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02PLATEAU TEAM | SDE 2014

SymbiosisMEET OUR MAGAZINE Plateau Team>>

“Symbiosis borns from the hand of Plateau Team with the goal of providing quality information about current issues related to architecture and construc-tion, and always creating a relationship with their project SymbCity devel-oped for the next Solar Decathlon Europe.”

EDITORIAL

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Symbiosis |02

PLATEAU TEAM

Plateau Team is one of the twenty interna-tional teams selected to participate in the new Solar Decathlon Europe edition, to be held in Versailles. It is mainly composed by architecture students (UAH) and Building En-gineering students (UAH and UCLM) together with the collaboration of other faculties and schools from these universities, which will provide their knowledge in order to cover all the necessary areas for the creation of an innovative solar habitat.

Plateau Team proposes a change in the city model through a sustainable redensifica-tion which limits the current uncontrolled consumption of land.

SOLAR DECATHLON EUROPE

It is an academic competition which is orga-nized by the French Ministry of Housing in collaboration with the European Commission that promotes research in sustainable and self-sufficient energy housing development.

The aim of the participant teams is to design and build a house that consumes the minimum amount of natural resources and produces the minimum waste during its life-cycle. Special interest is given to the reduction of energy consumption and the generation of the re-quired energy from the sun. During the final stage of the competition the teams will build their houses in Versailles, in a public place named “La Cité du Soleil”.

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00>> Symbi sis

Edit: Plateu Team for Solar Decathlon Europe2014.

Address: “Press Team”. E-mail [email protected]

Drafting Articles and Projects: Elba Castellanos, Sergio Hernández, Carlos Pérez, Antonio González, Patricia Gil, Pablo Humanes and Javier Sols.

Design and Layout: Sandra Urbaneja y Ana Isabel Urbaneja.

Gratefulness: Ángel Cuadrado, Lucia Heras, Javier Núñez, Basf and Serge Ferrari.

Monthly Edition in Spanish and English. May 2014 Free Publication for public use, online.

02 Symbiosis. The Plateau Team NewsletterEDITORIAL

06

ETFE

ARTICLES

10

Green Walls

14

Trombe Wall

18 Solar Protection Systems

ENVELOPE

22

Symbcity House

PROJECTS

24

Micronal PCM

28

Stamisol FT381

36 Caixa Forum

40 Snow House

44 Eden Project

INTERVIEW

48 Campus Abengoa

52 Meet our Team

Summary

We can identify three main aspects: there are some compartments between two sheets of fibrous mate-rial that allow plants to set their roots; Water supply is provided between the blades and can grow many different plant species; and finally a bacteria on the roots of the plants helps metabolize air impurities.

PLATEAU TEAM | SDE 2014

06“A green facade is a vertical installation of different species of indoor plants that are being cultivated in a special structure, giving the appearance of a garden on a vertical plane, it is also known as a vertical garden.“

Green Walls The

The purpose of these walls is multiple, as they help to ‘beautify’ the urban landscape, but also serve to cool the air and reduce dryness. And they may even contribute to thermal comfort inside the building in which they are located, also acting as insulation and waterproofing element.

What are the keys to this innovative creation?

ARTICLE

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Plant walls are provided with five basic elements

that allow its execution:

1. A structural base that supports all elements

and materials that make up the green wall, and

that attaches to the wall. This structure can be

made out of wood, which must be waterproofed,

or metal that has to be treated against corrosion.

2. The irrigation system that allows the develop-

ment of vegetation. Drip irrigation is very appro-

priate because it reduces water consumption and

perforated tubing systems easily adapt to vari-

ous shapes and high altitudes.

3. A waterproofing layer is needed to protect

humidity, in order to do so it’s necessary to a

barrier element, for instance a polyethylene

geomembrane. These are widely used for their

ease of installation against fire.

4. The support of vegetation should be able to

hold moisture in the roots. So the fabrics of

various kinds are used, also for its ease of appli-

cation.

5. And finally the substrate, which is the support

on which the plant is grown. Your goal is for the

plant to endure, and to hold water and nutrients

the plant needs to grow. Materials that meet this

objective, such as rock wool, tend to absorb the

needed humidity and promote growth.

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windows systems

The reference in Sustainable Insulation“

“

The European leader in prof ile

systems for windows and doors[ [

“Install quality window is critical to achieving good insulation. KOMMERLING you will keep with you the ideal temperature in your home with the maximum energy saving. You will enjoy being at home”

“The sectors of the building and industry, should accept their share of responsibility and influence in global warming and the preservation of valuable energy resources.”

Green wall has various systems for modulation of

plant walls:

The Patrick Blanc system superimposes the light

elements of irrigation and substrate (Two layers of

polyamide felt), thereby reducing the overall weight

and high vegetation density (20 plants/m2).

The Green Living Technologies system consists of

modular panels with cells of various sizes, in alu-

minum or stainless steel. This variety allows you to

design complex shapes with green walls

A modular panel system, 60x60cm, with perforated

metal panels that have an extruded polystyrene

base are fixed to the wall using profiles, it includes

automatic irrigation system.

