Torrential rain flooded a UK entry into a sustainable building competition, ultimately ruining its chance of winning the event.
The Nottingham H.O.U.S.E entry, a timber frame and wood-clad property, was flooded when rain hit the Solar Decathlon Europe competition building site in Madrid, causing the team to lose valuable time.
Water, solar thermal and electric systems could not be connected until after the start of the competition, which meant the team missing out on vital points.
However, the H.O.U.S.E entry, constructed out of materials almost entirely supplied by Saint-Gobain, was judged second out of 17 in the sustainability category. Overall, it scored 115 out of a possible 120 points.
Saint-Gobain’s Pasquill business supplied the I-joist-, glulam- and OSB-based timber panels, roof and wall cassettes. International Timber supplied Stellac heat-treated radiata pine cladding, decking and planters.
Another project featuring wood materials – Alto University’s entry – managed a higher position of fifth place overall. The entry, which Finnish timber company UPM partnered with, included use of spruce timber and plywood in the roof and floor structure.
Timber cladding was UPM Façade, a slow-grown whitewood.
The overall winner was Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.
Solar Decathlon Europe is an international competition among universities aiming at advancing knowledge on industrialised, solar and sustainable housing.
