SOLAR DECATHLON MIDDLE EAST 2018

Team Al Bayt Al Kamel

Architecture Jury Report

Architecture Concept and Design.

Al Bayt al Kamel revives the qualities of the Gulf countries lifestyle by proposing a new

contemporary interpretation of home spaces and traditional building technologies. As in Emirati

traditional houses, the courtyard is the most important feature of the home, many different

functions and developing an inside/outside relationship which creates a gradient on the comfort

conditions.

We are developing the expertise to build a wide range of modular growing housing options that

are portable, affordable and tailored to meet the needs of Emirati families.

Al Bayt Al Kamel housing concept includes:

Customized modular construction to fit the specific needs.

Tailored and modular furnishing in different modules.

All modules are rapidly deployed and can easily be removed, shipped and reinstalled in

another location.

Innovative, Modular Housing that can grow with the owner's needs.

In traditional construction timeframes are project dependent. Off-site-built modular homes can

be produced in about half the time of traditional construction as the house itself can be built in

the factory while foundations are being laid on site. This process reduces the requirements for

skilled labor, and causes fewer construction accidents and more consistent quality of build

compared to traditional construction.

There are also sustainability gains to be made. Off-site modular construction produces more

energy efficient homes: airtight, high insulated walls, high performance glazing and green

envelope.

This unique solution also allows home owners to start small and add as their needs change,

giving them an entry way into home ownership with a very attractive solution moving forward.

The “growing system” creates spaces customized for every family. While it aims to provide new,

more affordable, and more adjustable homes.

This is about incremental innovation, and makes a system that helps existing builders build better

homes.

We’re trying to disrupt ideas of adaptability, design, and cost.

Easy-to-expand housing product aimed at young adults. Young couples pick from one of three

starter modules, which are built by an off-site partner, then assembled on site by a general

contractor.

The modules are easily connected to additional Module-designed rooms and add-ons, which help

owners expand their homes like a set of Lego bricks as their needs, and families, grow.

If family grows, they can invest in a bedroom-module addition.

If one wants to work at home they can attach a module designed to be a small studio.

This “growing system” is the answer to UAE’s housing challenges, including affordability, blight,

and the labor shortage among homebuilders that’s driving up the cost of construction.

Most of the big-name suburban builders are putting out product that’s too large and doesn’t

cater to today’s young homebuyers.

The market needs a dynamic system that offers the “right amount of space for today” and an

adaptable and affordable solution primed for urban infill.

The most important aspect of the “growing system” isn’t the design, but the construction. It

creates spaces customized for every family.

Al Bayt al Kamel is a new concept in zero energy houses, based on the ideas of modular design,

use of water to provide the house with thermal mass, use of the courtyard as a buffer space for

temperature and humidity, use of the roof and combine traditional materials and the latest

technology.

Domestic space is designed as the addition of prefabricated modules, each containing a series

of compatible uses (kitchen-dining; living-study; bedroom-bathroom; technical-mechanical

room). Three modules are opened to an intermediate space, the courtyard, which accommodates

the extensions of the rooms surrounding it.

Orientation.

In selecting a suitable building orientation for a hot climate, where most of the Arab countries

exist, the objective aim is to minimize the internal daytime temperature and to produce shaded

exterior living space. Building and their continuous outdoor living spaces are oriented in a

defensive posture against the wind-borne dust.

Habitable Modules’ Envelope. Its composition, from the outside to the inside, is as follows:

Arish screen + Ventilated air gap + External insulation and waterproof layer + Precast concrete

panel with thermal insulation and embedded PE pipes for radiant cooling walls.

Courtyard.

Traditional house design philosophy is based on two strategies: privacy and protection. These

two strategies influenced the house layout, spatial relations, and architectural details. A central

interior courtyard onto which all the rooms opened was restricted to family use. Courtyard

provided an adequate climatic and social solution; it provided shading and privacy in an open

space.

