The SHolm house integrates nature with its design
Posted 08 June 2011, by Brittan (FloorNature), LiveGreen blog, livegreenblog.com
The SHolm House by Servo in collaboration with Marge Arkitekter AB, a 250-square-meter private residence designed for a suburb of the city of Stockholm, explores the “interaction between organic and synthetic matter in architecture.” Environmental awareness is an integral part of this design and is reflected in the choice of materials and systems.
The building’s structure consists of LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate), a highly porous material with air-filled cavities which provide increased insulation and therefore improved energy performance. The building’s insulation is further enhanced by its green-clad façades which also create a series of microclimates both along the sides and especially on the rooftop.
The home features a hydrodynamic green roof partially lined with porcelain tiles to direct rainwater and partially lined with a substrate, allowing indigenous plants to take root and flourish. The roof slopes down dramatically in the center to form an outdoor courtyard and garden around which the home is built.
Due to its high water retention, the central basin fosters the growth of wet meadow vegetation. On the other hand, high daylight and wind exposure makes the uppermost areas of the roof more hospitable to dry meadow flora.
These diverse microclimates on and around the green roof and building façade improve various aspects of the home’s performance including water flow and storage, shading and cooling and photosynthetic exchange.
