Solar house, Madrid

Using cutting-edge digital processes and machinery, the architecture- and design-oriented lab focuses on the investigation and production of prototypes and scale models for construction and related fields, with an emphasis on personalized assembly and customization abilities. In this respect, the Solar House is designed to be manufactured globally, tailored to location and climate through a worldwide network of Fab Labs, in essence small-scale workshops with the infrastructure and tools to implement such designs.

Conceived with a combination of simple construction and geometric sophistication, the shape of the house maximizes internal volume while maintaining a minimal exterior surface. According to the lab, this 'standard paraboloid section is positioned for solar tracking, and deformed in steps aimed towards an optimal orientation for summer (narrowing to the west, eastward widening and flattening toward the zenith of 70 degrees).' Domestic areas can be naturally ventilated; the elevated placement on three 'legs' (not only structural, but also points for ground-level access to technical equipment) creates a shaded area that provides cooled air, as well as a versatile outdoor space.

The plywood panelling – laser-cut, assembled and transported in transversal ring sections to the site – was chosen primarily because it is a common, globally sourced material that is also lightweight, making structural components more manageable. This material efficiency enables overall cost reduction and minimizes construction time; the entire dwelling, which houses a family of four, can be erected in less than fifteen days. Digitally distributable, locally producible and individually customizable, the methodology behind this prefab unit advocates digital media – the Internet – as a prime tool in designing and manufacturing economical, attainable and energy-saving homes.