Case Study: Comparto A/19 Violino

Short Description

Situated in the West part of the City, this recent housing area development (2006) is integrated part of a large social housing neighborhood with more than 3600 dwellings, fully developed by cooperatives providers in 1954. Based on a public call aimed to promote innovative and sustainable housing solutions, this housing lot is composed by n. 120 terraced housed and n.2 multifamily buildings. The 143 dwellings, of which 94 for sale and 49 rented, have been built by three local social housing coops, coordinated by “La Famiglia” coop and present a good energy performance in comparison the previous national energy standard.

Key Elements

Work with Residents

In the phase of briefing design and construction phase, meetings with future users were organised.
In the phase of delivery of the dwellings, a simplified manual will be delivered to inhabitants.

Thermal Insulation

Medium Building Thermal Inertia: walls in clay bricks with thermal insulation and air cavity. U-value varies in accordance with the orientation of walls.

Windows and Shading

Use of double glazing (U = 1,5 to 2,02 W/m2K, low-emissivity coating);
Use of external shading devices;
Use of balconies as sunspaces on blocks and sunspaces on houses.

Heating and Hot Water

Use of district heating/cooling;
Use of radiant heating system;
Control of Heating system: at dwelling level: Thermostatic radiator valves - Central heating programmer

Ventilation

Use of Humidity Controlled Ventilation (HCV) system.

Solar Photovoltaic

Use of PV panels integrated on roofs (1,3KW per dwelling-  1260 m2 – grid connected).

Water Saving

Use of domestic water savings systems: WC with dual flush button 4/7 litres. Use of Rainwater harvesting and recycling.

Environmental Design

Differentiation of the architectural composition in order to improve solar gain proper arrangement of internal spaces in accordance with orientation. 

Passive design strategies (balconies as sunspaces, shading devices,...), and enhancement of daylighting emphasis of architectural design and bioclimatic approach thanks to chromatic treatment of external walls.

Balanced use of green and built spaces to reduce albedo effect.

Electricity Saving Products

Induction Stove cooking in each dwelling (safe for elderly people and free of smoke and heat in kitchen).

Main Results

• Differentiation of the architectural composition in order to improve the imposed public master plan;
• Balanced public, semi-public and private spaces;
• Architectural integral of PV systems (1,3 kW /dwelling), reduced car presence thanks to pedestrian pathways;
• Good  thermal inertia to reduce cooling demand;
• Use of sunspace in each dwelling;
• Use of water saving features;
• Emphasis of architectural design and bioclimatic approach thanks to chromatic tratment;
• Implementation of innovative “environmental island” approach at neighborhood level;
• Improvement of urban quality on surrounding areas;
• Presence of common multi-functional spaces in ground floor of blocks.

It is the first development and demonstration project in Italy which integrates RES solutions in new urban asset on a large scale.

From PV plants:

• Electricity costs saving = 220 Euro/y per house
• Electricity production = 750.000 kWh
• Total CO2 emissions savings = 500 ton./y.

The public call, prepared by the local public authorities, aimed to develop new sustainable urban schemes and housing has been an important step to test the feasibility of this visionary approach in the current practice.

Lessons learned

• Clear and careful urban and building targets are needed;
• Team working is vital to overcome technical as well as non-technical resistance to doing things differently;
• Cooperation between all parties involved is necessary from the very start of the project in order to achieve an integrated urban and architectural design;
• Renewable energy can be successfully used if it is successfully integrated.

Additional Information

Received awards:

• National Award “innovazione e qualità urbana” (Innovation and urban quality) Euro-PA (aimed to Local authorities)
• National Award “17° concorso sistema d’autore Metra”

The project has generated significant interest within the architectural world, the housing sector and the general public. Many architects and housing organizations have visited the scheme.
The Violino project has generated other similar projects in the area.

For further information, please contact:

Dott. Giancarlo Tofanelli - Consorzio Nazionale CasaQualità
Email: g.tofanelli@casaqualita.it

Dott. Giacomo Tomasini - Centro Studi La Famiglia soc. coop.
E-mail: info@centrostudilafamiglia.it

Arch. Marco Ugolini - Centro Studi La Famiglia soc. coop.
E-mail: maugolini@tin.it

Arch. Nicola Vitale - Centro Studi La Famiglia soc. coop.
E-mail: n.vitale@centrostudilafamiglia.it