The ECO Home is in Line

This Eco Home is in line with the idea that the architecture of today is about environmental design in terms of architectural thought, innovation and also environmentally friendly solutions that are easy to realize.

It demonstrates that it is possible to design and put up an eco-home in our region and it is our responsibility to build our homes in eco-friendly and sustainable manner.The Eco-home consists of open floor plan at the Ground Floor, being the Sitting room, Kitchen, Dining, Lounge and Outdoor Patio, Entrance Hall, Gym, Guest Bedroom, Outdoor Braai/ Meal area, Main swimming Pool, Double Garage and the Servant’s Quarters. And a Floating Upper Floor consisting of a Master Ensuite and its Balcony, 2 Ensuite Bedrooms, an Office, and outdoor decking consisting of an entertainment space and an infinity pool over flowing in the Pool at the ground level.

“The design was driven by four cornerstones of passive design:”

Control

Site selection – The selected site have vegetation which protect the earth surface through shading from too much heat gain during the summer days, and still allows for solar access in winter days.

Orientation  - The design is in a V shape form, and have been positioned in such a way that the upper level long axis takes faces south and north to maximize of solar gain in winter and therefore short sides east west to limit morning and afternoon summer heat exposure.

Window placement – The windows will use glazing with low solar heat gain properties with most of the large glazing to the north side to maximize on solar access in winter times and cutout solar access into the building in summer.

Shading – The main curtain wall to the north is inclined 82 degrees vertical azimuth angle to cutout most of the midday summer sun and allow for shading. Louvres to the west on te upper level to cutout afternoon summer sun and still allow for winter sun in.

Distribution

Room Layout – Allows for optimal use of natural light into all the spaces during the day therefore minimizing energy used in lighting.

Ventilation – The design is open plan and has large fenestrations at the ground level with the spaces arranged in a linear form and bedrooms also arranged in a linear form to allow help with easy distribution of fresh air evenly through the building.

Evaporative Cooling – As the hot air rises in hot days, replaced by the cool air from the vegetated site, with the infinity pool above overflowing into the pool at the ground level, resulting into evaporative cooling effect of the courtyard space therefore cooling most of the spaces at the ground level which is where the family will spend of most of the time during the day.

Design Genro/Eco Home

Collection

Rainwater Harvesting – Rainwater collection into water tanks to be used on green landscaping to be used to aid in maximizing performance of passive solar design and assist with imperfect situations and other site constraints.

Solar Collection – Use of photovoltaic panels and solar hot water helps harness and convert solar energy into electricity therefore reducing on energy consumption from the grid.

Storage

Thermal Massing – Heavy materials such as brick, concrete and tiles have been utilized in appropriate thicknesses and areas to insulate the building envelope to store heat and help balance the temperature fluctuation for thermal comfort

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The water from the solar hot water system will also be used in floor heating system in winter times to be stored in the slab and released in cold winter days.

Incorporating passive design principles in this eco design will help to significantly improve comfort for users, reduce or eliminate heating and cooling bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling, mechanical ventilation and lighting.

Design Genro/ Eco Home