Whether it’s rolled singly or with others in a terrace, the “Dice” house is a serious environmental concept wrapped in a playful shape. The winning six is its ingenious transparent roof-top “umbrella”, key to its innovative heating and ventilation strategy. Internally, the house can be reconfigured to meet changing needs.

Design

The house is topped by its own “umbrella”, an air-filled cushion made of ETFE – a transparent lightweight plastic that acts like glass but without its weight and technical complications. The umbrella acts as a greenhouse sheltering a third-floor roof garden and terrace. As its lower surface is lined with photovolatic panels, the umbrella not only generates electricity, but creates a reservoir for passive solar gain for the house. A fan inset into the top of the umbrella drives warmed air down into the house in cooler weather, and can also act as a wind turbine is strong winds. The house would be constructed from super-insulated pre-frabricated panels.With a central spiral staircase at the core of the house, the internal layout is compact with a minimum of internal walls.

Technical

Opening high level vents in the bedroom facilitate the passage of warmed air
Underfloor pipes carry hot water from geothermal system for space heating
Heat recovery system recyvles energy from warmed exhaust air from kitchens and bathrooms

Innovation

The umbrella is both a playful element and a reservoir of sustainable energy

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