SYSTEMS
The Solar Decathlon competition brings the latest and most advanced sustainable technologies to the global stage as an integral aspect of the housing design challenge. FIU’s perFORM[D]ance House is an elegant hybrid of technology and design as it strives to achieve both livability and sustainability.
The house takes advantage of a central mechanical core to cut down on the need for extensive wiring and plumbing owing to the fact that every space is in direct contact with this core. The core is a truly active component in the design, taking on functions of storage, systems housing, and kitchen and restroom program. Because of the core’s adjacency to all spaces in the house, a ductless air conditioning system was chosen as the more efficient option.
As is customary in a solar competition, all functions for the home begin with harvesting energy from the sun. An array of photovoltaic panels on the roof of the perFORM[D]ance House collect energy from sunlight, which is then converted into A/C power that powers the home’s functions such as air conditioning, heating water, and supplying electricity to appliances. Since the roof of the house is flat, the PV panels are tilted to an angle that is dependent on solar calculations for either Miami or Washington D.C. This angle allows the panels to collect the maximum amount of energy from direct exposure to the sun’s rays.
The structural system for the house is also an important part of its role as a contestant in the Decathlon. To make the journey to Washington D.C. from Miami the house must rely on its modular design to allow for its transport. The whole structure of the house is actually made of two modules, each of which are structurally independent from one another during transport, but come together along a very precise and highly designed connection. This connection must be carefully sealed to prevent water leakage from rain or heat gain.
Overarching concepts of modularity and integration allow form and function to come together in the perFORM[D]ance House to create a unified system of beauty and innovation.