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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Villa GK in Vila do Bispo, Portugal by CORE ARCHITECTSJanuary 31st, 2019 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: CORE ARCHITECTS Nestled in the picturesque landscape of the Algarve coastline, on a hill between wild thyme and rosemary, this low energy house was built for a family based in Germany. The family had been coming to this area for 30 years and finally decided to build their own holiday home. For the retired couple it was important to create a ground-level living area. Their previous holiday home, spread over two floors, made it difficult to use with their older age. As architects, CORE team was required to design a single-story house that allows communicative living on one level, but at the same time blends gently into the steep hillside allotment. The access to the garden was required to be comfortable and effortless.  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy
 Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy The client´s requirement for maximum privacy and yet maximum vision, was the origin for the design concept. An open space living that opens up to the south, to the sea, was specifically requested. Large windows should allow as much daylight into the house but also protect their privacy. The neighbors to the right and left, to whom the couple has maintained a friendly relationship for years, should not face a wall, but at the same time the owners did not want to be in their constant view. From the interplay of these almost contradictory requirements, the wedge-shaped roof was built, and the perforated curtain walls and the long steps to the garden have been created. The client’s needs thus determined the shape of the building and the choice of building materials.  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy As passive house architects, we attach great importance to sustainability and the use of ecological building materials. This combination is not always linear to solve. We began with the bioclimatic study, the basis for design concept development on all CORE projects. On the basis of this study, we determined, among other things, the prevailing winds with which we contribute to the cooling of the living space. The positioning of the façade windows played a special role here. Natural cross ventilation is an important factor, which, in combination with the clay plaster used in the interior, ensures an ideal living environment in which temperature and humidity are regulated equally.  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy Out of concern for the heat, the builders insisted on installing an air conditioning unit, although according to our calculations this is unlikely to be used. Contrary to popular belief, on the Algarvian coast, it is very damp and cold in the winter. Although temperatures do not reach minus levels, heating must be provided for a pleasant living climate.  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy In the villa GK, geothermal energy was implemented. To heat the water, a solar thermal system was installed, which even heats the pool if requested. Good thermal insulation in the building envelope was crucial to achieve the desired energy standard of this low energy house. The heat transfer coefficient (U-value) for the outer wall construction was required to be min <0.20 W / m²K. This was achieved by the use of stated building materials. Due to the high earthquake risk in South Portugal, a concrete skeleton structure was chosen as the type of construction. For the outer walls, heat-efficient clay blocks were used. In Portugal, traditional hollow bricks are still common. These are characterized by low mechanical resistance, low thermal inertia, and no heat or sound insulation. For building low energy houses, completely useless.  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy  Image Courtesy © Alexander Bogorodskiy
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Tags: Portugal, Vila do Bispo Categories: Apartments, House, Residential, Villa |
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