Inspired by the traditional Emirati Courtyard, but using new materials and technology, the roof

includes three layers:

Hybrid PV panels glazed that allows for both to produce electricity and to heat up water.

The second layer consists of a steel structure.

The third layer is made of pots with traditional Emirati hanging plants.

The first layer produces electricity, heats up domestic hot water and blocks solar radiation due

to the water absorption of infrared radiation.

The layer of hanging plants provides the courtyard with a nice shade. On the other hand

evaporative free cooling due to watering plants can help reduce the temperature of the air in the

courtyard.

This envelope provides shade, cools the air, captures light, and can even become a thermal

collector in winter.

Engineering & Construction Jury Report

Engineering and Construction Design Narrative

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) code and standards will be used to

structurally design the different steel elements of the house. The UAE code of loadings will be

used to estimate the loads expected during the usage of the house for design purposes.

1. THE 3D PANEL CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM:

The 3D Panel is an innovative construction system providing energy efficient and sustainable

construction around the globe. Offering excellent insulation properties, it not only saves on

energy costs, but also helps save time of assembling. The panels are also flexible in terms of

design and are lightweight, which leads to savings in costs and time during construction. It is

also an ideal alternative structural system for low rise construction and also non load bearing

infill walls. Green Bridge has successfully used the material for 2 buildings with LEED ratings in

the UAE.

Figure. Section of an EVG-3D wall

The EVG-3D Construction System is a cost-efficient construction system that bases on

industrially prefabricated EVG-3D panels. EVG-3D panels consist of an EPS core with a thickness

of 150 mm sandwiched between two plane-parallel welded wire mesh sheets (cover meshes)

and inclined diagonal wires in between that go through the EPS core and that are welded to

the cover mesh’s line wires. This results in a light-weight, three-dimensional truss system with

a high inherent stiffness. The clear spacing between the EPS core and the cover mesh lies

between 11 and 19 mm. EVG-3D panels are high-precision elements produced by fully-

automatic EVG Wire Mesh Welders, type 3D/48. The standard width of EVG-3D panels is 1.20

m while the element’s length is variable (in steps of 10 cm) and depends on the corresponding

field of application. EVG-3D panels are delivered as positioned elements to the site where they

are connected easily to wall and slab structures. Splice meshes serve to seal the joints between

the EVG-3D panels. This brings about a continuous mesh structure (reinforcement) over the

entire construction.

Afterwards an approx. 40 to 60 mm thick cement-mortar layer (concrete layer) is applied either

manually or, preferably, mechanically onto both sides of the panels. Additionally, concrete can

be applied in a pre-cast concrete factory. The result is a composite sandwich system in which

the two reinforced concrete shells are connected by the wire diagonals arranged in a truss-like

pattern with sufficient shear strength.

THE KEY BENEFITS OF 3D PANELS

Superior Thermal Insulation - which in turn ensure energy efficiency and sustainability.

Faster Construction - faster than conventional products, as they are factory made and

come in larger sizes.

Less Manpower - manpower requirement for the construction goes down by 70%.

Ideal for Volumetric Construction - gives a good economy of scale and speed in

execution of a large and small scale project.

Flexible Designs - any two dimensional design is possible using the product; arches,

sloping roofs are easily created.

Monolithic Structures - the concreting is all done together thus providing a single box

structure or a monolithic structure which has better resistance to earthquakes.

Easier Housekeeping & Reduced Transportation of Material.

The loads of the modules and canopy will be carried by 150 X 150 mm H steel columns.

The canopy will consist of 400 x 400 mm joists and beams carried partly by the 100 x 100 mm

steel columns, the same that carries the loads for the house’s blocks. The external columns in

the courtyard will be wooden with dimensions 400 x 400 mm2

The house’s floor is a wooden platform carried over wooden joists. The joints are connected to

wooden beams that directly carried by short 30 cm height steel columns. The height of those

columns is adjustable in order to level the platform. The columns of the platform are directly

underneath the columns of the house to achieve direct transforming of the loads from different

parts of the house to the footing.

