An interdisciplinary team Bob Gysin+Partner BGP Architects has developed innovative solutions that turn a building into an ambitious ?zero-energy house?. This centre for sustainability concepts and technologies sets new standards. The project not only focuses on energy efficiency, but also gives consideration to all aspects of sustainability ? environment, economy and society.

In addition to the gray energy and environmental comptability paramters, other criteria, such as aesthetics, functionality conformity, heat storage, fire behavior, and economic efficiency, were also crucial to the color and material concept. Groundbreaking technologies applied in the building are amongst others:
The Two-Climate Zone Model which creates balanced thermal conditions without a conventional heating system.
The brick earth standig walls wich contains very low grey energy.
The Nomix Toilets as water-saving sanitary which separate the nutrients in the waste water and disburden the water treatment plants energy use.
The striking glass lamellae made of silk-screened glass. They can track the position of the sun, function as sun protection in summer and, passive sun energy collector in winter, and as year round weather protection.

individuals:
Working in a building with open space designed close to nature, an innovative energy concept and a diversity of rooms provide for a building in which sustainability is put into practice. The rooms offering flexible use, workstations that can be freely networked and communication zones create attractive conditions. Water, the central medium in the project, is integrated as a technical and also artistic element.

society:
The building establishs a new urban accent through a pleasing architecture and low energy consumption.

economy:
The construction execution costs of the building was about the same as for a conventional structure. Within the different that the operation costs are much lower due to the lack of external energy source.

The building functions as a demonstrations object, to show that sustainability can be attractive as well. This helps to mainstreaming clean energy in buildings, not only by economicly and ecologicly arguments but also for the aesthetics. It is part of the 2000-watt-society programm and therefore an important example that its aim is not only intelligent, but contribute an attractive lifestyle as well.

Heating and cooling energy for the Forum Chriesbach building can be reduced to practically nothing. The building still relies mainly on electrical energy for its operations. In relation to the energy reference area (EBF 11'170 m2), approx. 14 kWh/m2a final energy. In other words, we are dealing with a 1.4 litre house. Grey energy should also be considered for the construction and reconstruction of a building in addition to paid energy paid (final energy). Compared to convetional buildings, which are constructed to comply as minimally as possible with energy laws, this building needs more than a factor 4 less primary energy and points toward tomorrows energy standard.

Ecological: energy efficiency; independency of fossil fuels; to close nutrients stock flow; efficiency in water use

Social: attractive object which is highly accepted by the community

Economical: maintenance and cost of operation are low

Many technologies for building services at a sustainable level are known by today but architects and planner find it difficulte to integrate these technologies in an attractive building. Therefore the Forum Chriesbach is an groundbreaking demonstration object because its positive resonance at the architecture community.