And finally the green Tresma system consisting of a

wire netting with hexagonal mesh triple torsion PVC

with coated galvanized.

Symbiosis |08

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“They not only help beautify the urban landscape, but also serve to cool the air

and reduce dryness.”

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“Passive Solar Design”“The energy of the sun is a radiant heat source that promotes natural processes upon which all

life depends.

Trombe Wall

Some of these processes can be used by building de-

sign in a manner that helps the heating and cooling in

buildings.

The basic natural processes are the thermal energy

flows associated with radiation, conduction, and natu-

ral convection. When sunlight falls upon a building, the

building materials can reflect, transmit, or absorb the

solar radiation.

Furthermore, the heat produced by the sun causes air

movement that can be a key designing parameter.

These basic responses to solar heat lead to design ele-

ments, material choices and placements that can pro-

vide heating and cooling effects in construction.

Passive solar energy means that mechanical devices are

not employed to utilize solar energy. One of the ele-

ments that can be used to harness solar energy is the

Trombe Wall.

A Trombe wall is a system for indirect solar heat gain

and, although not being extremely common, is still

a good example of thermal mass, solar gain, and

glazing properties used together to achieve human

comfort goals through passive strategies.

The

>> J.F. Tricaut-Solar Passive House. Font-Romeu, France-1982

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It consists of a dark colored wall of high thermal mass

facing the sun, with glazing spaced in front to leave a

small air space.

Trombe walls are thermal storage walls, named after

the French inventor Felix Trombe. A typical Trombe

wall consists of a 20 - 40cm thick masonry wall

painted with a dark, heat-absorbing color and faced

with a single or double layer of glass. The glass is

placed in between 2 and 15cm away from the ma-

sonry wall to create a small airspace. Heat from sun-

light passing through the glass is absorbed by the

dark surface, stored in the wall, and conducted slowly

inward through the masonry.

The glass prevents the loss of radiant heat from the

warm surface of the storage wall. The heat radiated

by the wall is therefore trapped within the air gap,

further heating the wall surface. For a 40cm thick

Trombe wall, heat will take about 8 to 10 hours to

reach the interior of the building. This means that the

room behind remains comfortable through the day

and receives slow, even heating for many hours after

the sun sets. Such designs are ideal for use in houses,

in living areas and bedrooms.

Its working process is based on the density difference

of the hot air and cold air, which causes currents

in either direction, depending on the flaps we open.

These currents of hot or cool air, can heat or cool air

by entering or removing hot air from the building or

room where it is installed.

The interior element works as thermal collector. By

moving the heat away from the collection surface, it

greatly reduces thermal losses at night and improves

net heat gain. In summer months the interior vents are

shut when the heat gain is not wanted. High specific

heat materials are used for the collector surface (inner

member), obtaining large heat capacity and thermal

mass consequently.

>>

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“ It’s not what we do, it’s how you do feel ”

- More than 135 years in the business of heating, also has a significant presence in the f ield of air condi-tioning and renewable energies. -

Vaillant Group,

“Specialists in energy management and leaders in energy efficiency solutions”

TROMBE WALL BENEFITS

Installing a Trombe wall is a relatively inexpensive way

to make your home more energy-efficient, helping

you minimize your monthly heating bill.

Not only is it easy on your wallet, it’s great for your

health. By installing a Trombe wall you get evenly dis-

tributed, natural, and constant radiant heat through-

out the year, while improving indoor air quality.

This eliminates the need to rapidly blast your AC or

heating system, thus decreasing the possibility of tem-

perature shock to the body and reducing drafts.

It also reduces the cost of materials due to easy

installation that can be built with traditional materials

easy to obtain, such as rammed earth, recycled

crushed concrete and recycled glass.

In addition to enjoying reduced heating bills and

health benefits made possible by a Trombe wall, you

can be environmentally friendly.

Symbiosis |12

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ETFE is an acronym for ethylene-Tetrafluoro-

ethylene, being the material a copolymer of

this molecule.

Its approximate tensile strength is 42 N/

mm2 (6100 psi), with a working tempera-

ture range from 89 K to 423 K (-185ºC to

150ºC or -300ºF to 300ºF).

It’s also a combustible, but nonflammable,

material. In its combustion it releases hydro-

fluoric acid (HF), which is extremely corro-

sive and should be treated with care.

It is most notable for its high resistance to

ultraviolet rays. In an accelerated aging test

(comparable to a 30 year exposure) there is

almost no sign of deterioration of the film.

This feature makes the ETFE a good alter-

native to glass in buildings.

In addition, it’s easy to clean because it has

a non-stick surface and it’s recyclable.

“ETFE It is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer designed to have a high resistance to corrosion and a great stability in very

wide thermal variation conditions.”

“A fluorine-based plastic”

ARTICLE

ETFE>> ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene <<

Symbiosis |14

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If we compare it with to glass, it is lighter and

allows more light in; and when configured as

double blade or “pillow” it has one higher in-

sulating capacity.

However, it can be damaged by sharp elements,

so it is mainly used for ceilings, although, if

torn, each element could be repaired with a

hot patch of the same material. The most

common way to use it in architecture is in sheet

form. It is able to stretch up to three times its

length without any loss of elasticity.

