prispa project in romania

7/27/2019 PRISPA Project in Romania

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4 | PRISPA team

HOME

SWEETHOMEBUTWITH

MADRIDINOURSOULSPRISPA is back in town, or in the countryside as we might

say, with the memory of an over the top experience, with

new friends all over the world and some wonderful stories

to share with the ones who waited for us.

And we didnt come home barehanded. Our simple, but yet

complex house, won 2nd placein Energy Efficiency, was the

2nd favourite for Public Choiceand ranked 9th amongst the18 teams in the competition.

Moreover, they awarded us anout of contest diploma for Social

Awareness in Solar SystemIntegration.

PRISPA isback fromMadrid justto be readyfor another

chapter.

2nd

place in the EnergyEfficiency contest.


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Solar Decathlon Europe 2012 | 5

PRISPA.The project...

So it all started early in 2011, when a

team of student architects, engineers

and designers had the dream of

designing a sun-powered house to

present it in Solar Decathlon Europe

2012. In the two years following, wevemajored in drafting board operations,

advertising for a house like no one did

before and then in building it both

in Romania and Madrid. Weve even

become specialists in dissasembly, too.

...that became a home.

Our utmost goal was turningthe project into a real home.

We wanted PRISPA to besomeones dream house soweve tried to find lovingowners to take care of it

aer the competition. NowPRISPA has reached its finaldestination, being built in a

beautiful countryside sceneryand providing a comfortablelife for a family that was eagerto embrace the sustainable

lifestyle we believe so much in.


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6 | PRISPA team

BUILDING

PRISPATHREETIMESINAROW!

SOLETSREMINISCE

BUILDINGASTUDENTPROJECTHAVE

YOUSEENUSYET?

PRISPA is not just a contest

prototype, but a home for

Romanians and this summer

was the perfect time to show it!

So weve accepted one majorchallenge building PRISPA on

Romanian grounds before going to

Madrid and inviting everybody in!

The result? A month-long

continuous event, the house itself

being the main attraction 24hours,

7 days a week! Should we also

mention all those people who

had the chance to see the project

theyve been hearing about, right

in front of their eyes, on a 1:1 scale?

And the skeptics? And those who

instantly fell in love with it?

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2

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CLOCKTICKINGINMADRIDDAYSANDACOMPETITIONHOUSE

We managed to build a completely functional

house in 13 days, receiving the 5 points

bonus for finishing on time. After that, we

had 14 days for competition juries and visits

from the general public and specialists, as

well as 5 days for disassembly. PRISPA, along

with the other 17 houses, injected its surplus

energy in Madrids electrical grid. Our

experience of building PRISPA in Romania

turned out to be essential and the public

loved the warm atmosphere of our house.

The jury positively appreciated our energy

efficiency strategy and our strong response

to the local context.

THIRDTIMESTHECHARMPRISPAAHOMEFORTHEDARING

Returning to Romania meant the final assembly

for PRISPA and finally reaching our goal and

making this solar house a proper home for a very

nice family. For some members of our team, site

operations were not over, moving from Madrid

directly to a village near Bacu, the final site for

our project. The end of a story is always the start of

a new one, so we wish PRISPA and her owners toshare a happy and prosperous life together!

2

3

3


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8 | PRISPA team

Our efforts in this project placedPRISPA on the map and createda background for sustainableeducation. Social awareness is

still a goal and we are planningto continue what weve started.

We are proud of our experienceand we consider it to be a lifechanging opportunity. Weencourage students all over thecountry to participate in thenext edition of Solar DecathlonEurope, sharing our know-howand being at a hands reach foreveryone interested.

During the visiting periods many people have shown a lot ofinterested in our house and in the technologies we have usedto make it possible. Since we have so many people interested ina sustainable lifestyle, we plan on starting to industrialize solarhouses based on PRISPA prototype.

PRISPA Team.

PRISPA the industrialized solar home.

PRISPA Association.

PRISPA

keeps onbuilding and

growing.

It now seems that PRISPA house has its future all set out, but the people behindit are not resting. PRISPA was a prototype and thus an example, a means ofshowing that sustainability is possible and that students still have somethingto say in Romanias society. PRISPA left behind a team, an association and ahandful of people wanting to live according to the standards we set.


