solar decathlon 2012: casas em movimento

solar panels wrap the outside of the living volume as a protective layer image © nicole jewell: madrimage

students from the school of architecture in porto, under the team name cem + nem –, have designed and prototyped ‘casas em movimento’ for this year’s solar decathlon in madrid. the house features a pivoting canopy made of a metal truss system covered in photovoltaic panels, swiveling throughout the day to optimize its angle to the sun in order to collect as much solar energy as possible, allowing the residence to be completely self-sufficient with enough excess to charge an electric car. the typology of the dwelling changes, as does its resultant environment. the material palette uses wood, or cork local to portugal, for its thermal and acoustic properties, while low-e glass helps control heat gain.

the maneuverable solar shade acts as a sort of protective shield, while the program inside can be added to in cases of spatial accommodation. the building in this sense can adapt to a growing family, for example, and still meet off-grid energy requirements with a minimal carbon footprint.

image © nicole jewell

overview video video © cem + nem-

‘casas em movimento’ by cem + nem – for the 2012 solar decathlon in madrid image © nicole jewell

entrance on cork patio image © nicole jewell

folding cork panels close the facade image © nicole jewell

render images © cem + nem –

formal studies images © cem + nem –

storyline depicting the evolution of space in the house images © cem + nem –