House is to be partially built at central prefabrication and then transported to the final

destination. Structure construction process is meant to be easy and fast to assemble.

It will be taken into account the maximum dimensions of the different elements for the

transport by trailer. Using steel as main construction material will achieve light weight

structure.

2. COOLING CEILING:

Radiant surface: an exposed building surface including a tube or piping configuration installed

within for heat exchange within a conditioned space. Radiant ceiling in Al Bayt Al Kamel is

designed for cooling purposes.

DEFINITIONS

Sensible cooling surface: a surface designed for sensible cooling of an indoor space through

heat transfer to the thermally effective surfaces from the occupants and/or indoor space by

thermal radiation and natural convection.

The network of radiant surface pipes can turn the radiant surface such as floors, walls and

ceilings of a conditioned space into cooled surfaces that evenly absorb sensible heat energy

such as radiant energy from solar gain, people, lights and computers, in addition to convective

heat transfer from the air.

Radiant cooling works best in a tightly sealed building that integrates radiant with a downsized

forced-air system to meet the building’s fresh air requirements.

We have to consider:

PRINCIPLES OF RADIANT COOLING AND THERMAL COMFORT

THERMAL COMFORT

TEMPERATURE SET POINTS

1. Air temperature Space’s air temperature, monitored by thermostat as “set point

temperature”.

2. Mean radiant temperature (MRT): Average temperature of surrounding surfaces

3. Operative room temperature: Weighted average of mean radiant temperature and the

conditioned space’s air temperature. The operative temperature is what we perceive on our

skin in a room and what is most important to consider when specifying a radiant system.

Higher air temperature set points during the cooling season and lower set points during the

heating season are possible with radiant systems.

Radiant Ceiling Heating and Cooling (CHC)

Suspended panels with embedded small diameter PEX mini-pipes, “plastered” over.

Surfaces can absorb radiant heat from below and from warm air.

Cooled surfaces can be strategically located above warm occupied areas.

HYBRID RADIANT COOLING COMBINED WITH AIR HANDLING (Note: “AHU” is used to indicate

any forced-air system used to condition a space, e.g., fan coil, packaged rooftop unit, DOAS).

The radiant system and the AHU work together as a hybrid HVAC system, optimizing system

design and performance by decoupling the following portions of the system:

1. Hydronic and air-based heat exchange

2. MRT and air temperature control

3. Sensible (dry) and latent (humid) cooling functions

ADDRESSING HUMIDITY AND PREVENTING CONDENSATION. The key to preventing

condensation lies in three specific areas:

1. Infiltration: First and foremost, use a tight building envelope to reduce loads associated with

non-mechanical infiltration (leakage).

2. Surface Temperature: Control surface temperatures by designing cooled surfaces to operate

at specific supply temperatures to prevent the surface from reaching dew point, which might

lead to surface condensation.

3. Relative Humidity: Control the level of humidity in a building with the AHU to keep the dew

point lower than the radiant system’s operating temperatures. Spaces are typically designed

for about 50% maximum relative humidity during peak cooling periods.

SustainabilityJury Report

Sustainability.

Architectural sustainability: The major climate problem of Dubai is represented by the heat over the year. Al Bayt al Kamel includes integration of passive (orientation, natural ventilation, direct solar radiation reduction, shading, thermal mass and evaporative cooling) and active behaviour (technological systems, monitoring system, thermal and electrical energy production). Strategic shape of the house; It has very few openings to the south and west orientation. Openings to the courtyard provide the living areas with natural diffuse light and fresh air ventilation. Design of the building envelope; traditional materials used in an innovative way provide the house with shade, thermal mass and thermal insulation. Summer shading through technological pergola; Thermal mass guaranteed by circulating water; Natural ventilation through strategically located openings for cross ventilation. All living modules have openings to the courtyard. Using an innovative style and advanced building methods, we focus on new scenarios of architectural sustainability concepts to optimize local climatic and material resources. Passive + Active strategies: Al Bayt al Kamel project will be designed to minimize the scrap during the process of construction of the house and its components (by using prefabricated elements with dry assembly). All the materials will be mainly reusable, or recyclable in order to have the lowest environmental impact. Al Bayt al Kamel is a modular and prefabricated house (with a beams and columns structure) which can be expanded by adding modules according to the need. In fact, the regular shape and structure of the building and the presence of the courtyard with modular dimensions, allows a high flexibility of use. The regulation of air admitted from the envelope air gap to the rooms through motorized gates for passive ventilation is automatically controlled by the home automation system of the prototype. Energy recovery ventilator. Fresh air will circulate around the whole house. Energy loss of air conditioning (including sensible and latent heat) is minimized. This provides a highly efficient and energy saving ventilated environment.

