Energy Box
Location: l'aquila, Italy
Architect: Pierluigi Bonomo
Material: Wood
Design date: 2011
Completion date: 2013
Architect: Pierluigi Bonomo
Photographs: Pierluigi Bonomo
Story:
The mythological figure of the Phoenix is known for the fact to rise again from its ashes and depicts the symbol of rebirth and regeneration. Energy Box is the result of this myth. The building is located in a fraction Aquila, Built on the grounds of the existing farmhouse of masonry stones, irreparably damaged by the earthquake of 06.04.2009 and later demolished, the new building stands as a significant achievement not only from an ecological and technological point of view, but also as a poetic manifesto of settlement and architectural focused on the potential of contemporary design in the reconstruction of the suburbs. The stone walls preserved in the median earth body and semantic transition between “heavy” and indelible memory and the aspiration for a better future, which is materialized in the light of the “new” building, distinguished by linguistic characteristics, material and technology today , with simple shapes and low environmental impact. The building structure, facing the difficult context of intervention, seeks to emerge through a synthesis between architecture, security, technology and location, placing among the main aims of the extremely high energy efficiency and seismic safety. The integration between morpho-typological choices, materials, technological-constructive and passive bioclimatic strategies (building envelope designed according to the passive house standard in the Mediterranean area) and active (VMC system with a geothermal probe, heat pump for domestic hot water with solar thermal , photovoltaic system integrated into the facade and roof ...), allows to design an architecture able to answer “no damage” to the earthquake and to reduce the energy needs of more than 15 times the legal limits for a new building.
Some traces preserved perimeter wall, remembering the material and the shape of the pre-existence, become a boundary enclosing the “new home”: a wooden box-like body lowered into this void, distinctive and recognizable as a sign language and technology of today. The footprints of the stone walls, as a memorable photo you blurs progressively mediate the transition between the material and semantic “heavy” and indelible memory and the aspiration to a better future, translated in the light of the “new” with safe technologies , efficient and low environmental impact.ٌ
The integration of bio-climatic ‘passive’ strategies and ‘active’ systems helps to reduce the heating demand to 7 kwh/m2year. a photovoltaic ventilatَed facade, displayed on the southeast elevation, is visually contrasting to the natural wood finish in the planks. paying reference to its past the reuse of demolished materials - stones, steel and wooden purlins for outdoor furnishings and the choice of pre-fabricated construction systems help to minimize energy box’s’ environmental load over the course of its future lifetime.
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