Casa OVER4, a project for the rehabilitation of old blocks that will represent Romania at Solar Decathlon Europe 2019

I went the other day (May 15) to the official opening home OVER4, the project that will represent Romania at the international competition Solar Decathlon Europe, which this year will take place in Szentendre, Hungary. After months of design and practical realizations at the University of Constructions in Bucharest or with partners, the house has been erected on a space at the intersection of Unirii Boulevard and Nerva Traian Street. It can be visited for a period of 30 days, after which it will be dismantled and transported to Hungary, where it will be reassembled to take part in the competition. It is built on the principles passive house and is part of a very large project that aims to renovate old communist blocks in an integrated way. Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Especially since the project is being realized by a team including many students. It's one of those nice stories we like to tell you.

At a glance, about Solar Decathlon Europe

Solar Decathlon Europe is an international competition that challenges teams of students from faculties around the world to design and build houses powered exclusively by renewable energy sources. The main aim of the competition is to promote architectural solutions related to solar energy, renewable energy and innovative technologies through the construction of houses by student teams.

Teams build their houses in the chosen competition venue - Szentendre this year - and compete in 10 events (hence Decathlon), receiving a mark for each. At the end they are averaged and ranked. The 10 events are:

• Architecture
• Engineering and construction
• Energy efficiency
• Communication and social cognition;
• Integration and impact;
• Innovation and sustainability;
• Circularity and sustainability;
• Comfort conditions;
• How the house works;
• Energy balance.

Romania is not taking part for the first time. Many of you have heard about PrispIn 2018, the best-ever ranking was achieved in Dubai, with the solar house EFdeN. The House ranked 4th in the world, but first in the Communicate, twice 2nd place, at Engineering and construction if Comfort conditions and 3rd place in Sustainability.

OVER4 project - the idea

Project OVER4 is based on an idea that I think is extraordinary and which, if supported at the administrative level, could radically change the face of Bucharest, but not only Bucharest. It is about the integrated renovation of old blocks of flats, with the extension of useful space both vertically and horizontally.

It started from a block model - 770-83 - 5-storey blocks (4+1) built after the 1977 earthquake, forming the so-called dormitory districts . The earthquake disaster led to tighter design standards, with blocks built after 1977 being stronger and guaranteed for over 50 years. So they're still in the landscape, solid and resilient. The problem is their external appearance, lack of space and low energy efficiency, because the main purpose for which they were built was to provide a place to sleep for the thousands of workers in the industrial towns. This was the period of intense industrialization, and the exodus from village to city was significant. The result was the emergence of a large number of such dormitory neighborhoods in most cities.

Project OVER4 has designed integrated renovation and thermal retrofitting of these blocks. In addition to vertically building a new level with different functionalities, it is also building horizontally. Instead of insulating the facades with polystyrene, which is often dangerous and problematic in terms of energy efficiency, it was planned to rebuild them with a new, energy-efficient construction, using highly insulating windows, quality insulating materials and eliminating thermal bridges. As well as insulating the block and renovating it, this will also increase the useful floor space. Vertically, new apartments, apartments + common spaces or rental spaces (offices) can be built.

The whole project is designed to use alternative energy sources, to be sustainable, to protect the environment while providing modern living spaces. Such an idea, applied to an entire city, can totally change the city's image, while ensuring that standards are met nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) on energy efficiency. These are ideas for the future that the young people involved in the OVER4 project are bringing to the present.

OVER4 House - project participating in Solar Decathlon Europe

House OVER4 is a module extracted from the vertical extension of the block. Two terraces have been added to it, facing north and south, which have both an aesthetic and functional role. It is built on the principle of passive wooden houses, the structure being made of laminated beams. It meets all the criteria of efficiency and interior comfort required of such a house, being energy independent and environmentally friendly.

The presentation of the house reveals the key elements that characterize it:

• affordable - The investment is comparable to a conventional house;
• thermally, acoustically and visually comfortable. The heat recovery ventilation system ensures fresh air in all seasons;
• modular and multifunctional - it is built from prefabricated elements on a wooden structure, easy to assemble and allows you to reconfigure the interior space according to your needs;
• energy efficient - comply with passive house principles and the nZEB standard;
• easy to integrate in context - can be used both as an apartment on the terrace of a block of flats and as a detached house.

The house was realized by a team of students and coordinating teachers. Everything was done on a voluntary basis and the students raised all the necessary funds to realize the project. Partnerships were made with well-known names in the field of building materials, wooden house construction, tools and machinery. We congratulate those who were with them and we hope they will be by the end.

What's next?

After the 30 days spent on Union Avenue, during which they will try to find any problems and fix them, the house will be dismantled and packed to be transported to Szentendre in July. There it will be assembled and judged on all 10 tests. At the end it will be dismantled again, repacked and brought to the country to be assembled at its final destination. Do you realize how well it has to be done?

All this assembly, disassembly and reassembly requires that OVER4 team to be entirely in Hungary. They still need the support of all those who want to join them. I think they deserve it. It is a dynamic, enthusiastic team with attitude, young people who know very well what they have to do, have the necessary knowledge and want to do things as well as possible. If you want to support them, here find out everything you need to do.

Congratulations to the OVER4 team for everything they have done so far and we wish them success in Hungary!