The residential units are located in one of the hottest regions in Bulgaria. The complex includes a family house on the upper level, a guest house, and secondary spaces on the ground level, connected by a glazed staircase.
The raised volume of the house casts a shadow above the open area, which in combination with the thermal mass of the stones and concrete on the ground, provides a significant amount of cool air. Skylights on specific locations on the roof provide the perfect cross-ventilation, passive cooling, and passive solar heating system all year long.
The use of natural materials is a priority in the project. The outer walls are pre-fabricated straw panels as insulation for maximum thermal efficiency. The inner walls are adobe bricks with clay plaster, which serves as thermal mass, regulating the indoor thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and purification, which is also approved by the greenery from the greenhouse, and the green zones in the domestic spaces.
The house has a system for rainwater harvesting, capable of supporting the function of the greenhouse and domestic water management annually.
Separating compost toilets minimizes the use of flushing water and provides natural fertilizers for the orchard.
The greenery in the house is designed according to the functional zones. For the day active zones, the plants are producing oxygen during the day, and in the bedrooms, during the night. They are also combined with purifiers, increasing indoor air quality.
The electricity in the house is provided by the PV system, supported by a diesel generator in the technical room in case of emergency.
The house is connected to the grid, but it can function totally as a self-sufficient unit.