The recovery of the attic of a building in Milan, in the Bovisa area, offered the possibility of creating 6 mini-apartments whose construction is characterized by high energy saving standards obtained thanks to the application of passive heating and cooling principles with architectural solutions of the all innovative.
We proceeded with the removal of the roof and the construction of the upper floor divided into several apartments with a predominantly north-south view, in order to exploit the principles of passive heating and natural cooling.
Passive heating .
As for the passive heating system, the goal, during the winter season, is to maximize the collection and accumulation of solar radiation. Therefore, for the apartments facing south, the construction of a solar greenhouse overlooking the terraces was planned, while for the apartments facing north, a zenithal type of solar capture was planned. For this reason it was planned to open the lodgings to a glazed portion which, by heating up during the day, could transfer the hot air to the lodgings below.
For each accommodation, a part of the roof slab, to varying degrees, was made open towards the upper glazed space.
Passive cooling.
The cooling strategies are mainly based on two principles: the first is to avoid overheating, and therefore to prevent solar radiation from affecting the glass surfaces, the other is based on heat dissipation, use of thermal mass and natural ventilation ( cross ventilation for chimney effect). The operation of solar greenhouses in the summer season must be carefully avoided, through internal shading systems and ventilating the greenhouse space as much as possible. The shading systems can be simple light-colored curtains that shade both the roofs and the vertical windows.
Alternatively, you can think of green walls that completely cover the glass parts. Greenhouses must be able to be ventilated, and for this reason we have made sure that at least part of the windows that constitute them can be opened.
The thermal mass already described in its winter use is also effective for the summer season because it accumulates the heat given by free earnings (electrical equipment, people ...) and returns them to the environment only in the evening when it is possible to dissipate the heat thanks to the ventilation .
Ventilation is the main cooling system. The glazed spaces placed at a higher height than the apartments have in this case the function of guaranteeing cross ventilation, at this point having a double view.
In the case of total absence of wind, which in summer comes mainly from the south-west direction, the double height ensures ventilation due to the chimney effect.
Part of the roof slab, to varying degrees, was made open to the upper glazed space.
The glass roof was mounted on a shaped steel frame whose central shape constitutes the greenhouse on the roof, while the side parts enter inside the individual units, like real glass roofs. The overall effect is very suggestive, the interior spaces very enjoyable.
The construction was completed in 2011 and successfully commercialized. Entirely in Class A (energy class), it is a unique example of its kind.
The presentation of the project in "pdf" format is available below:
Landmark Architecture Studio Milano, architectural design, redevelopment, environment.