Happenings - Zanotta SpA

LIFESTYLE
Happenings
no.3/06 p.5
The decision to build new settlements - often
around a considerably old nucleus (the village
we wish to discuss dates back to 1500) - in
landscapes that are not unlike the Italian hill
and lake country is rather frequent. The solution for such
settlements could be terraced houses enhanced by a
radical novelty: sustainable energy. We are in the town
Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland, between Zug and Zurich
on A road 9. It counts 10,000 inhabitants and the mayor is
a woman. On land located a few hundred meters from the
cantonal road, uneven land at the foot of the hills, which
separate Affoltern from lake Zurich, stands a complex of
terraced houses, which even at a distance make us
perceive that something different has been conceived. The
houses are not too far apart - which reveals focus on good
neighbourly relations -, volumes are simple, the use of
unprocessed wood is evident, balconies are spacious and
there are solar panels. Ten terraced complexes numbering
four homes each have a 10,000 sq.mt. total living surface
area. Though the urban layout is thick, interiors are
spacious: all homes are designed on 6 metre modules
with the same layout but variable surface area and number
of floors. All have three floors: some with a basement and
others with three floors above ground level. But the most
relevant features do not catch the eye instantly. Each
house is modulated on both an active and passive use of
solar energy: main entrances and bathrooms are located
in such a way as to liven up internal spaces to create
varying tracks for sunlight. The kitchen and entrance are
separated by a glass wall designed to increase the effect of
transparency, full-length glass windows in bathrooms
overlook the landscape and balconies on every floor
expand space and shield the sitting-room and bedrooms
from direct sunlight. Every home is arranged for the
installation of solar panels to heat hot water. Heating
instead is based on a heat pump, which makes use of the
thermal contribution of underground waters by means of
10 cm pipes that extend for a length of 180 metres. This
heating method removes the use of all types of fuel.
Global consumption complies with the best indexes
established by the recent European law concerning
buildings’ energy certification: 51 kWh/sq.mt./year. It is
one of the best high end products. Houses in Looren
stand on concrete foundations, but the rest of the
structure is in wood. The colour of deal is touching and
warm - local red spruce and Douglas spruce! They are left
natural with neither finishes nor preservative treatment.
The flat roof is covered by a ca. 10 cm vegetable layer: in
case of strong rain the layer holds part of the rain water,
slowly releasing it into a stream which runs through the
settlement. There is greenery everywhere with birds and
small woodland mammals. The municipal swimming-pool
is not very distant and it is free of charge; the football
team is not listed in the stock exchange and winter snow
invites to do cross-country skiing. In good weather one
goes running with an ipod in the pocket.
Assembled wooden frame for the ecologic building designed by Metron.
The
zero-energy
future
The housing complex based on
terraced houses in Looren, Affoltern
am Albis, Switzerland, is an
exemplary case of sustainable low
consumption architecture. Project
Metron’s research has focused on
optimising energy, ecological
features and high living standards