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2012:MissionPRISPAPRISPA aimed at changing three major

fields in Romania:

CountrydevelopmentApart from promoting a new type

of house, we acted on the grounds

of the rural revival which can be an

alternative to horizontal urban density,

an answer to the generations that miss

the countryside and an influence in

the economical area. Moreover, we

offered an example as an incentive

to encourage the change in mentality

towards sustainable principles.

AcademiaWe are a student team. We are the

very definition of research that

generates improvement; it is through

us, students, that the world gets

started on finding the best solutions in

all fields.

TourismPRISPA says it is possible not to give

up Romanias charm and revive all

the trades that brought the Romanian

villages acknowledgement. Agro-

tourism and eco-tourism may end up

being fruitful businesses for Romania

to exploit for many years from now on.

Values

things done wellAs the owners of PRISPA said: There

is nothing better than a house built by

students. We aimed for a product that

offers quality and efficiency without

costing a fortune. Decency as a value,

this is what we stand for.

the ambitionto go furtherWhen we began PRISPA project, there

were very few people who believed

in what we put forward. Things

are different now, and those whoencourage us do so because theyre

aware we have a real shot to bring

about a positive change. We thank

everyone who believed in us enough to

nudge us to invest time, research and

energy in this project.

the RomanianvillageThe village, source for Romanian

values and space for conserving

traditions, was the perfect site for

developing PRISPA prototype.

We wanted to integrate in such an

environment, developing a decent

language and using passive strategies

perfected by the local constructor. We

give you contemporary comfort shaped

on traditional sustainable principles.


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10 | PRISPA team

To this end,

PRISPA is:

A project designed to allow thedevelopment of a fully equippedindustrialized version that wouldnot exceed 70 000 Euros, the limitset by Prima Casa (First Home

governmental program).

PRISPA is a house all Romanians canrelate to, displaying contemporaryhigh-tech living standards withoutbeing menacing. These standardsare set according to both legalizedEuropean standards of living andRomanian psychological thresholds.The house provides complexityhidden behind simplicity in concept

and design.

PRISPA is making great use ofprefabricated elements, structuralsimplicity and technology so as to bebuilt with the minimum amount ofeffort.

By means of design, functions,finishing, independence in useand all of the above.

Using reconfigurable features

in the living space and amodular structure that allowsextensions or easy to makechanges in design withoutlosing the general idea of theproject.

COMFORTABLE

EASY TO BUILD

ADAPTABLEAFFORDABLE

CONTEXT WISE


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ChildrenHello, my name is Marian. I learn at Voievozi

elementary school. Im a 3rd grade student.

Today PRISPA team came to our class and

told us about solar homes. They even let

us draw some houses of our own. We then

planted trees in the school yard; it was all

part of the class - they taught us that being

green, or eco means in fact taking care

of our nature. I want to grow up to be able

to make part of their team some day. They

looked like great fun! (M., 9 years old)

TeenagersI like that theyre doing hands on stuff. It

looks serious, but fun at the same time. Id

like to be in a team like that; I think doing

a project like this teaches you a lot about a

lot, and you get to meet new people too. I

wonder what it would take to start my own

team and get into a competition like this. (I. ,

17 years old)

StudentsIts pleasant when your work is rewarded

formally. If you take part in an extra-

curricular project, chances are your work

wont be formally rewarded in school, not

even if it fits your major. PRISPA is different. I

work a lot for PRISPA, but the school doesnt

see this work as wasted time. I get grades at

the end of the semester. (L. , 23 years)

Young ProfessionalsTheir project is completely nuts. I think thats,

in fact, what I like about PRISPA. Their

team looks like it costs an arm and a leg

to get going, but they seem to have made

it. Its impressive, really impressive. I think

they have a real shot with this little house

of theirs - its pretty, its not very expensive,

considering everything you get when buying

it. Id live in it, and I think my friends would,

too. (C., 42 years)

FamiliesYoure very bold to do this. It might take a

while until you actually manage to see your

prototype industrialized, but its worth the

try. Id buy it, but only if you can add extrabedrooms. I want my children to come visit.

(O, 52 years old)

Targetpublic &marketWhat they thoughtof the project


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ChildrenCan this house recharge my toys batteries?

Because if it can, I want to live here! (A., 4

years old)

TeenagersI came here with my parents becausetheyve heard on TV about this house. Not a

very fun thing to do this weekend, I thought.