Cooling Ceiling. By circulating water within the walls we will achieve thermal mass without increasing the load of the wall. Water will be cooled down by means of a chiller with a high COP.

Active Systems Air Conditioning The system is formed by an air-water device “Aqualis Inverter”, and a fancy “Major Line” with two pipes in every room, with an additional battery located in the admission duct of the fan coil which allows prior cooling (free cooling type using zthe water in the main pond). The supply of hot water by solar panels is supported by a thermal air/water pump using the “SANI 300l” tank. With regards to the energy efficiency: - The “Inverter” equipment allows regulating electrical power over a C.O.P. of 4, saving up to 60% compared to a conventional heating system. - The “Major Line” fan coil allows a reduction of up to 20% in motor power thanks to its smart construction. Its HEE CIAT motor with Brushless technology allows up to 85% energy saving. - The hot-water production cost with the support of the “Aqualis Inverter” heat pump with the SANI 300l tank is two times lower than a classic electrical tank. - The cooling system used in the main pond reaches up to 25% of energy saving. Solar Systems The prototype achieves an optimum architectural integration of the photovoltaic solar system through the shape of the house. Photovoltaic panels are integrated into the roof of the courtyard, water flow through the glazing keeps the temperature of PV panels near the optimum temperature. The roof of the courtyard has the appropriate slope to get better efficiency during the competition. The hanging plant layer acts as a buffer space due to evaporative cooling.

Therefore, the photovoltaic system has a triple function: roofing, electricity generation and water heating.

2.2 Innovative solutions.

The technological pergola filters the environmental conditions in the house. It is a “buffer” space that establishes a sequence between exterior and interior. The first layer of the pergola produces electricity, heats up domestic hot water and blocks solar radiation due to the water absorption of infrared radiation. The layer of hanging plants provides the courtyard with a nice shade. On the other hand evaporative free cooling due to watering plants can help reduce the temperature of the air in the courtyard. Envelope. Traditional Arish made from the leaves of date palms have provided shelter from the

extreme climate of the Arabian Peninsula for centuries. Arish is a renewable material, working

extensively in the Middle East on projects that have aimed to reconnect historic culture to the

contemporary environment. Water is used to provide the envelope with thermal mass.

Circulating water absorbs heat in south façade.

CONCEPT INNOVATION. Al Bayt Al Kamel housing concept includes:

Customized modular construction to fit the specific needs.

Tailored and modular furnishing in different modules.

All modules are rapidly deployed and can easily be removed, shipped and reinstalled in

another location.

Innovative, Modular Housing that can grow with the owner's needs.

This unique solution also allows home owners to start small and add as their needs change,

giving them an entry way into home ownership with a very attractive solution moving forward.

The “growing system” creates spaces customized for every family. While it aims to provide new,

more affordable, and more adjustable homes.

Envelope system: Lightweight highly insulated concrete structure will be combined with cooling

ceiling pipe technology. It will increase the thermal inertia and will allow to raise the comfort

temperature.

Energy Efficiency Jury Report

Energy Efficiency Measures

1. Mechanical Systems and HVAC:

Passive Measures:

- High Thermal Insulation.

