TECHSTYLE HAUS.

Passive House, Active Experience. Connecting Everyone to Sustainable Living.

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Welcome to the French countryside!

For the next month Techstyle Haus will be installed at its permanent site at the Domaine de Boisbuchet, an estate in Lessac, France where annual art and design workshops are held. Here students from around the world come to construct pavilions, explore materials, and learn from famous designers all while enjoying the natural landscape around them. Techstyle Haus has already been added to the map to stand alongside owner Alexander Von Vegasack's collection of architectural pavilions. We are thrilled to be a part of Boisbuchet's campus, not only so that the Haus will continue its life after the competition, but to continue to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers to explore the possibilities of sustainable living.

Third Time's a Charm

Techstyle Haus was built in Providence as a test and in Versailles as an exhibit. Now the Haus will be assembled for the third and final time, luckily without a 10 day assembly challenge! As of now the steel structure, foundations, and sub-floor pallets have been laid down, and the wall assembly is being prepped for assembly. We would like to thank John Bacon from HB Welding for contributing his expertise in working with steel and heavy machinery. Working with him has been a pleasure, and we hope he's enjoyed building Techstyle Haus as much as we have!

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Happy Monday! Happy Bastille Day! And here's to the last day of Solar Decathlon Europe 2014! Last Saturday a crowd of pink sat in the stands of the Agora waiting for the final verdict. Never before had it been this crowded with Decathletes and visitors from the public, with plenty of celebratory drinks to go around. Fittingly, the original creators of Solar Decathlon in the US introduced the program, starting from the early ideas of a student-run, student-built competition to the now well-established Solar Decathlon USA, Europe, China, and now Latin America. Then, the awards came, and that's when Techstyle Haus won 3rd place in Comfort Conditions! Knowing that the fabric house's performance as a livable, comfortable space would be one of our greatest challenges, we could not be more proud! Both visitors and monitors agreed that Techstyle Haus was one of the warmest, air-tight, and sound-tight houses at the Cité du Soleil. We could not have achieved this without the considerable work and effort from everyone on our team's students, faculty, and sponsors! Some other notable standings: We placed 6th in both Communications & Social Awareness and in House Functioning, and 10th in Energy Efficiency.

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We would like to congratulate all twenty competing teams and the five exhibiting teams of Solar Decathlon Europe 2014. Designing and building a solar-powered house is no small feat, and everyone involved in the competition has learned and grown remarkably. Even through the competitive scoring and judging process, we enjoyed having dinner parties and dancing with our fellow Decathletes at the Agora, switching from English to French to German and back again. Above all, we are proud to have shown the first solar-powered, super-efficient fabric house to 20,000 people in Versailles and thousands more online. Now that we are moving into disassembly phase, the Solar Decathlon Europe 2014 chapter of Techstyle Haus is now closing, and we are moving into a new chapter in Lessac, France, where the house will go to its final site at the Domaine de Boisbuchet. Look forward to more news about the house, the team, and continuous inspiration this summer!

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See our website for a FULL list of Techstyle Haus in the press! Our newest press release will also be out shortly! If you want to write a story about Techstyle Haus and are looking for professional photos, see our flickr for an amazing gallery by Kristen Pelou!

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Solar Decathlon is ON! This past week has been dedicated to giving public tours, jury visits, house monitoring, and when time allows, dinner parties! We have been getting big crowds and great comments on our house from the public. Here's what people have to say: "I'll take two, please." "I would love to live here!" "We'll vote for you!" Thank you! We're thrilled that we're a crowd pleaser. The juries...not so much. While we received #6 place in Communications and are currently fluctuating between #1 and #2 for Comfort Conditions, we have not received high scores in architecture and urban design. BUT, there are still seven official contests to go, and many other awards to be given as well, such as Dinner Parties and Public Choice. So look forward to more updates as we go forth with Techstyle Haus!

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Today we had the pleasure of inviting Brown and RISD Alumni to the Cité du Soleil to tour our house! A few words were given by alumni, students, and advisors highlighting the importance of Techstyle Haus not only for the competition, but for the team as well. We'd like to thank everyone for coming, and for their immense support throughout the project!

