Less CO², more comfort: Copenhagen’s model houses in the practical test

One and a half years after the official opening of the “Living Places” model houses in Copenhagen (the courier was on site in July 2023), the balance sheet is drawn. It was about showing how the houses with a triple low CO₂-Fußprint and a three times better interior climate can be built than the market standard.

Effect Architects and Velux have built sample houses in Copenhagen sample houses for this purpose as part of the world architecture congress 2023, which are under 4 kg CO₂ Consume per m² a year-based on a 50-year life cycle.

The production of the building materials, the building and disposal was taken into account. Afterwards the houses were extensively tested: 100 people from the areas of architecture, economy and design from twelve countries had the opportunity to live in the houses for a few days.

The results show:

The well thought -out architecture with a focus on daylight, indoor climate and functional comfort can improve health. 17 environmental sensors were used for the analysis, which were placed in the houses. The air quality, thermal comfort, daylight conditions and background noise were evaluated. “We will now scale the concept together with pioneering partners,” said Lone Feifer from Velux.

The houses like screw foundations, have wooden floor slabs, outer walls in wooden frame construction with cellulose insulation and untreated facade formwork. The interior walls are built in wooden stand construction. A ventilation system with heat recovery was dispensed with.

The experiment proves that houses today with low CO₂-Fußprint, good indoor climate and high living comfort with the available standard materials, methods and technologies can be realized. The findings are already used in the new building.

“On the basis of the Living Places principles, our partners can offer houses that are attractive and affordable and improve the well -being of the people who live and work in them,” said Lars Petersson, CEO Velux Group.