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Team Austria Wins the 2013 Solar Decathlon With Their Net-Zero LISI House
formaggio writes "Team Austria was just announced the overall winner of the 2013 Solar Decathlon for their beautiful LISI House. With its elegant and innovative moving curtain facade, a simple form, and a strong emphasis placed on creating a seamless space that combines outdoor and indoor living, the stunning net-zero home is a versatile enough for life in both sunny California or the team's more temperate native land."
Net Zero was my first ISP. Not sure how a NEW home can be environmentally good. You want good for the environment then move back in with your parents.
"The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002; the competition has since occurred biennially in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011."
http://www.solardecathlon.gov/about.html
The number of solar powered houses throughout the developed world has soared since this program was started eleven years ago. And it is only because of effective programs such as this that these money saving and environment sparing technologies have entered main stream home building.
win the award for website design. Jesus, is there a better link to actually view the pics and something sensible about the house?
work in progress
The commute between where your parents live and where employers in your field are located might be prohibitive.
Why is it called a decathlon? The name suggests 10 athletic contests, how is it related?
" the stunning net-zero home is a versatile enough for life in both sunny California or the team's more temperate native land."
Austria, if I'm not mistaken, can have some pretty heavy snowfall. I have a hard time believing this kind of house is practical in that kind of climate. It seems specifically suited to southern California/Florida climates where homes sometimes don't even have furnaces, let alone have to deal with significant snowfall.
Just how are those curtains going to deal with a blizzard, a hurricane, a tornado, or any other strong weather event?
I wonder how long both the curtain and the track it runs on can survive direct sunlight, exposure to the elements, and attacks by animals and insects.
Clearly a suburban sprawl based design, this house depends on a low density environment that, in turn, depends on cars and other huge energy inputs to be functional - ie, the idea that this is "green" or "sustainable" is total bullshit.
Of course Team Austria won.
But if you are not from a country filled with Kangaroos and Deserts, solar is just not a viable option.
And this house crossed the Australian desert in 2 weeks? :D
Very impressive.
If that's the future of housing it will be extremely efficient. At insuring people stay in there existing house instead of buying that monstrosity. It has a kitchen that you could cook a mixed drink it but nothing more. Hard surfaces and right angles, no though of children. Give me a country Victorian any day they naturally cool well and with a little modification can have a nice open floor space and a formal front of house.
No sir I dont like it.
It's great they have these contests and architects stroke each other with awards, but they never seem turn up in any actual neighborhoods.
Sometimes it's because concept houses can't get FHA or mortgage approval. The government could help drive innovation in housing by backing the mortgages of energy efficient and solar powered homes.
Maybe one of these days we'll see an award for a design that's innovative and practical and the FHA will agree to finance borrowers.
That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
I looked at the slideshow on the LISI house site, and I don't see anything that looks like a kitchen, anything that looks like a bedroom, or anything that looks like a bathroom.
Yes, they made a pretty space, but I do not see how it is a space for people to live, and I thought that was the purpose of a house, to be a space for people to live.
Anyone have an inside scoop why this design with curtain surround excelled over conventional architecture?
See plans and specs here: http://1.usa.gov/1fuSR3W
I don't see anything that looks like a kitchen, anything that looks like a bedroom, or anything that looks like a bathroom.
It has a kitchen that looks more like a wet bar and a single bathroom and bedroom in its "compact dark service core." Minimalist even by European standards. floor plan
It is not in the least surprising that most photographs show only the bright, colorful exterior, garden-like. views.
There is space here for entertaining but none to raise a family.
Looks like a giant IKEA robot vomited all up and down the street. I read the design docs so I understand they were working within some tight constraints but, YUCK!