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Please be sure to VOTE TECHSTYLE HAUS for Public Choice Award! From now until July 12 votes will be counted toward this award on the Solar Decathlon website. Spread the word and encourage people to support the first textile enclosed entry! http://www.solardecathlon2014.fr/votez 

Interested in our humidity levels? Temperature? Air quality? You can track Techstyle Haus's performance live and 24/7 here thanks to Solar Decathlon Europe's monitoring system! http://monitoring.sd14.fr/

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In a short piece called A House That Sips Energy, the New York Times points out the key features of the net-zero Techstyle Haus that students from RISD, Brown and the University of Applied Sciences in Germany are now showing in the 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe.

The ...

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Today was the first day of the competition and Techstyle Haus is up and running! Though the 10-day build was a strenuous process, we made it by helping and being helped by our 19 international neighbors. So many hands and minds went into this project, and we couldn't have done it without our fantastic group of students, advisors, sponsors, and partners. Now we're proud to exhibit our house to the public! If you are in the area, please visit us at the Citè du Soleil! We are open on weekdays 11:30am - 2:30pm and 5:30pm - 7:30pm, on weekends 10am - 10pm. Tweet @techstylehaus and post your favorite photos of the house! If not, we will be posting photos and updates frequently throughout the competition, so keep in touch!

Please be sure to VOTE TECHSTYLE HAUS for Public Choice Award! From now until July 12 votes will be counted toward this award on the Solar Decathlon website. Spread the word and encourage people to support the first textile enclosed entry! http://www.solardecathlon2014.fr/votez 

Interested in our humidity levels? Temperature? Air quality? You can track Techstyle Haus's performance live and 24/7 here thanks to Solar Decathlon Europe's monitoring system! http://monitoring.sd14.fr/

We'd like to thank photographer Kristen Pelou for these beautiful shots of the house.

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On the 9th official assembly day and running on pure adrenaline and caffeine, the end is fast approaching. The Sheerfill architectural membrane is now completely tensioned. Over it, the two flexible solar arrays have been placed and are now being wired and secured. These photovoltaic cells have been mounted to a vinyl fabric, allowing them to bend slightly and take the form of the curved ribs. Surrounding the perimeter of the house we have a series of decking modules, allowing visitors to enter by a ramp on the North and South. Large gardening containers also house our plumbing systems and will soon be outfitted by plants suitable for greywater. Meanwhile on the interior the core has entered the house, and along with it the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are being installed. We will be required to run all of our appliances during the competition to display the efficient functioning of our house, mimicking daily household habits through lighting, water running, etc. Everyone has been interested in witnessing the curious house in the corner of Versailles being built, now they can see it actually works as well!

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Mid-way through the build and our spirits are high. The walls are insulated, the windows have arrived, and there's nothing like blasting Rihanna while installing your finish flooring.

Now that the Sheerfill has been graciously repaired by PPL France, we can now adjust and tension the membrane. This process involves pulling the membrane East and West, North and South, and then back again until we can ensure an even distribution. On the inside, the walls have also been completely outfitted with a thick layer of insulation and covered with the air barrier, the prevention against moisture build-up. With the finish flooring completely installed, we can now also install the core on the North side. Soon this house will have its kitchen, bathroom, and mechanical systems!

Though we've been busy throughout the assembly phase, we haven't missed the opportunity to tour the rest of the Cité du Soleil and say hi to other team members. Let's not forget that there are 19 other teams pulling the same crazy construction schedules that we are. With everyone tight on time and susceptible to the minor disaster here and there, it's no surprise teams are helping each other out and lending tools and machinery. This reminds us that, on top of competing, we're incredibly fortunate to be a part of this international experience.

