The Shell passive house

Description

The Shell PassiveHouse, a project by Piraccini + Potente Architettura sostenibile, is a residence built in the rural area of Cesena, designed according to international Passivhaus standards for sustainable buildings. The architecture is inspired by typical local farmhouses and combines beauty with functionality, sustainability and energy efficiency, all perfectly integrated into the rural landscape.

The building's architecture takes advantage of the sun's seasonal inclination to optimise its heating requirements: during the winter, the sun's low inclination rays penetrate through the windows, naturally heating the interior spaces; in the summer, a wooden sun screen completely envelops the structure, protecting it from overheating.

The building envelope is designed with insulating materials and systems that guarantee airtightness and control of thermal bridges, and the position of the windows is designed to maximise light and solar heat gain.

Thermal and acoustic insulation, a key element in the Passivhaus standard, has been conceived as an integral part of the envelope and the various components of the structure have been insulated with extruded polystyrene and URSA mineral wool products to guarantee thermal efficiency and living comfort.

The building is heated using passive energy sources: solar radiation, human body heat and that produced by household appliances, and as the only system there is controlled mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, which ensures air exchange without energy loss. The residence uses no combustible energy sources and emits zero emissions into the atmosphere; thanks to an efficient insulation system and adequate ventilation, excellent indoor air quality, correct humidity regulation and reduced CO₂ levels are ensured.