The Centre for Smart Infrastruc-ture Innovation (CI3) is a public sector entity, general inter est and non-prof-it whose purpose is to contribute to the develop-ment, promotion and development of information technolog y a nd communications (ICT) applied to infrastructure

APPLICATIONS

The use of this material in architecture is main-

ly in tensile structures, both monolayered

and doublelayered. The material’s popu-

larity is due to its use as inflatable pneumat-

ic panels, and its versatility in sizes and shapes.

These cushions are made by two or more pre-

stressed blades with intermediate air chambers,

which are fixed to a light substructure (steel, alu-

minum, or tensioned cables) that is subsequently

supported by the primary structure of the building.

It should be noted that the cushions need a

semi-continuous pressure air to maintain its sta-

bility, so this type of skin is necessarily accom-

panied by an air supply system, connected to

the valves that the panels should incorporate.

In many cases this set-up is complemented by an

intelligent system that automatically adjusts the

level of pressure pads, allowing a certain play with

the secrecy and transparency of the envelope de-

pending on the ex terior solar energy, as i t

happens with the Media TIC building in Barcelona.

Another key use of ETFE is as covering for elec-

tric cables and optical fiber, used in high voltage

wiring in aircrafts and spacecrafts. It is common-

ly used in the aviation, aerospace and nuclear

industry, since the material exhibits a great resis-

tance to high-energy radiation and can withstand

high temperatures for a long period of time.

Symbiosis |16

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Visible light, the wave length range that allows us

to perceive color and shape of the objects we are

looking at, is necessary for life and much cheaper

than artificial illumination, therefore getting the

maximum amount of solar light inside the building

would help us to save large amount of energy

needed to lighten up dark spaces.

The problem comes with the rest of wave lengths in

solar radiation. Infrared light that comes from the

Sun can excite air molecules when kept in a closed

space rising air temperature. This phenomenon is

called green-house effect and it is one consideration

we should when designing space. When a space

whose envelope is permeable to solar radiation

(such as glass or plastic) is not well ventilated, air

containing within this boundary will be heated due

to infrared radiation accumulation that could come

in but cannot come out. Sometimes this effect can

be used to heat up spaces, but due to the low ther-

mal mass of used materials, during the absence of

solar radiation (or night-time), this spaces would

become very cold and with have large energetic

losses, which makes them not desirable for resi-

dential use.

“Solar light and its different wave lengths produce diverse effects on architecture, therefore control over it becomes

basic for the design of different spaces.”

“Light spectrum”Protection Systems

SolarARTICLE

In places of the world where solar radiation is abundant, like Spain, the control over it becomes essential to achieve warm spaces during the win-ter and cool and protected from the Sun spaces during the summer.

That is why solar protection seeks the azimuth, letting the solar radiation inside the building in winter, giving its precious infrared radiation to the inside, and avoiding it in summer, keeping cool the air that in, and reducing cooling costs.

These passive systems for solar protection are commonly used as strips, horizontal elements or-ganized sequentially, that can intercept solar ra-diation when the Sun is in its highest peak of its path and can be permeable to it in those moments when Sun leans closer to the horizon. 18

Symbiosis |18

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always around you

Heating and cooling radiant ceiling Zehnder.

“The good air comes from above ...”

Also, cornices can be used over the window voids

with the same aim. For these, we have to use

a bigger cantilever over the façade in order to

achieve enough shade to cover the hole from solar

radiation.

There is also a special glass, tinted and serigraphed

that allows to filter solar radiation to control its

way through the inside of the building, such as the

ones used in the 80’s and 90’s office buildings,

that through reflection and tint a better thermal

behavior is achieved.

This glass has a big influence in the materiality of

the envelope and, might lead to reflection on the

surrounding buildings.

Alternatives glasses are being developed. The

objective would be then to let the whole visible

light spectrum in and to absorb of the rest.

Symbiosis |20

“That is why solar protection seeks the azimuth, letting the solar radiation inside the building in winter, giving its precious in-frared radiation to the inside, and avoiding it in summer, keeping cool the air that in...”

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Summer, sun, sunshine – although much longed for

throughout the winter months, they can soon be-

come too much of a good thing when they arrive.

Especially modern houses of lightweight construction

and office complexes of steel and glass with a trans-

parent frontage creating a greenhouse effect can

turn into a sauna overnight. One solution is offered

by BASF with Micronal® PCM, a microencapsulated

latent heat storage based on paraffin wax which –

when integrated in construction materials – absorbs

excess heat. The effectiveness of Micronal® PCM as

a thermal buffer is due to the physical phenomena

that occur when the wax changes from the solid to

the liquid state. During this phase transition, a large

amount of thermal energy – known as latent heat

– is absorbed without the temperature of the ma-

terial itself changing. This is the same effect which

is so welcome on sweltering hot days when the ice

cubes in a drink absorb large amounts of heat when

melting, effectively keeping the drink cool for a long

time. Naturally, the temperatures in private homes

and offices don’t have to be quite so icy, which is why

BASF’s development experts chose high purity paraf-

fin waxes instead of water as latent heat storage (also

known as phase change materials or PCM), and op-

timized their melting point to suit the specific climatic

requirements of buildings. The waxes contained in

Micronal® PCM melt at 23 or 25 degrees Celsius

depending on the application. On melting, they ab-

sorb excess heat from the environment, thereby pre-

venting the room temperature from rising further. At

night, when the outside temperatures fall, the heat

bound when the wax solidifies is released again and

the heat storage is ready for a new summer’s day.

