Main content:
04. Dec 2009 - Solar Decathlon Europe: Start signal for Madrid
Abstract
Today, the start signal was given for an international competition at the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology in Berlin. During the event, four teams of students from Germany presented the current state of their designs for the competition in Madrid. This is where the Solar Decathlon Europe is being held in July 2010. This international, university-based competition originates from the USA and is taking place for the first time in Europe in 2010.
more details
The student teams from universities in Berlin, Rosenheim, Stuttgart and Wuppertal have designed high-performance prototype buildings that will be assembled in Madrid and subjected to extensive durability tests. After ten individual disciplines it will be decided which team has produced the most convincing overall design concept and has best succeeded in realising the design in structural and technical terms. The demands are high since the various disciplines present different challenges: Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Solar Systems and Hot Water, Energy Balance, Comfort Conditions, Appliances and Functionality, Communication and Social Awareness, Industrialisation and Market Viability, Innovation, Sustainability and much more.
The competition buildings are not typical residential or office buildings because they rely on extremely compact and modular structures. Nevertheless, interesting approaches have been developed in terms of the facades, building technology and variability, flexible use and the ability to adapt to environmental conditions.
Although the four German teams will be competing against one another in Madrid, they are nevertheless cooperating together during the preparatory phase in order to jointly strengthen their chances in the competition. The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is funding these activities as part of its Energy-Optimised Construction (EnOB) research initiative.