But aer seeing you people building this

house with your own hands, I started to

wonder if it wouldnt be a good option for me

to study civil engineering aer high-school.

To build something in your twenties, now

thats something! (B., 18 years old)

StudentsI know someone in your team and decidedto come and see whats it all about. I found it

fascinating and started to come more oen

and give a helping hand. I never thought that

building something with your own hands can

be this rewarding. I started to reconsider all

the theoretical knowledge the school offers

me and I actually have a project idea I want

to start next year.(N., 22 years old)

ProfessionalsIts all I ever dreamed of. Ive always wanted

a house with a prispa. It has the rightbalance between space and comfort and any

initial costs in technology are worthwhile

because you produce your own energy. I can

actually imagine myself living here.(D., 31

years old)

FamiliesOur daughter went to study abroad and she

married there, so there is no reason for us to

stay in the city, its too crowded and noisy.

We both miss the garden we had whenwe were little and we were thinking about

moving to the countryside. We hate that

everybody builds huge houses nowadays,

so this one is perfect for the two of us. Its

comfortable and full of light! And we could

have our little nephew come and play in a

healthy environment. We love it! (M. and I.,

50 and 52 years old)

12 | PRISPA team

on

to stu

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t

S

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very f

ut a

Teme her

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CC

and the house


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Theiropiniononline...


www.prispa.org


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14 | PRISPA team

Over

220 000visitors inMadrid

General statistics:According to www.sdeurope.org,

SDE2012 has been the mostvisited edition in the history of the

competition. The Villa Solar hasreceived over 220 000 visits, 64 094of which were guided tours.

Solar Decathlon Europe has also hada notable presence in social networks:Facebook, with 8 872 followers, has

reached, during de competition, 124000 people; Twitter, with

2 165 followers has come, in the sameperiod, to 120 000 people. The www.sdeurope.org web audience has alsoincreased with 144 213 visits in the

competition days, and the blog hashad 5 700 views.

The Public Choice contest results

revealed that PRISPA was the 2nd

favourite house of the visitors. Reactions

such as If I were to buy any of these

houses I would choose yours because it

feels like a home. or Energy efficient

for only 70 000 Euros? Its a small price

to pay for people in our country. made

our stay there even more meaningful.


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ProjectdescriptionA home, not a pavilion.

The logic of the storage comes from tradition

and it aims to come as a solution for the lack

of space experienced in urban collective

housing. This inherently led to improvised

attachments and altered living spaces.

PRISPA house managed to recover some

spaces in order to integrate storage in the

design, starting from the northern area to

the vestibule, technical room and split level.

Moreover, part of the furniture has this

added role: the wall / closet between the

day area and the private area or the space

under the seats.

Thoroughly following PRISPAs strategy,

the architecture of the house must use

contemporary technology in such a way that

it is not threatening. Our approach is to have

it hidden, efficient and low maintenance.

In order to achieve this, we grouped most

of the HVAC systems in the technical room

and storage space (only the interior air-air

converters being placed on the walls). This

position helped us as much when it came

to maximizing the efficiency of the kitchen

and bathroom plumbing (straight pipes,

proximity of water tanks). The photovoltaic

system is mounted on the roof metallic

boards using a simple technology while also

having its energy converters in this technicalarea.

The house has to meet the needs

of an average couple (price, ease of

living, adaptability, contemporary

comfort), but it also has to keep a

touch of the national identity, while

creating the kind of space Romanians

can psychologically understand

and relate to. It is all about building

an environmentally friendly home

that uses technology without being

threatening and also helps bring down

some walls people are hiding behind

when it comes to being part of a

community.


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16 | PRISPA team

For those whowant the numbersLength: 10.00 m

Width: 9.30 mBuilt area = 87,15 mp

Developed area = 110.10 mp

Built area of the prispa = 13,50 mp

Usable area ground floor = 59,40 mp

Usable area split level & attic = 15,40 mp(usable area of technical room = 10mp)

Total usable area = 74,80 mp

Height at ridge = 5,95 m

Height at eaves: 2,75 m

Exterior volume = 310 mc

Interior Volume = 260 mc

Number of photovoltaic panels 32

Installed power 8 kW/p

Estimated electrical energy consumptionin Bucharest 7508 kWh/year

Estimated electrical energy production inBucharest 9501 kWh/year

No. of solar panels 2

Grey water recycled 250 l/day

For the texture loversThe materials of PRISPA House are chosen

based on traditional principles on the

one hand, and on their capacity of being

environmentally friendly on the other hand.

