The “VELUX Sunlighthouse” was completed ten years ago. It was designed as a CO2-neutral, ecological Model Home 2020. Today, it is still trend-setting and a perfect example of how we create healthy, compelling and desirable living spaces using daylight and fresh air.
Pressbaum, Austria
In 2008, VELUX Austria invited for an architecture competition for “Sunlighthouse”. The vision was to build a Model Home 2020: a carbon-neutral house with exciting and appealing architecture focusing on the sloping roof. “In those days, the building industry was all about energy efficiency. We wanted to show that it was possible to build something that was healthy and comfortable to live in, beautiful to look at and with minimal environmental impact and energy efficient – so a holistic approach,” explains Heinz Hackl, VELUX Austria. The winning design by Hein-Troy Architekten responded perfectly to the vision and the difficult conditions of the plot: a very steep and leafy slope, in partial shade, facing north-east towards the Vienna woods. The use of daylight was maximized to ensure the health and well-being of the residents. The location of the windows was planned strategically to give the best view, maximum passive solar gain and the most efficient natural ventilation – and to emphasize the character of the house.
VELUX Sunlighthouse, 2008
VELUX Sunlighthouse, 2020
Much of the house is made of wood, both inside and out. Local timber was used to improve the CO2 balance, and the house was built of individual modules that can be dismounted and reused elsewhere. “The project was way ahead of its time. We set out to build a carbon-neutral house back when nobody even knew what that meant. More than ten years later, the design and concept is still outstanding. We have proved that it is possible to balance energy efficiency and great daylight architecture. Architects see us in a totally different way after we build this. It is certainly the best marketing projects VELUX has ever had for that target group,” says Heinz Hackl.
Find out more about The Sunlighthouse