Project description
Situated on a hillside overlooking the lake to the north, the house was designed to complement the surrounding topography and vegetation. To compensate for the disadvantage of north-facing windows, the roof is designed to allow direct sunlight through hatches to warm the stone floor in the colder months. This serves the purpose of storing thermal energy, thereby maintaining a balance between daytime and nighttime temperatures. In months when there is a risk of overheating, the house is designed to prevent direct sunlight from entering, while ensuring effective cross-ventilation. The property will undergo minimal alterations, with only a small portion of the house having a basement. The structure is supported by columns and point foundations. The grey energy footprint of the entire building is kept to a minimum due to the timber construction. Solar collectors produce the hot water, while a photovoltaic system reduces the electricity drawn from the grid. Rainwater is collected and treated, and wastewater is treated and reused.
Some questions to the planner
- What are your most important findings from the planning process for the Minergie certification?
Casa Cascada seved as a pilot project to develop the first version of the Minergie Mexico regulations. The design process was fed by the criteria of sustainable construction and the regulations were improved by the design process. This approach resulted in a balanced set of regulations based on the experiences of a real project that will be implemented soon. - What were the biggest challenges?
The most significant challenge was the location of the lake to the north of the house.The large windows were therefore aligned to the north. In order to still achieve solar heat gains during the cold season, a high rooflight was incorporated into the south roof design, allowing sunlight to penetrate the interior. - What recommendations do you have for a Minergie building?
In principle, all bioclimatic and passive design measures should be used before efficient technologies are implemented. This is the key for constructing buildings with a low carbon footprint, a high level of comfort and healthy spaces.
Project details
Valle de Bravo, Mexico
N/A
300 m²
MEX-001 (provisional)