DigiTech Smart House Launch

Last week saw the launch of our long term project with the University of Suffolk and BT, the ‘DigiTech Smart House’. We have been developing this project for several years through a variety of collaborations, which included a Design Hackathon with architecture students from across the region to develop the outline concept for the scheme.

As a research facility, the build has demonstrated the regional capacity for the design, build and occupation of sustainable homes. The initial target for the brief was to achieve zero carbon occupancy; a reduction in embodied carbon of around 50% compared to a typical brick and block-house; and to construct the building using the latest construction methods.

In the longer term, the house utilises smart systems to evaluate the performance of sustainable materials, low carbon energy and water consumption. This is coupled with critical consideration of the wider landscape through ecological design.

Our director, Benjamin Powell, also a Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Suffolk, said “The project brief was to address two of the most pressing concerns that we face; climate change, and the impact the construction industry has on this; and the UK housing crisis, which sees the chronic shortage of affordable housing.”

Benjamin added “This project has seen a finished 2 bed home, that achieves a zero carbon occupancy and a 50% reduction in embodied carbon. At the same time, this has been developed through a model that can be built out at scale whilst achieving very significant savings in construction costs over similarly minded low energy schemes. We believe this is a fundamental requirement of making a low energy future attainable to all and, therefore, attainable at all.”

Architecture students from the University, and further afield, took part in a virtual ‘EcoLab Architecture Hackathon’ to collaboratively conceive concept designs for the project.

At the time, Dr Liana Psarologaki, Associate Professor in Architecture at the University said “These events are at the heart of what we do at Suffolk. We are advocates of Architecture as a tool for social and ecological change; an agent for changing how people live for the better and how they make decisions about the built environment. Our students are trained early to approach ways of designing and building with a critical eye and curiosity; skills much needed by all future built environment professionals”. Now that the construction of the building is complete, it will be used as a tool for students and researchers at the University of Suffolk.

Professor Darryl Newport, Professor in Energy and Sustainable Development and Director of the Suffolk Sustainability Institute, said during the building phase “The project will seek to be the embodiment of sustainability in a way that is relevant and accessible to all. For both researchers, innovators, public stakeholders and extended curriculum experience.  The production and occupation of the space will, through materials and infrastructure iteration work towards achieving zero carbon, whilst retaining a requirement to remain affordable and scalable in the immediate future. The design manifestation has focused on context, including local cultures and traditions, whilst enabling a modern lifestyle both now and in the future. The building will be easy to maintain and comfortable to be in. In this way it will offer a vision for a sustainable way of life that enhances our lifestyles and acts as a template for future domestic dwellings.”

We wanted to share this info-poster that we created for the launch day. This describes some of the key achievements and our learnings from the the project, and what’s happening next on site.

Do get in touch with our team if you are involved in any research that the DigiTech Smart House could be of use to.