China is the destination for a team of London Metropolitan University architecture students as they prepare for a gloabl sustainable building competition.
Date: 06/11/2012
China is the destination for a team of London Metropolitan University architecture students as they prepare for a gloabl sustainable building competition.
The Solar Decathlon contest challenges universities to design, build and operate a fully sustainable house that uses only solar energy and incorporates energy efficient technology.
The London Met entry, called HelioMet, is made up of students from The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, in collaboration with students at China’s Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (GAFA).
Taking place in Datong, Shanxi Province, it is the first time the competition will be held in China.
Anne Markey, Head of Projects (Architecture) at The Cass, said: “The future of the industry is developed through initiatives such as the Solar Decathlon competition.
“These events bring together academics, students and organisations from various disciplines, and it is great to see students from London Metropolitan University taking part in this innovative competition.”
HelioMet’s proposed house has been designed to address the issues facing sustainable urban development. Constructed using innovative, low-cost, lightweight materials and using the PassivHaus strategy, the house is parametrically designed to adapt to its environment and to reclaim unused parts of the city, from disused railways to building rooftops.
The team will also commission bespoke furniture and fittings from their fellow Art and Design students from both The Cass and GAFA during this coming academic year.
With the latest in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technology, the house will generate enough energy not only to power itself, but also the surrounding buildings.
Representatives from The Cass and GAFA have just returned from a workshop in Datong - where they were able to network with fellow competitors from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, USA, Australia and of course China. During the visit the team received feedback from the organisers and were able to visit their site in the rapidly expanding Datong.
Find out more about the HelioMet project.
If you are interested in a career in architecture, you can find out more by visiting The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design website.
