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LOW3 – Solar Decathlon Europe 2010. A Living Lab for Solar Architecture at the Campus Sant Cugat (UPC)
SOLAR DECATHLON is an international competition for 20 selected universities to plan and build prototypes of energy self-sufficient solar houses. LOW3 is the project that represented the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) within the first European edition of this competition, the SOLAR DECATHLON EUROPE 2010.
One of the main qualities of the project is its interdisciplinary approach between architecture, technology, environmental sciences, marketing and communication with a student team running a partly self-organized office within the school of architecture. One of the biggest challenges was the conversion of a university campus, into an experimental building site.
Sustainable, low energy architecture, renewable energy systems, low impact materials, life cycle analysis of materials and products as well as whole buildings must be main issues in the education of architecture students today. Within the School of Architecture of the Vallès (ETSAV) this subjects form part of the academic curricula through elective courses and the research activities of different units like PAUS, CISOL and UPCO2.
CISOL (www.cisol.com.es) realizes workshops on solar architecture since 2004 as well as research activities in collaboration with public and private entities. Based on its continuous work in the field of solar architecture and solar technologies CISOL promoted the participation of the UPC in the first SOLAR DECATHLON EUROPE competition from September 2008 on.
SOLAR DECATHLON is an international competition for 20 selected universities to plan and build prototypes of energy self-sufficient solar houses. LOW3 is the project that represented the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) within the first European edition of this competition, the SOLAR DECATHLON EUROPE 2010.
From September 2008 till June 2010 the UPC Solar Decathlon Team developed LOW3, an innovative sustainable solar house, which was designed, developed and constructed by students under the leadership of the academic staff of the ETSAV. Within a two years process the project was implemented into the academic curricula of the School of Architecture ETSAV (UPC) through regular courses, workshops, a competition, and finally the foundation of the Solar Decathlon office, involving approximately 100 students, 10 members of the academic staff as well as administration.
Two 10-day workshops with up to 45 students as well as two elective courses were related to the project during its development. Several Master students joined the Solar Decathlon Office and partially related their Master thesis to it. Around 50 students were collaborating during the construction of the prototype at the campus, its transportation to Madrid and the 10 days competition and exposition to the public in June 2010.
One of the main qualities of the project is its interdisciplinary approach between architecture, technology, environmental sciences, marketing and communication with a student team running a partly self-organized office within the school of architecture. Research staff from the Engineers Department as well as three engineering students collaborated with the team of architecture students. Technical experts from companies collaborated in the right implementation of technologies for heating, cooling and ventilation, building control, water management and solar energy systems.
One of the biggest challenges was the conversion of a university campus, dominated by theoretical studies of architecture into an experimental building site for the development and construction of an energy self-sufficient solar house by students. After the competition LOW3 will be implemented as a Living Lab at the Campus Sant Cugat, initiating a new research line “LOW3” for low energy, low impact and low cost architecture, with teaching and research projects linked to it.
Realization of a participatory teaching model with an interdisciplinary approach, based on the foundation of a Solar Decathlon UPC 2010 office for the development of a prototype solar house. Close collaboration between university and industry as sponsor and client for the development of innovative solutions in the field of sustainable architecture.
Implementation of an experimental building site for solar architecture at the campus. Installation of the solar house as Living Lab at the Campus Sant Cugat together with a related research line “LOW3” for low energy, low impact and low cost architecture, with teaching and research projects linked to it.
Within a two years process (2008-2010) the LOW3 project was implemented into the academic curriculum of the School of Architecture ETSAV through regular courses, workshops, a competition, and finally the foundation of the Solar Decathlon office, involving approximately 100 students, 10 members of the academic staff as well as administration.
The UPC team successfully presented the LOW3 prototype at the SOLAR DECATHLON EUROPE 2010 Competition in Madrid.
The LOW3 team won a First Prize in the category “Architecture” (shared with Aalto University and Virginia Tech).
About 100 students got involved during the 2 years process of design, development, construction and competition of LOW3, getting in touch with theory and practice of sustainable architecture.
Graduate and postgraduate students worked together, 2 Master thesis and 1 PhD thesis are linked to the project.
A research line “LOW3” will give continuity to the project; LOW3 will be used as a laboratory for sustainable architecture and solar and energy saving
technologies.
LOW3 is an important step for the implementation of an experimental building site for solar architecture with the use of building simulation tools and scientific field evaluation at the campus.
The participatory and problem-oriented teaching model of the LOW3 project gave great responsibility to a core group of students as team leaders, organizing the student team and the project logistics during more than one year.
The installation of an experimental building site at the campus is a unique concept for a direct experience of students of the real-world challenges for architects.
Interdisciplinarity, self-organization and the collaboration with industry experts allows a much more intensive learning process in the field of sustainable architecture.
Linked to the activities of the CISOL- Solar Research Centre ETSAV, LOW3 brings together teaching and research.
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