6mx2.6x2.6h=15.6 m2 which can be lengthened

This self-sufficient emergency house features two steel, structural frames, coated in white sheet metal, inside which an envelope is inserted made of fire-resistant, honeycomb cardboard held together by ecological glue and covered by a transparent, breathing film. The envelope ends with two sliding transparent glass walls (or sash opening). The structural frames interlock to allow the house to be “detached” from the ground and, therefore, to avoid problems of humidity. Furthermore, they also act as a brace for the outer shell. The latter has also been designed with a system of self-supporting, interlocking panels (the roof is supported by the structural frame). Inside it has a living room-kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for a total of approximately 16 m2. The modular system of both the structure and the outer shell is flexible to enable the size of the house to be increased up to 100 m2. This prototype gives numerous opportunities to apply various PV systems, from standard modules to amorphous silicon systems, to photovoltaic louvers. The latter can not only generate electricity, but also act as a solar shading system from their position on the south-facing side.  The centre distance between the louvers depends directly on the maximum height reached by the sun during the summer solstice and is, therefore, linked to the latitude of the place. Another possible application is to insert the modules between the mullions on the façade and on the roof via support structures, which enable the inclination of the panel to be adjusted according to the location and time of use. The distance between the panel and the mullions must be such as to avoid unwanted shadows, which could decrease the efficiency of the PV system.

The closed circuit, solar, thermal collectors (air or water) can also be inserted on the same structures to heat the rooms.

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Year:2008

Architect: Anna Rita Emili

Engineer: Barbara Pellegrino

Collaborators: Jo Fonti, Emanuele Piccioni, Federica Ciapanna

Contractor: Italprogress (cardboard panels, Milan), Palladio S.p.A. (steel shutter, Treviso), Style maison (Parquet, Rome), Roechiling S.p.A. (HDPE panels, Varese)

Photos: Andrea Panzironi