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With the Sheerfill architectural membrane up and the interior being prepped for insulation, the exterior structure is well underway. A few other teams have asked us how we're putting insulation into such a curved structure. Good question! During the overnight shift, team members will secure a series of criss-crossing ratchet straps between the steel ribs that will create a net, between which the insulation can rest in. An original Techstyle Haus system! How to Mend your Fabric House: Our architectural membrane went up successfully and is now partially tensioned along the perimeter of our house. During installation, a small tear occurred on the Western side. While this put us slightly behind schedule, this will not affect the durability of our house at all. On the contrary, mending Sheerfill is much like welding steel - once the area is repaired it will make the area twice as strong. Within a few weeks, the patch will bleach out white and match the rest of the facade. We'd like to thank Birdair and Saint-Gobain for their extremely quick consulting during this crucial moment. In the next few days, look out for our insulation, airtight sealing, mechanical core, and solar array! 10 days is all we have and we're powering through!

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Greeting everyone! The Solar Decathlon Assembly Period has officially begun!

Over the next ten days our team will transform an empty lot by the grounds of Versailles to the house and landscape of Techstyle Haus. Working in shifts of eight hours each, people will be on site 24/7 to assemble the house from ground up. Meanwhile, out in our new warehouse people will also continue prepping and applying finish work to various components to ensure they will be prepared once they arrive on site later this week. In these busy times, we will kindly blow up your inboxes and newsfeeds with updates of our progress a few times a week. Please cheer us on by liking us on facebook and following us on twitter. If you're ever in need of a vacation spot, Techstyle Haus will be open to the public on June 28!

DAY 1 ON SITE

Survey the site

Install the steel footings

Install the insulated floor pallets

IN THE WAREHOUSE

Build decking and railing

Consult with MEP expert

Test and install appliances

Apply finish work to the core

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On Friday Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and RISD’s interim President Rosanne Somerson 76 ID toured the Techstyle Haus in progress as students work to finalize their 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe entry. Later this month, the soft-shelled, solar-powered house will be disassembled and shipped to Versailles, France, where it will be rebuilt in time for the late-June competition.

“It’s terrific to see the house so close to being finished,” says Whitehouse. And Somerson adds, “This is what happens when you design from the inside out, when the system dictates the form, materials and construction.”

For caption information, click on each image (photos by David O’Connor).

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Friday, April 25, 2014

After weeks of prefabrication of parts followed by a week of assembly, Techstyle Haus team members put down their hammers for an evening and welcomed people to their Open Haus. Brown and RISD alumni and faculty, sponsors and donors, and friends and family of the team were invited to tour the house and listen to speeches commemorating all the work done so far.

“The fact that they have put together a three-university collaboration…and also engaged people from around Providence, Rhode Island, and really around the country…is quite remarkable,” Christina Paxson, Brown University President, commended.

For the first time, visitors were able to walk up the decks of the southern entrance and observe the structure up close. From the steel ribs to the tensioned Sheerfill membrane, to the newly installed core and insulated flooring, it certainly made a grand impression.

“It is both a house and an ideal, an image of what is possible when we partner and when we find new models for thinking and making,” Rosanne Somerson, RISD Interim President, remarked. “When art and design can work with STEM disciplines to create STEAM. When we can bring together all of our talents and convictions to truly make something better.”

The event was marked by the cutting of a bright pink ribbon stretched across the southern facade, cut jointly by President Paxson and President Somerson. Students will continue construction for the next few weeks before shipping the house to France. The many votes of confidence received were a great source of encouragement for the now not-so-long road to Versailles.

“My privilege has been to work with [the students] on a daily basis to get this done,” Jonathan Knowles, RISD Architecture Professor and Project Mentor said. “They’re extraordinarily intelligent and they work really, really well together.”

For more photos, check out our facebook album.

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We’d like to thank the Brown and RISD Clubs of RI for organizing this event. We’d also like to thank all the speakers: Presidents of the RISD and Brown Clubs of RI Becky Fong and Ken Dill, Gareth Rose (Brown), Isby Lubin (Brown), Kim Dupont-Madinier (RISD), David Trampe (FHE), Interim President of RISD Rosanne Somerson, President of Brown University Christina Paxson, Dean of the Brown School of Engineering Larry Larson, RISD Interim Provost Pradeep Sharma, Saint-Gobain representative Anne Hardy, and last but not least our fearless leader RISD Professor of Architecture Jonathan Knowles.