Wood is the material used in greater

percentage, in different colors and textures,

being, perhaps, the most flexible material

nature has provided us with.

Clay is another material from vernacular

architecture. Besides being a natural

material, it also has hygroscopic properties,

so we decided to use it as finishing on

interior walls. For it to adhere to the OSB

boards, we introduced a middle red drywall

coating which also provides fire protection.

Metal will be used in different forms

zinc roof system, including eaves fascia

board finishing, also zinc finishing for the

mounting and industrialized connectors for

structural purposes and other constructive

details.

For the efficientOne of the very first selling strengths

of PRISPA House is the natural light

and natural ventilation for each space.

The house has an optimum compact

volume. There are no unused or

overdimensioned heated areas.

Moreover, the heating system also

works for minimum loss of energy. The

interior air vents are placed on theEast and West walls so they can face

the fresh air intake grid, thus realizing

better ventilation. The interior heated

air is fully reused, thus diminishing

the quantity of energy used. Following

the same principle, during winter,

starting from 5 Celsius degrees below

0, heating can be done using infrared

panels placed in the living room,

bedroom and bathroom.

Thermal comfort is also ensured by a

strategic placement of shutters in the window

system, the glass treatment and mineral

wool used as insulation. Moreover, since the

design of the southern facade allows thermal

substations, thermal balance is achieved

through a natural stone thermal mass placed

in front of the windows. The layer of dark

colored stone stores heat from sun radiation

and releases it during the night.

Northern Natural Lightno eat gain

cal Coreu ert erma

Lobbyt erma u er

Solar thermal panelsor ot water

North- outhatura v nti ation

Fresh Windrom the Northf

Storage


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Windows are configured

in such a way that they

ensure a balance betweenthe incoming caloric energy

and the heat that reflects

from inside out. Depending

on orientation, different

treatments were applied to

the glass.


Comfortably, at homeHaving the strategy in mind, we designedour interior space using the traditional

principles of interior functionality and

decoration. In order to extract the essential

points we needed for the design process,

we considered a sum of common elements

present in traditional styles throughout

Romania.

Our concept lies in capturing the essence

of Romanian tradition through form,

texture and technique. This calls for theuse of natural materials with enhanced

technological properties (for example, the

improved clay plastering using a red drywall

support for fire safety).

For the sunny you, we got the sun as a

permanent guest in every room

Following the overall strategy, the lighting

design extracts the essential traditional

decorative features and mixes natural and

artificial light in order to increase comfort

and minimize consumption.

Every room benefits from natural light for as

much time as possible. This means, on the

one hand, that the interior composition of

spaces sincerely reflects on the outside shell

and, on the other hand, that the difference

of lighting intensity throughout the day must

be controlled by means of design and proper

materials.


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For the familyThe countryside garden is identified

by Romanians with peace and family.

Combined with the idea that our project

has that key element that allows for

one to observe and to be observed, the

landscape design should be comfortable,

both physically and psychologically.

This is achieved through three major

characteristics: readability, usability and

produced mindscape.

18 | PRISPA team

F

For you, for me

and for our kidsIn order for the house to adapt to

contemporary lifestyle scenarios, to

minimize space and increase efficiency

in design, we had to use reconfigurable

features. These are either related to space

distribution or to the actual use of furniture.

We want the areas of our house to have

multiple possibilities of use, without ignoringnecessary boundaries. Hence, we use

sliding doors to create a continuous indoor

- outdoor space during summer, by allowing

the living space to extend into the prispa.

The eastern private area can divide the

sleeping space from the workspace using a

perpendicular extension of the structural

wall between this space and the living area.

The conditions for daylight simulation were:

Standard CIE, Overcast sky. We obtained a

good lux level for the most important areas

which needed this comfort, working space,

living room, kitchen and even a value of 100lux for the bathroom

The artificial lighting is calculated to give

enough light for the normal functioning

of the house, closely depending on the

function of each room. For the interior,

there are 4 types of illuminating objects.

