This project sought to insert a dwelling between the trees like a body that bends and writhes. In the interstices that result from the twists, the windows are introduced and the shadows are produced that allow a passive air conditioning of the house. The house is raised from the ground as a flat element, improving the thermal behavior with the ground and allowing ventilation at the full height of the spaces. Engineering and architecture merge in a single purpose: to inhabit nature.

The client asked for a house that could produce its own shadows, allowing a NZEB building with no air conditioning equipment or mechanical ventilation. At the same time, the client asked that no insects or small animals could enter the house while windows were open. In parallel he wanted the house in the middle of the natural environment. Finally, he wanted to have the minimum carbon footprint on the life of the building.

We provided a project that showcases a strategy that produces more shadows on a house and more natural ventilation. Only passive architecture systems were used. We believe that passive energy strategies are founded on the architects' pencil. We produced a form that protects the interior from solar radiation without any kind of high tech or domotics. The climate in Portugal is heating. We need more shadow on the buildings. We don't need more high tech stuff that consumes more energy. We placed the windows on the right place to be shadowed. Since the windows are full height and across different facades, ventilation occurs naturally.

On Summer we have free air conditioning from the air that enters on the shadowed windows.

On winter, the windows are closed, the sun beams are lower and we can heat the house naturally.

All this was made with a collaboration between engineering and architecture.

Beauty must be therefore efficient and sustainable.

We have provided a new strategy to passive systems: the facade form that produces shadows and that allow for natural ventilation. In parallel we have used strategies that are already used in other projects but made total sense here: cork insulation on the etics system ( because it's also perfect in case of summer forest fires so problematic in Portugal), rain water reuse ( water is becoming more scarce in Portugal and that's why you see photos of a big pool on the outside). We also have solar panels that reduce the power use from the grid. In general, we used natural resources with extreme caution. The power consumption of the house is 12 kWh/m2/year The whole-life carbon assessment: 1,140 kgCO2 e/m2