Project: ZEB Pilot House
Architects: Snøhetta
Location: Larvik, Norway
Area: 220 m2
Year: 2014
Photo Credits: Bruce Damonte, Paal-André Schwital, EVE
Client: Optimera and Brødrene Dahl, Saint Gobain
Typology: Zero Emission Demonstration Building
Located in Larvik, Norway, ZEB Pilot House is a Zero Emission Building designed by Snøhetta Architecture and Design.
Description by Snøhetta: Plus House Larvik is a pilot project on a family house out of the ordinary. By optimizing architectural qualities and technological solutions, the house serves both the living and energy needs of a family house, in addition to generating enough energy surpluses to power an electric car year-round.
The house is the result of a collaboration between the architecture and design firm Snøhetta, Scandinavia’s largest independent research body SINTEF, Zero Emission Building (ZEB) partner Brødrene Dahl, and Optimera. The project describes a single family house, however, the building is primarily intended for use as a demonstration platform to facilitate learning.
The house in the garden has a characteristic tilt towards southeast and a sloping roof surface clad with solar panels and collectors. These elements, together with geothermal energy from energy wells in the ground, serve the energy need for the house. The project has a strong focus on retaining home-like qualities through non-quantifiable properties. Emotive comfort and sense of wellbeing have governed the design process to the same extent as energy demands.