There is a general lighting object for the

living, dining and office space which is

flexible and uses the traditional zigzag

motif. The split level is illuminated by areinterpreted lantern and the working desk

uses a lighthead resembling a rural fountain.

The fourth type of object is a suspended

headstand light which is inspired by a wool

spindle with the suspension cable wrapped

in natural wool.


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1.How much does the prototype cost?

120.000 eur; this price includes structure,

finishes, both for interior and exterior, doors

and windows, equipment (photovoltaics

system, heating, ventilation and air

conditioning equipment, electrical and

sanitary), and insulation. The prototype is

more costly than the industrialized version,

because some of the materials we used are

slightly different than in the industrializedversion. The materials that differ from the

industrialized version of PRISPA house,

have been chosen as such for the prototype

in order for the first PRISPA house to

be able to bear 3 successive transports,

assemblies and disassemblies.

2. Is there an industrialized version of

the house? If yes, is it more expensive, or

cheaper?

Yes, there is an industrialized version of

the house and yes, it is cheaper. The more

successful the house becomes, the lower

its price gets. Therefore, in the beginning,

PRISPA house will be sold for about 90.000

eur, while after a year or so of selling, the

price of the house gets 70,000 eur.

3. Is there anything you invented?

To be honest, we dont feel the need

to invent anything, since our strategyadvocates simplicity. We dont mean to

reinvent the wheel, for fear it might come

out square. The technology already exists,

the things we lack are ways to regard it

and use it. What were doing here is new

methods of applying existing technologies.

4.What kind of structure does it have?

The load bearing structure for the PRISPA

house consists of a system of load bearing

walls. Some of them are divided into

structural panels and the rest are found

in structure for the two trans- portable

modules: the kitchen + bathroom module

and the technical module. The base

materials are engineered wood products

such as I-Joists and Oriented StrandedBoards, also timber and, for the joining

of the structural parts, a range of steel

connectors and bolts. For thermal

insulation, wool is used.

The reason we went for a wood structure

is self-evident. Wood is one of the most

sustainable materials, it regenerates, and its

flexible. The reason we chose an engineered

wood structure is cost-related. Engineered

wood minimizes the wood consumption and

it can bear the same load as plain wood.

To add to the benefits and ease of

construction, part of the finishings

are present in the structure when it is

transported, so it saves a lot of time when

assembling the house.

5.Whats the life cycle?

As it happens with any other building, given

the edifice is inhabited and maintained, itswarranty lasts for 10 years.

FAQ



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6. Are the materials easy to get or do you have to

get them from a specific region?

Having accessibility in all its expressions as a core

value, PRISPA dedicated this product to everyone,

wherever they might want to build it. Thus, the

materials are easy to get anywhere. To build PRISPA

house you will need wood, clay, a bit of metal and 5%

red, to make it pretty.

7. Can I build this house myself, or do I needexperts?

although the house is presented as an easy to

assemble kit, we recommend you get expertise when

building it, as you will need formal inspections for

the foundation, structure, fire safety and electrical

and photovoltaic system.

8. Is it safe for my children?

Yes. Its safe for everyone, even your pets. We

respect the following (link pdf) list of building norms

of compliance.

9. Is it safe for my grandparents to live in it?

Yes. Its safe for everyone. Grandparents cam come

and visit, or they can have this home as a Christmas

present from their very grateful sons and grandsons.

Nothing is too high, or too low so as to make walking

around the house dangerous.

10. How much energy does it

produce? Does it cover all my

expenses?

In Bucharest, Romania, the

house produces 9501 kWh/

year, while the estimated energy

consumption is 7508.11 kWh/year.

simple calculations would lead

to the conclusion that, with the

right systems implemented, theenergy production covers all the

maintenance and electricity bills.

In numbers, in Bucharest, you will

have an extra 1992 kWh/year, that

is 20% more energy than you can

consume.

Do I need batteries or are there

any other ways to make use of

the extra energy I produce?

Batteries could be an option if

youre looking to make your house

autonomous. However, on the long

term, real efficiency comes from

connecting the house to a smart

grid. That means the extra energy is

redistributed to this electrical grid

and you can either use it later, when

the sun is not so strong, or you can

sell it to the government and make

some extra money.

20 | PRISPA team

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prispa project in romania

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