Envilop
Basic information
Project Title
Envilop
Full project title
Fully prefabricated lightweight wood based facade system - Envilop
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
Envilop is an innovative prefabricated lightweight timber-based envelope. It is designed for low carbon renovations of larger public buildings. It replaces commonly used metal structures with timber elements and is designed for passive houses. Prefabrication allows for quick and clean replacement of the building envelope. Its first major implementation was on the complete renovation of a secondary school in Prague. The building achieved a zero energy standard, also thanks to the use of Envilop.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Czechia
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
Yes
Which funds
ERDF : European Regional Development Fund
Description of the project
Summary
The Envilop was developed of a system solution for replacement of old curtain walls at nonresidential buildings from sixties and seventies 20th century. The main idea was to develop a prefabricated system using modern wood products as an alternative to usual metallic constructions. Envilop is a lightweight wood-based envelope developed at the Czech Technical University in Prague. By maximizing prefabrication, it allows for very fast on-site implementation, its thermal insulation properties are designed for energy passive and zero-energy homes, and most importantly, its carbon footprint and primary energy consumption is 50-80% lower than conventional metal-based envelopes. In 2022, the first implementation for the complete renovation of a secondary school in Prague was completed. Also thanks to Envilop, this school has been made energy-plus in the normal seasons.
Key objectives for sustainability
The main objective of developing a lightweight wood-based envelope has been achieved. The implementation on a large site has demonstrated realistic possibilities and has shown significant savings in time and transport of building elements to site. In addition, a large part of the panel production can be automated on robotic production lines. Today, similar solutions are beginning to emerge and are already required by investors in many European countries.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Envilop is a lightweight envelope for larger buildings. Its outer surface can be made up of a visual timber cladding (but does not have to be). The visibility of wood, both interior and exterior, has been shown to improve the mental state of occupants.
In addition, Envilop primarily uses locally sourced and sustainable materials - wood.
In addition, Envilop primarily uses locally sourced and sustainable materials - wood.
Key objectives for inclusion
Envilop has been designed to be cost-competitive with conventional metallic envelopes. Its aim is to enable the rapid energy renovation of the building envelope of older buildings and to significantly extend their service life. Often these are medical facilities, ambulances, police stations and school buildings (which often contain harmful asbestos).
Results in relation to category
The results of the project have been presented at many national and international professional conferences. The main real result is the implementation of the renovation of the high school, completed in 2022.
How Citizens benefit
The project involved manufacturers of wooden structures and products for wooden buildings.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The development of the Envilop lightweight envelope was especially important because it was not only a research proposal, but also its implementation in practice was verified.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The project involved mainly civil engineers, wood building technologists and experts in the life cycle of building products and sustainability.
Methodology used
Research, development and testing. During the design process, many prototypes were realized and tested for airtightness, watertightness, fire resistance and acoustics.
How stakeholders are engaged
Local authorities were asked how many suitable buildings for renovation with our system they manage and what are the most common problems of these buildings.
Global challenges
The project primarily addresses the reduction of the carbon footprint of building construction and operation which reduces climate change. It also maximises the use of renewable and local resources.
Learning transferred to other parties
The whole final product can be applied in any region.
Keywords
wooden building envelope
curtain wall
energy retrofit
embodied values
low carbon buildings
