The Preganziol SHE Project – Venice, ITALY

COIPES, Consorzio di Iniziative e Promozione dell’Edilizia Sociale

Sustainable content

- Orientation of buildings (south to maximize solar exposition)

- Active solar systems, photovoltaic and thermal solarpanels

- Centralized cooling which also uses geothermal energy and low radiant temperature air-conditioning systems

- Natural climatic control: Big terraces, overhangs of the roof for shade, ventilated faces on the south (green screenings) and chimneypots for ventilation

- Energetic integration of buildings with environmental neighbourhood (bioclimatic architecture)

- Condominial centralized district heating

- Acoustic insulation

- No cars in common spaces, distinct walk-bicycle ways and use of stabilized earth instead of asphalt for car ways

- Water recycling and grey water phytodepuration

- Reshape and use of small river for summer cooling

- Non toxic materials

- Accessibility for disabled people

- Efficient barriers for radon evacuation

General Information

The residential neighbourhood of Preganziol is one of the Italian projects that will be developed thanks to the SHE European Project (5^th Framework Program), whose main objective is to demonstrate the possibility to lead housing interventions with respect to the relationships between people and environment and between the built environment and the natural neighbourhood.

The principal characteristics of the village, just to mention some of them, are the integration of public and private spaces for children, the vehicles’ exclusion from the residential surface, and the natural reshape of the neighbouring small river. Besides that, the intervention shall underline and allow strict energetic and environmental performances, to be later monitored and certified by the National Institute of Bioarchitecture.

These performances will allow:

- Significant savings of energy during construction

- Water recycle

- Grey water phytodepuration

- Use of natural materials which guarantee quality and durability as well as higher healthiness of the interiors

- Use of low radiant temperature air-conditioning systems which guarantee better psycho-physic conditions of the houses

- Use of renewable sources of energy through solar and/or photovoltaic panels

- Energetically correct integration of buildings with the environmental neighbourhood (bioclimatic architecture)

Concerning volumes and architectural aspects of the intervention, the design refers to the “hearing architecture” that, according to the “genius loci”, takes the local building tradition as main reference.

Buildings will be designed according to the variable relationship with sun, light and seasons: stairs and entrances shall stand on the north side of the building, functioning as barriers to cold and icy wind. Volumes and overhangs are to be studied in relation with sun, and a deep study of shadows will ensure a correct natural lighting and shading. The water channel, removed and with variable trend, the differences of the land levels, the cycle-pedestrian way and resting areas guarantee good conditions for living and socializing.

Site description

The area of intervention is located in the Municipality of Preganziol and its bounds are as follows:

- South side: Via Baratta Vecchia and a residential area built along this road;

- West side: a river course, 132 m long;

- North side: a private property, around 102 m long;

- East side: a residential area. Between this area and the intervention in question the cycle-pedestrian way is foreseen.

Residential intervention description

It is foreseen to build 6 residential housing bodies. Four of them will have arched shape while the others will be independent. All buildings have an east-west axis, which also bounds the green private areas from the public green areas, so to have a better natural ventilation and microclimate of the houses. The biggest bodies take up a space of 413 m² and a volume of 11.167 mc. Among them there will be an internal pedestrian way. The smallest bodies will be located in the south area, taking up a surface of 1836 m² and a volume of 4.957 mc. They will be three floors buildings, maximum 9,5 m high, with terraces on the south side. There will be 67 dwellings of different dimensions and typologies. Their main characteristic is the research of building quality inspired by the bio architecture principles.

Roads and parking description

The entrance to the village is in Via Baratta Vecchia, in the south-east side of the area. It I a tree-lined road 4,8m large with side-walks and flowerbeds. The road leads to underground and open parking. The indoor parking will be 2,40 m high so to allow the air circulation; the open-air parking will be built using adequate permeable materials (no asphalt).

Sewer system and recycle of rainwater

White water

The technical net foresees a storage system for rainwater, through basement tanks, in order to reuse such water for toilettes and irrigation of gardens.

Black water

The connection of the sewer net for black water will be done in Via Baratta Vecchia; it will cross the tree-lined entrance road   and will provide the whole village.

Grey water

An horizontal   phytodepuration system will be located among some of the buildings. The grey water will be collected in a basin, phytodepurated and then collected in underground storage. When the storage is full, grey water will be moved in the black water net.

Project State of Advancement