HOW MICRONAL PCM WORKS

So much for the physical theory. But how can

melting wax be safely integrated in practice into

construction materials like wall plaster, mortar or

gypsum boards? “Our solution is microencapsula-

tion”, replies Marco Schmidt of BASF’s Dispersions

& Pigments division. “We enclose microscopically

small droplets of wax in a virtually indestructible

acrylic polymer shell that withstands even drilling

and sawing.

22


Micronal PCM“BASF’s phase change material Micronal® PCM effectively

absorbs daytime temperature peaks”

for a pleasant indoor climate

ARTICLE

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wax in the wall

MICRONAL PCM IN POWDER FORM

The wax cannot leak out of this impenetrable cap-

sule and the Micronal® PCM products satisfy all the

building and environmental regulations.” With a

particle size of a few micrometers, the tiny capsules

can be readily integrated either as a dispersion or

powder into construction materials. Depending on

the material, a Micronal® PCM content of 20 per-

cent or higher is possible.

The cooling effect of about 3 to 4 degrees Cel-

sius achievable with the innovative Micronal® PCM

products is almost equivalent to that provided by

conventional air conditioning systems which are

usually designed to create a temperature difference

of 6 degrees Celsius.

OPTIMIZED ROOM TEMPERATURE WITH MICRONAL® PCM

This makes cooling units either completely superfluous, or at least they can be made much smaller”, comments Dr. Peter Schossig of the Fraunhofer Institute for So-lar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, with which BASF has been closely cooperating in developing PCM since 1999.

Unlike air conditioners, Micronal® PCM is also com-pletely maintenance free, emphasizes Schossig. The Fraunhofer researchers performed stress tests in which they subjected the material to about 10,000 melting and solidifying cycles to simulate a 30-year-period of continuous use. “These tests revealed no impairments of function or material”, adds Schossig. This corresponds to Quality Level A of the RAL Seal of Quality PCM.

In the last 10 years, Micronal® PCM has successfully made the transition from the laboratory into practical use. This is on one hand reflected by several commer-cial or residential buildings equipped with Micronal PCM which are in use today. The main factor is that numerous ready to use construction materials incor-porating Micronal® PCM are commercially available.

Symbiosis |22

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Kindergarten Lukids with Micronal PCM temperature management concept

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ARTICLE

STAMISOL FT 381 is a technical solution for

coatings in construction. This solution is appealing

for its effectiveness, its technical performance, re-

liability and longevity. It presents all the eco-

nomic and technical benefits to convince bidders

and investors: guaranteed durability, excellent

energy balance, optimum thermal regulation of

the building due to its solar protection properties,

minimum maintenance costs and a 100% recycla-

ble material that uses the Texyloop technology

The façade STAMISOL FT 381, consisting of a

mesh of high-tenacity polyester with PVC coating,

presents an opening factor of the 28% that offers

a full transparency to the outside while allowing

excellent heat control. This mesh is fixed on various

a solution of façade that opens up new perspectives!

Stamisol FT 381


types of supports created to respond to the most

diverse requirements, offering total freedom in the

realization of volumes, shapes and curves. Adapts

to any kind of use: administrative, cultural or ter-

tiary buildings, shopping centres, sports centres,

communities, industrial buildings, parking out-

door...

STAMISOL FT 381 is manufactured according to

the technology Precontraint, a unique patented

process which consists of exercising a prestress to

the fabric throughout its cycle of manufacture and

coating. This exclusive procedure produces tissues

with a great dimensional stability and extremely

resistant to tearing and deformation.

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Art

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CREATIVITY IN ITS PUREST FORM: THE FAÇADE «3D»

• 27 colors, grouped in 5 thematic families that

respond to current trends.

• A reversible fabric with a metallic/pearly face

and a matte one. A sample created jointly with

architects and specialists from the color.

• A surface that gives free reign to graphic design

for the customization of façades, or transforma-

tions into authentic supports of communication

(possibility of digital printing or silk screen printing).

• Combined with STAMISOL COLOR as a protec-

tor against the rain, STAMISOL FT 381 gives the

façade a changing reflection, thus multiplying the

creative possibilities in pastels and vivid colors.

• The lightness of the fabric STAMISOL FT381 can

also adapt to any façade, enabling a finish turns

the building into ‘sculpture’.

• The incorporation of lighting inside or in front

of the façade allows creating added chromatic ef-

fects and enhancing the architectural lines.

