace entry

  II. Garden entry

 III. Primary entry

a. Terrace and private garden

b. Living room

c. Winter garden

d. Mechanical room

e. Bathroom / Laundry

f. Upper terrace / Garden

g. Bridge

h. Stairwell with wire mesh

i. Bedroom

j. Skylight with reflectus

k. Kitchen

l. Garage

  1.  Geothermal pump

  2.  Hotwater tank

  3.  Radiant cooling and heating

  4.  Mechanical ventilation return

  5.  Mechanical ventilation supply

  6.  Views to park and canal

  7.  Winter position

  8.  Fall position

  9.  Summer position

10.  Hurricane position

11.  Electrical distribution panel (AC)

12.  AC-DC converter

13.  DC mechanical device

14.  AC mechanical device

15.  AC receptable

16.  DC 30v. lighting

17.  DC motors

18.  DC system controller and wireless dimmer

19.  Photovoltaic cell

20.  Stacking effect for natural ventilation

21.  Views to sky and dynamic membrane

 Like a sunflower, the facade moves to capture the maximum amount of solar energy. The flexible and innovative photovoltaic structure surrounding one side of the building adapts every day to the sun’s movement.

Smart building systems axon

  1.  Wind sensor

  2.  Data

  3.  SOFT HOUSE. Clean Energy System GNU / Linux / Mac OS / Windows / Java

  4.  Internet

  5.  Open source

  6.  Community: user group

  7.  Visual breeze

  8.  Fan

  9.  Soft ducts

10.  USB

Interior thermal climate diagram

 The design expands on the traditional functions of the curtain. By allowing movement, “rooms” are instantly created that can trap sunlight and use it to heat or cool the house.