The market research shows that there isn’t a particularly strong desire to live in residential blocks of flats in Helsinki, but for a home to be a nice warm house with its own backyard and large enough at least for single family occupancy. “We’re trying to make the cities more compact but at the same time give people their own freedom,” Kuittinen explains. The townhouse represents something in between the apartment block and the ideal. Not detached, but not cramped either, it is, spatially, at least, a notably effective mode of living. Despite
its contextual If a concept specificity, the
project’s results could have effects that resonate beyond Finland and Northern Europe.
for a townhouse is
successfully developed that fits within the parameters of the EC’s energy efficiency directive then there is huge potential for a product that easily translates into other contexts. “Imagine if we could develop a nice zero energy house type that’s energy efficient
and environmentally friendly,”
says Kuittinen. “If we can prove that it works here in a cold climate then it should be easy to adapt it into warmer climates.”
find out under which circumstances a townhouse would actually be a viable option, as Kuittinen explains: “It seems that there is a very specific area in the city in which this townhouse will be the best market option.” To do this, the teams have performed life-
cycle assessments to gauge the overall environmental impact of their proposed product in comparison to the most popular forms of housing. In addition to this, the market and construction prices of materials and services has been calculated per square metre to see how an energy efficient townhouse might sit pricewise next to a block of flats or a detached house. The initial findings have come as somewhat of a surprise: “We’ve found certain parameters indicating that it’s not the worst, as we feared, but seems to be the best or second best of these options,” states Kuittinen. If further investigations continue to
support these findings, the project could be well on its way to achieving its goals in 2017. Developing a set of recommendations for city planners and feasible reference cases for construction companies, the project
intends
“The townhouse represents something in between the apartment block and the ideal. Not detached, but not cramped either, it is, spatially, at least, a notably effective mode of living”
Taking into consideration the
surroundings, the building and its interiors, the project combines the skills and resources of four departments at Aalto University: architecture, civil and structural engineering, electrical engineering and, finally, energy engineering. Divided into three work packages, the teams are currently working out the details that will inform the practical side of the project further down the line. Ultimately, as well as being energy efficient, the final concept has to be desirable to the consumer and competitively priced if it is to stand a chance against rural homes, single family homes and residential flats. It is essential, therefore, to
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com to influence both the
regulatory and the market sides involved in making the concept a fully realised product. These will help the building permission authorities understand more clearly how the appropriate areas should be planned and evaluated as well as demonstrating how the townhouse itself can best be built to maximise energy efficiency, functionality and aesthetic value. In order to illustrate the project’s
concepts, a pilot version is planned for production on the university’s campus as a sideline to the project’s main deliverables. This prototype will be doubly useful as a tool for demonstrating the project’s findings to interested parties and also as a platform from which
the companies
involved may showcase the products they are putting into it. “It would be real with people living in it,” explains Kuittinen, “so it wouldn’t just be a fancy shell-case but a brilliant example of building zero- energy houses in cold climates.” Tapiola is proof that the limitations of
context can be overcome with results that are more than adequate. Though a traditionally foreign concept, Kuittinen and his colleagues at Aalto University are on their way to developing a townhouse that is not only energy efficient but affordable too. It may not be long before Finland is selling a superior version of the terraced domicile back to Central Europe.
★ 71
AT A GLANCE Project Information
Project Title: Energy Efficient Townhouse
Project Objective: The goal of the project is to improve urban living by developing a townhouse model for the Finnish context, in which it traditionally has not existed. Improved areas of urban living include energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, construction costs, accessibility and urban ecology. Methods used are life cycle assessment, energy simulation and market research. Energy simulation covers full life cycle of the building and takes the viewpoint of “nearly zero energy building” that is adapted into Finnish context. In addition, design recommendations and concept designs are prepared. Findings are compared to Finnish building regulations, European Construction Product Regulation, Energy directives and accessibility regulations.
Project Duration and Timing: 4 years, 2013 to 2016
Project Funding: Funding from Aalto University
Project Partners: Departments of Architecture, Energy, Electric Engineering and Structural Engineering at Aalto University
MAIN CONTACT
Matti Kuittinen Mr. Matti Kuittinen is a Finnish architect working on the research of ecological design, wood construction, life cycle assessment and humanitarian aid. In addition to working as researcher and coordinator at Aalto University, he implements theory into practice at his office, Kombi Architects Ltd.
Contact: Tel: +358 50 594 7990 Email:
matti.kuittinen@aalto.fi Web:
energyefficiency.aalto.fi
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