Esta vivienda, situada en el número 33 de la Aveni-

da António Augusto de Aguiar (un lugar privi-

legiado en el corazón de Lisboa con vistas a la

desembocadura del Tajo y a la plaza Marqués de

Ponbal), espera ser un referente para las futuras

construcciones de esta tipología, ya que cuenta con

un peso específico muy bajo y ha tenido en cuenta

desde su diseño hasta su ejecución, técnicas espe-

cíficas para construcción modular y de transporte

que permiten la rápida ejecución de la misma so-

bre la cubierta de un edificio ya construido.

Symbiosis |24

En Ciudad del Cabo, la protección solar Soltis permite disfrutar de las vistas más hermosas.

Una increíble panorámica a través de un gran ventanal.

Estas ventanas están equipadas con membranas Soltis 86 que son un filtro de la radiación solar, a la vez que preservan

las vistas del exterior. Proporcionan un ambiente luminoso, sin efectos de deslumbramiento y limitando la entrada

de calor del exterior.

Siga nuestros proyectos en sergeferrari.com

En Ciudad del Cabo, la protección solar Soltis permite disfrutar de las vistas más hermosas.

Una increíble panorámica a través de un gran ventanal.

Estas ventanas están equipadas con membranas Soltis 86 que son un filtro de la radiación solar, a la vez que preservan

las vistas del exterior. Proporcionan un ambiente luminoso, sin efectos de deslumbramiento y limitando la entrada

de calor del exterior.

Siga nuestros proyectos en sergeferrari.com

“The recycling of glass: the products can be recycled, glass is an ecological,

natural and durable material.”Environmental Policy

Saint-Gobain Glass, internatio-nal organization, encompassing all the related glass for the construction industry in all countries activi-ties.

In Cape Town, Solar Protection Soltisallows you to enjoy the most beautiful views.

Symbiosis |26

THERMAL COMFORT AND ENERGY SAVING

Solutions for façades are part of a continuous

search for profitable thermal regulation of

buildings. From this viewpoint, the ventilated

façade is the key to high global energy effi-

ciency, both in summer and in winter.

With STAMISOL FT 381, the ventilated facade

offers particularly interesting results and this

without even taking into account thermal in-

sulation. According to physical measurements

carried out in Germany by a competent body,

STAMISOL FT 381 reduces upto 15 to 18%

heat loss and thus contributes, in winter, to the

well-being of the occupants. In summer, STA-

MISOL FT 381 prevents overheating.

The contribution of outside heat in the building

varies according to the color and their level

of absorption, thanks to STAMISOL FT 381,

blocked solar energy is of at least 75% with a

Solar Factor between a 19 and 25%.

Thus, in California, the reform of a façade has

shown objectively the advantages of this solu-

tion: before the renovation, the building had

two air conditioning systems running con-

tinuously throughout the year; after the reno-

vation and the installation of a textile façade,

energy costs dropped by 64%.

“tissues with a great dimensional stability and extremely resistant to tearing and deformation...”

STA

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Art

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The building envelope is an important part of the building regarding energy efficiency and the behavior of building’s passive actions. It’s the “skin” of the building, the part that marks the border between inside and outside and therefore it must meet minimum requirements for water tightness, insulation, etc.

28Envelope

“Symbcity House”

The Building

Symbiosis |28

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SymbCity House is a fast and industrialized

construction. The whole system has been built

following the balloon-frame system, made entire-

ly with wood based materials. We introduce an

innovative system of industrialized wall sections.

With this system transport and execution are

cheap and fast, reducing the energy waste during

the construction period.

INTERVENTION PROCESS

1. The building is described and studied in detail. A specific intervention is proposed adapted for that typology.

2. Unnecessary structures of the building, as roofs and exterior stairs, are demolished.

3. The new wood structure is built.

Symbiosis |30

4. Introduction of new vertical access cores, commu-

nicated by galleries.

5. Once all structure and galleries are built, a new

facade is constructed. That new skin improves the in-

sulation of the building.

6. At the same time, or in any time in the future, the

existing housing could be optionally remodeled and/

or expanded by the owners. Those interventions have to

be adapted to the rules planned in that specific project.

7. New dwellings are built on the rooftop of the

existing building. Those new houses could replace

ground floor houses.

8. Ground floor level could be adapted for new

uses.

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The heating and cooling system are based

on a low temperature radiant ceiling, with

very low heat and electricity consumptions.

Besides, the constant monitoring of the

house activates a series of simple mecha-

nisms in order to take advantage of external

conditions, or to protect the house against

them.

The walls of the building are composed of

thick layers of insulating material, achieving

passives standards, while Phase Change

Materials on the internal side of the wall

keep a balanced indoor temperature without

extra energy waste.

ENVELOPE

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Symbiosis |32

Solar gains are carefully controlled by

eaves and other sun-shading devices. This

way, we obtain a good balance between

passive and active energy saving strate-

gies, achieving a nearly-zero energy con-

sumption.

The south facade is crucial for solar ther-

mal energy storage, but this is dangerous

when cooling is necessary indoors. In con-

sequence, the bedroom south façade is not

completely open, and it is protected from

direct solar radiation by the roof eaves.

The living core, as well as the bedroom

has a door to a private terrace in the south

but it is mainly opened towards the multi-

functional room which is a very bright room

and a transition space between inside and

outside.

