BuildTog: European research and construction project enters into construction phase

BuildTog is driven by the European Housing Network Eurhonet, the French architect Nicolas Michelin with his architecture firm A/NM/A, the German energy efficiency consultancy Luwoge consult, and the chemical company BASF. The objective is to create a new generation of residential houses in several European countries which combine best energy performance with cost-efficient construction and high-quality architecture.

Since BuildTog residential houses are designed and built to reach the Passive House standard, they are anticipating the future EU energy saving targets which will influence the norm for all new buildings in EU as of 2020. Hence, Eurhonet and its partners consider the project to be a good demonstration of how energy can be saved in construction. Another basic condition for all BuildTog projects is to design and build houses cost- efficiently. Project partners will therefore use modern, standardised and reliable construction materials and appropriated technologies, which are primarily based on a concrete shell insulated from the outside. To ensure their methodological comparability, all BuildTog houses follow a common design that has been developed by Nicholas Michelin (A/NM/A). Local architects and project developers then adapt this design on site to meet the specific contextual requirements.

While BASF solutions for insulation and heat management help achieve the desired energy efficiency, planning, construction and performance of BuildTog houses are monitored by Luwoge consult. Objective is to optimise the planning methodology and to enhance the future construction process. All results will be published in order to drive knowledge transfer within the industry and meet future European energy targets.

Two ongoing BuildTog projects in Germany and France

In Darmstadt, Germany, 37 dwellings with 3,778 m² living surface and in Lieusaint near Paris, France, two buildings of around 1,500 m² and 1,400 m² living surface are currently under construction. Inaugurations of both BuildTog projects are scheduled foro February 2014. Furthermore, project partners expect the permission for two more projects in France and the start of one Swedish project in the coming months.