Exhibition AIR HOUSE – ATTENTION CONSTRUCTION!

Opening of the exhibition AIR HOUSE - WATCH OUT CONSTRUCTION!, 2013-06-05, National Technical Library in Prague 6, Dejvice, Photographer: Ing.arch. Martin Čeněk

The goal of the Solar Decathlon competition is to support the development of sustainable architecture and to bring this concept closer to the general public. The authors' ambitions for the exhibition are similar. The exhibition not only presents the project of an energy self-sufficient house but also illustrates a sustainably responsible approach to the selection of building materials and technologies that influence the quality of life of its residents.

The exhibition was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Zdeněk Zavřel. "It is amazing to see how the students live the project. It takes great courage, among other things, because sustainable development in construction is, on one hand, an official line but, surprisingly, not supported by public opinion. At the Faculty of Architecture, we strive to fight this skepticism. We want students to realize that this is not a fashion trend but a long-term trend. That is why I appreciate the courage of the team that entered the Solar Decathlon competition and is going against this unpleasant wind. And I greatly appreciate everyone who decided to support the project," thanked Prof. Zavřel the sponsors.

The exhibition presents the competitive construction that students of the Czech Technical University have been working on for almost two years, led by students from the Faculty of Architecture in collaboration with the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and the Faculty of Transportation. The project is currently reaching its final phases, and the students are beginning to construct the competition house by their own efforts.

On the ground floor of the National Technical Library, the AIR House is presented through individual architectural elements, materials, and technologies. Most of them will be covered by the façade or ceiling after the construction is completed, yet the house would not function without them. The exhibition exhibits are divided into four parts analogous to the systems of the human body. Here, you can see elements of the skeletal system (load-bearing structure), skin (façade), tissues (interior), and circulatory and nervous systems (air conditioning and building services installations). The exhibited objects are complemented by details, technical data, and explanatory texts.

"We have been designing for almost two years, and now construction has finally begun; the team is excited and recharging their energy," commented the current state by the project coordinator, Ing. arch. Dalibor Hlaváček, Ph.D. "Construction is taking place at three sites. The main part is in Mníšek pod Brdy at the Biskup Wooden Construction, who are very supportive of us. The students have a carpenter on hand who provides them with expert support. Another part of the house is being assembled in Rýmařov at Vesper Frames, which produces wall, floor, and ceiling sandwich panels for the AIR House. Students from the Secondary Vocational School and Technical School in Volyně helped with complex wooden shading structures as part of their professional practice." The exhibition at the National Technical Library will complement the construction of the AIR House, which will begin in the second half of June in the space in front of the Faculty of Architecture in Dejvice.

The exhibition is primarily a thank you to the partners who support the student project, without whom the AIR House could not become a reality. "We have met wonderful people who help us with financing, but primarily they contribute a lot of their own energy to the project," appreciated Dalibor Hlaváček during the opening ceremony for the partners of the Czech Technical University team. The exhibition will last until July 11, 2013. The finished house will be presented to the public at the end of July on the ČVUT campus.