The multifunctional room is a very flexible

space. It can be adapted depending of the

changing of seasons. It becomes a cold

place in summer, with sun shading, cross

ventilation and a vertical garden which

keeps the air fresh. During the cold months,

the envelope is completely closed, becoming

a greenhouse which provides extra heating

to the house.

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ENVELOPE


The multifunctional room interior design offers a

continuous gradual compartmentalization between

the living core and the bedroom, reflecting the

outside on the inside and vice versa. Although it

features exterior design elements such as a verti-

cal garden, it is the third room of the house and

not just an auxiliary outdoor space. This multi-

functional room is fully adjustable, from totally

opened to totally closed. When all the windows

and the doors are closed, it starts working as a

greenhouse due to the glass enclosure, becoming a

free heat generator. During warm days in summer,

the glass envelope is completely opened and it is

the natural ventilation that keeps the atmosphere

cold.

On the rooftop, the room has a system of mechanized

slats which are oriented towards the sun through-

out the year. They let the sunbeams penetrate

indoors during the winter, heating the space. We

open it in summer, keeping the room fresh and

comfortable.

On the east façade, protection against direct solar

radiation is necessary in order to achieve a good

temperature control. In this wall, a double vertical

garden keeps fresh and humid air and low trans-

mittances both outdoor and indoor.

The main concerns we have about housing

lighting are to use the maximum benefit of natural

light, the suitable comfort conditions, the energy

efficiency and create different and comfortable

ambience according to the architecture design.

Symbiosis |34

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PLATEAU TEAM | SDE 201436The Caixa Forum is conceived as an urban

magnet attracting not only art lovers but all the people in and around Madrid.

H E R Z O G & D E M E U R O N A R C H I T E C T SG R E E N W A L L D E S I G N B Y P A T R I C K B L A N C

Caixa Forum

PROJECT

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36The attraction is not just Caixa Forum cultural pro-

gram, but also the building itself, as it is off the ground

in apparent defiance of the laws of gravity.

The Caixa Forum-Madrid is in an advantageous site

facing the Paseo del Prado and Botanical Garden, in

up to now occupied by structures unspectacular urban

area, the Central Electric Power station and a gas

station. The brick walls of the old classified power

station now converted into CaixaForum are remi-

niscent of the industrial age in Madrid.

In dividing the Paseo del Prado, rises a large verti-

cal garden without gaps, and 15,000 m2 of 460 250

species of plants built by botanist Patrick Blanc.

Symbiosis |36

CA

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Pro

ject

The metal structure supporting the wall, going

slightly off the building to create an air and get a

barrier to root growth on the party wall. On this

structure, a plastic sheet and a layer of polyamide

felt, for a total thickness of about one meter. Are

nineteen meters length and height twenty. Although

it may seem it is not a heavy installation (about 30

kg per m2).

The Irrigation layer polyamide is a sheet 3 mm thick,

which is inserted into the PVC. It is on this rot felt with

large capillary power and water retention on which

the plants grow. Irrigation is by a perforated tube in

the top of the wall. The distribution of water and nu-

trient solution is made by a solenoid programmed.

“Uponor is a leading international solutions for fluid handling in building and HVAC solutions Invisible. for residential, non-residential and industrial sector. in Europe and the United States. ”

Symbiosis |38

The green wall Caixa Forum, is now a landmark of the

city of Madrid. The irrigation design and its recovery

has meant a savings of over 50% water consumption

than expected. It is a new concept of using vertical

garden as a means of artistic expression more.

Patrick Blanc says that his work is not a garden be-

cause you can not walk through it, but rather a mural

made with vegetable elements.

Patrick Blanc system allows plants to survive without

land, only water and nutrients. These come through

the pipe network directly to the roots, which lie be-

tween a plastic film and the polyamide layer of felt,

fixed with staples.

This time species of native plants (Cornus san-

guinea, Lonicera pileata, Dianthus deltoides,

Cedrus deodora, Yucca filamentosa, Cistus Pur-

pureus, Sedum alpestre, Pilosella auriantiaca,

Arenaria montana, takesimana Campanula) com-

bined with foreign species, whose characteristics

have been able to to meet the demanding climate

of Madrid, as the original Bergenia Cordifolia Siberia.

>> DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS THANKS TO

HERZOG & DE MEURON ARCHITECTS IN COLLABORATION

WITH THE BOTANIST PATRICK BLANC PATRIC BLANC.

CA

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Pro

ject

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40PLATEAU TEAM | SDE 2014

SnowSnow House is a sustainable house for winter sports up on the hills of the Santiago, Chile, designed by Emilio Marín & Juan Carlos López Huerta for a competition.

DES IGN BY EMIL IO MAR ÍN, N ICOLAS DORVAL-BORY & JUAN CARLOS LÓPEZ

House

PROJECT

Thus, the project is organized around a squared plan,

allowing flexibility of use and architectural efficiency.

This compact design allows a maximum optimization

of the concrete blocks but also a very low coefficient

of heat loss. To retain maximum heat, the house is

settled the closest to the ground, with no overhang.

The central courtyard is designed as a buffer space,

generating a variation in the organization of the pro-

gram while providing a significant supply of light

and fresh air in summer. The functional distribution

of space is organized according to the most suitable

temperature for each activity, playing with the different

levels allowed by the natural slope.

