Tangible qualities of sustainability | Baumschlager Eberle Architekten

So far, the 2226 concept has been used in mixed-use buildings. This principle is now applied for the first time to avoid technical installations for heating, cooling and ventilation in a residential building, the multiple dwelling “Graf” in the Austrian town of Dornbirn. Also here minimise high thermal masses, a well-balanced window area, and sensor-controlled vent windows running costs and ensure a pleasant year-round temperature range of 22 to 26 degrees. The optimised internal environment is particularly noticeable for the occupants of a multiple dwelling. The warmth of the interior walls is similar to room temperature, while humidity is in the desirable range of 40 to 60 per cent.

The energy input for the residential building was changed in comparison with previous buildings. Rooftop solar panels are used to heat water and influence building temperature, while infrared panels can provide additional warmth when needed in the rooms of the eight apartments. As a result, this residential building has a kind of ecological safeguard, because of less heat input by people, lighting and computers than in mixed-use buildings.