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Building a fabric house is no small task. We'd like to thank Birdair, Inc. for coming to help us install the Sheerfill this week! You can visit their website here: http://www.birdair.com/

They provide expert design consulting and build custom tensile structures.

Walter Bird started the company in 1956, developing early radomes (radar domes) and rapid deployment command shelters.

They work with structures ranging anywhere from sports stadiums and airports to hotels and resorts.

An entourage of architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and developers make up their team.

As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, they're determined to construct both beautifully and sustainably!

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We take heating and cooling super seriously at Techstyle Haus, and are thrilled to be sponsored by Viessmann for our HVAC systems! (And that stands for Heating - Ventilation - Air Conditioning) Check out their website at http://www.viessmann.com/com/en.html

Based in Allendorf, Germany, their heating systems are available worldwide in 74 countries.

They provide an extensive range of HVAC products, from biomass and biogas to solar thermal!

The Viessmann Group started when Johann Viessmann set up a workshop for steel boilers in 1917.

They instruct their employees and trade partners through the Viessmann Academy's advanced training courses.

They're a huge fan of sports, sponsoring everything from cross-country skiing to motorcycle racing!

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We have the remarkable opportunity to feature furniture by Vitra, a Swiss family-owned furniture company, in Techstyle Haus! Check out the true facts of this historically rich company, and learn more their website here http://www.vitra.com/en-us/living

They're a Swiss family-owned furniture design company.

Some of their products include notable classics, such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Jean Prouvé.

They entered the furniture market in 1957 and have been producing furniture for offices, homes, and public areas ever since.

The Vitra Design Museum by Frank Gehry in 1989 hosts a broad collection of 20th century furniture.

In 1981 they developed the Vitra Campus to host a diverse ensemble of contemporary architecture, which you can visit at Weil am Rhein.

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Presenting the true facts about our sponsor Taco HVAC, provider of energy consulting and control system products! In case you were wondering, they are pronounced "take-o", a little different from your favorite Mexican dinner dish, but are just as awesome. You can visit their website at https://www.taco-hvac.com/

They’re a leading American HVAC company based in Cranston, RI.

Even though you might’ve never heard about them, you probably have one of their pumps, controls, or components in your basement!

In 1920 they were founded by Elwood White and have been owned and operated by the White family ever since.

With a wide range of hydronic and radiant systems, they’re one of the leading brands in the HVAC market.

They have a commitment to sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

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While we're waiting eagerly for the steel ribs to arrive this weekend, we're sharing True Facts about Capone Iron Corporation for your reading pleasure! Check out their website at http://www.caponeiron.com/

They specialize in fabricating quality steel products.

In 1951 CEO Charles A. Capone began fabricating iron ornaments in his basement and backyard.

By the 1980's they were fabricating and installing structural steel components for schools, condominiums, warehouses, and government buildings.

Based in Rowley, MA, their headquarters consist of 70,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art equipment and technology.

We are working with their engineerings to develop the steel details of Techstyle Haus!

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Open Haus Forum.

We're inviting you to take the next steps. Techstyle Haus is the first step to an innovative building system. Now we want you to take our design and change it. Add wind turbines, turn the roof into a trampoline, put it in a desert, or on the moon! Show us how we can retrofit Techstyle Haus to different solutions around the world.

Post on instagram, tweet your thoughts, or email us at [email protected]. Be sure to tag us @ techstylehaus and # openhaus! We're going to collect all your submissions in a facebook album. The Top 5 with the most likes will be featured on our website and presented in our Public Tour in Versailles, France.

Here are the basic facts on Techstyle Haus. You can also find images of our 3D model and drawings HERE.

Passive House Standard: superinsulation and passive solar heating

Textile Membranes: weather barrier, air barrier, water barrier, and fire resistance

Steel Rib Structure: requires little to no digging to secure

Flexible Solar PV Cells: laminated and mounted on vinyl

Mechanical Core: kitchen, bath, and appliances