The program is a mountain refuge, located on a

steep terrain. This exemplarily functional and energet-

ic efficient type of vernacular habitat is an indispens-

able reference for such a project, much more than a

traditional second home in the hills. Like a refuge or a

traditional châlet, the project fits into the site seeking

primarily to protect itself from cold, which can be par-

ticularly strong on the hills of Santiago. The refuge,

whose function is to accommodate guests engaged in

winter sports during the day, has to be a friendly and

warm but easy place to use, since its goal is to dine

and rest.

Thus, the project is organized around a squared plan,

allowing flexibility of use and architectural efficiency.

Symbiosis |40

SN

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Pro

ject

The importance of a healthy home...

You decide, we design and build your home ... Wooden Houses of ecological maximum energy efficiency.

Whenever the need arises a temporary structure ...Rehasa Structures specializes exclusively to the design, calculation and execution of spe-cial s tructures, prefabricated buildings, front s tabilizers, propping, shoring, etc. dedication company.

To heat the house, we use two passive systems,

coupled together.

- Geothermal heat pump: fresh air is pumped

from outside the house, south side, then it

is filtered and flows through an underground

pipe, warmed by geothermal energy of the

ground, always around 16 ° C. In its way in,

new air shares a common circuit with the ex-

tracted stale air of the house. The indoor air

(+/- 19°C) then transmits its energy to the in-

coming fresh air (>0°C).

- Trombe Wall: developed by the French engi-

neer Felix Trombe, this system is to harness solar

energy in two complementary ways. During the

day, fresh air is heated by greenhouse effect

between a glass wall and a dark wall. During

the night, by phase shift, the heat stored in the

high thermal inertia wall (double layer of 15cm

blocks) is redistributed through radiation. The

system is controlled by motorized valves to pre-

vent a reverse flow of air overnight.

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The Eden Project is an environmental center in Cornwall, England, opened to the general public in 2001.The finished structure is an unprecedented accomplishment a giant, multi-domed greenhouse, containing plants from around the globe.

B Y G R I M S H A W A R C H I T E C T

Eden Project

PROJECT

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The site has already become a popular tourist des-

tination, attracting thousands of visitors every day.

The project comprises three biomes, areas designed

to represent three distinct climates found around the

world. The first biome emulates a tropical environ-

ment, the second a Mediterranean environment, and

the third biome is an open area with diverse plant life

from the temperate Cornwall area, as well as similar

climates.

Eden’s designers decided not to use traditional ma-

terials in their greenhouses. ETFE foil is a perfect

skin for a greenhouse (strong, transparent and light-

weight. A piece of ETFE weighs less than 1 percent of

a piece of glass with the same volume.

The Eden Project designers created from this ETFE

material extremely sturdy panels, each composed

of three sheets of ETFE foil. And each panel is

attached to a web of interlocking steel tubes. Each

dome actually has two web layers, one with hex-

agonal and pentagonal panels and one with trian-

gular panels. The total Eden structure uses 625

hexagons, 16 pentagons and 190 triangles.


PROJECT

LUMINAIRES + ETFE

Finally it should be nodded the use of lights (fluores-

cent tubes, leds) in ETFE panels, that has also been

used to great success rise in some facades such as

the Allianz Arena, or the Water Cube in Beijing.

Allianz Arena lighting consists of over 25,000 fluores-

cent tubes and 4,250 individual lights. Of the nearly

2,800 existing panels, 1,056 can be lit, and when they

do, they produce a lighted area of 25.500m2.

Symbiosis |46

Each sheet contains four identical ETFE lights, in-

stalled in pairs between two lenses forming panels.

Meanwhile, fluorescent tubes form groups of six

and they’re assigned each 3.5 m membrane. An

asymmetric parabolic mirror is added to ensure

uniform illumination in each panel. The fluorescent

luminaries, both domestic and industrial, have high

energy efficiency.

This amazing material can form giant colored sur-

faces and varied forms. It is a good idea to use the

indoor air as Smudger of light due to cost issues.

In addition to add expression to the architecture, it

has climatic comfort properties. And It doesn’t only

work as cladding, but it can also be used as building

material.

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Abengoa’s Palmas Altas Campus, designed by the british architect Richard Rogers, (2007 Pritzker Pirze award winner). The project is a collaboration with the Spanish firm Videal y Asociados Arquitectos (Ma- drid), Juan Fernández Car- bonell Studio (Sevilla) and the engineering company Arup.

B Y R I C H A R D R O G E R S A R C H I T E C T

Palmas AltasCampus Abengoa

PROJECT

48Palmas Altas Campus is an initiative promoted by th Sevilla city council, that allows Abengoa to concentrate its activity in the southern Spanish city. Their main focus is advanced technologies, environmental excellence and sustainable develop-ment. Abengoa’s new headquarters promote the use of environmental technologies to reduce ener-getic consumption.

The Palmas Altas Campus is comprised of seven (4+3) block buildings in between 2 and 4 floors grouped in two areas, organized around a central park. The headquarters lis set on 42100 square meters lot, that limits with “Los Bermejales” neigh-bourhood, the SE-30 highway belt and Bellavista neigh- bourhood.

Symbiosis |48

The actual built surface is 50000 square meters, 30000 of them occupied by Abengoa and 16300 reserved for other companies and institutions. The rest, 3700 square meters are used as public space.

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The Campus’ green spaces have been designed

by the landscaper María Medina and the architect

Gregorio Marañón, that have created a series of

singular spaces, that represent the traditional values

of the hispanic-arabic gardens, which favore a

pleasent surrounding, respectful with the environ-

ment and that coexist peacefully with Richard

Roger’s architecture.

The objectives of the new headquarters were: sus-

tainability and the use of cutting-edge technology.

The project counts on last generation environ

mental technologies that contribute to maximize

self-consumption of electricity: photovoltaic panels,

that transform solar light into electricity, and

a trigenerating plant that can produce electricity

cold and heat simultaneously, a Stirling disc,

and hidrogen batteries that generate additional

energy.

PROJECT

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The aim of Abengoa in this sense is clear:

minimize energy consumption up to 50% and

to reduce progressively CO2 emissions into the

atmosphere.

Abengoa has achieved, with an inno-

vative design and sustainable architecture in its

new headquarters, the recognition from the Green

Builidng Council that, in October 2008, gave

the Palmas Altas Campus the Leed Platinum pre-

certification.

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Plateau Team

MEET OUR TEAM MEMBERS


S: Given the width of the walls of SymbCity House depends on the thickness of the ecological insulating layer, wouldn’t it be more effective to use other types of insulation?

P: The insulation that composes SymbCity House

walls is a mineral wool; another type of insulation

would provide us better performance with less thick-

ness; however the choice of materials should take

into account the environmental impact. In the end,

5cm of thickness of wall means less CO2 emissions,

and we think that it is better increasing the walls.

S: What benefits are obtained from a wooden skin com-pared to other kinds of materials, for instance a brick skin?

P: Like a brick skin, the wooden skin is also struc-

tural, which helps at during construction. On the

other hand, the advantage of wood is that first you

forms the skeleton, opening gaps when and wherever

you want, without using any other material. The sys-

tem is complete filling with insulation and closing on

both sides, so it is much easier to construct than other

types, such as the brick. Moreover, it is easily modi-

fiable if you have made a mistake.

S: What benefits does a green wall offer? Does it work well for all the latitudes?

P: In our case it refreshes the environment.

Opening the two windows located at both ends of

the green wall, the cross-circulation renews the air

in this space. We should be especially careful with it,

because being inside the greenhouse makes for high

temperatures at certain times of the day, which can

adversely affect them.

On the other hand, the latitude influences mainly in

the selection of the plants that you put inside, taking

into account temperature and humidity.

S: What advantages are obtained with the use of an area of the House whose enclosure is the same as that of a greenhouse?

With the addition of a greenhouse in the housing

area you build up heat from the outside. During cold

periods, the greenhouse will be closed throughout

the day, opening up communication with the rest of

the house only at the end of the day.

Construction Manager

Patricia Mendieta León

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52

In this way, the accumulated heat enters into the

habitable space without needing any impulse,

and allowing the conditioning systems to remain

switched off.

S: What importance does the insulation have within the envelope?

P: Insulation is the core of the envelope, without it,

the house would be open to the outside. Tradi-

tionally, it wasn’t commonly used in construction,

which is why there is a need for rehabilitation in a

large amount of housing, in order to integrate it, be-

cause their spending on heating, as well as the noise

it is high.

In SymbCity House, we integrate large layers of in-

sulation, that prevent cold or extreme heat to enter

the house, and that also manages to prevent it to

flee the house.

S: What do you think is the relevance skins and coatings have in architectural design nowadays? What do you think will have in the future?

P: In current design, the envelopes haven’t been

treated as they should be. Standards have been

taken into account, and things have been ad-

justed, especially in the thermal behavior of the

whole, but without taking into account their be-

havior in the long run, nor their orientation.

In the future there will be modifications in the legis-

lation, some already underway, that will make the

thermal requirements more restrictive, to avoid

excessive energy consumption derived from a bad

design of the skin.

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54Would you like to appear in our magazine “Symbiosis”??

“Symbiosis” g ives you the opportuni ty to be part of their publ icat ions, i f you or your

company want to be sponsored, do not hesitate to contact the press team “Press Team”.

Wri te to our E-mai l :

[email protected]

SPONSORSymbcity House

“We are looking for companies who want to sponsor us. Feel free to contact our finance team for more information or download our “sponsor dossier” you will find in our web site: www.plateauteam.com.”

BUILDING A GREAT TEAM

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| INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORTERS

| S ILVER SPONSOR | BRONZE SPONSOR

| CONTRIBUTORS

| PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

| MEDIA PARTNERS

| SOL AR DECATHLON 2014 ORGANIZERS

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| UNIVERSITIES

TEAM FOR SOLAR DECATHLON EUROPE 2014

PLATEAU TEAMTEAM FOR SOLAR DECATHLON EUROPE 2014

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