- Increase the Thermal Mass. Thermal mass is a property that enables building materials to

absorb, store, and later release significant amounts of heat.

1. There are fewer spikes in the heating and cooling requirements, since mass slows the

response time and moderates indoor temperature fluctuations.

2. A massive building uses less energy than a similar low mass building due to the

reduced heat transfer through the massive elements.

3. Thermal mass can shift energy demand to off-peak time periods when utility rates are

lower. Since power plants are designed to provide power at peak loads, shifting the

peak load can reduce the number of power plants required.

Damping and lag effect of thermal mass.

The Thermal mass has been increased by:

a) Concrete walls. The structure of the modules has to be lightweight because the

building has to be transported in trailers. 8 cm of concrete provide the wall with more

thermal mass than other construction material.

b) Cooling ceiling pipes with circulating water embedded in the concrete walss remove

internal thermal loads, increase the comfort temperature and increase the thermal

mass of the envelope.

c) Cooling Radiant System makes the comfort temperature higher. It reduces the power

needed for the Cooling system.

d) NICHIBO Green Roof.

Special plant substrate to grow plant for both indoor and outdoor plant "Pafcal".

Active Measures:

Daikin info.

2. Electrical Systems:

Regarding energy management and efficiency, the team of electrical part proposes some points

will have positive effects on energy saving and consequently improve the SDME house

performance;

1- Inserting and distributing motion sensors one in each location of the house as shown in

Fig. 1, the expected required sensor number is 5. Each sensor will works through a certain

electrical wiring on automatically switch OFF to the connected electrical items in case that

related location is empty from occupants. By this way, the decathlon house avoids the

extra using of energy which can be saving for other necessary needs.

2- Proposing a suitable size display digital power meter which will fix in the main location of

house (for example in hall) to give chance to each occupant to monitor the instantaneous

consume power that to give chance to reduce the power consuming to an acceptable

limit.

3- Searching and selecting to the electrical appliances of minimum allowable electrical

power based on SDME standards, for example using LED lamps type with dimmable

controlling capability as shown in figure below. By this electrical appliances selection of

minimum power consuming, the required energy will be reduced to the lowest level of

energy.

4- Due to the SDME competition asking for grid connected system, so it is advisable that

there is needlessness to the using of battery bank because all the extra generated power

from solar PV panels will be export to the grid and will be considered. By this methodology

of needlessness of battery bank as shown in figure below, SDME house will avoid needing

of extra space and wiring to the battery bank.

5- It is advisable to proposing a simple passive cooling system to support the air conditioning

units by reducing the impact of weather effects.

6- To improve the efficiency of connected solar photovoltaic panels through reducing the PV

panel temperature, it is advisable to use a certain type of panel which includes net to

follow water for panel cooling purpose as shown in figure below.

7- For more water saving, It is advisable to propose that is using water pump to irrigate the

included plants in the house as shown in figure below

Indoor-motion-Sensor-Light-RS100L LED dimmable Lamp

Grid connected Inverter system without battery bank Passive Cooling System

PV Panel with cooling net Irrigation System with duty time water controller

3. Energy management:

Al Bayt Al Kamel will develop a platform for innovative energy management system for smart

energy buildings with own renewable energy based production. The platform can be used to cost-

effectively match the building’s energy demand by its customers with own local generation. The

project aims at improving the efficiency of energy uses in buildings, reducing total energy

demands in buildings without compromising the level of comforts of customers. The project will

also help increase the renewable energy production, as well as reduce the needs for distribution

grid investment. The project will involve the measurements and validations using a real world

smart energy building, which is a unique feature of the project. The proposed control logics will

be designed in order to provide management strategies for all the electric and thermal loads

usually present in a house. The control logics are implemented in for residential applications and

the user may select and change one or more control logic in every moment according to its

preferences. Selecting a given control logic among the 3 proposed, the end-user can attain well-

defined effects on its electrical and thermal load.

The proposed logics are:

• Comfort;

• Economy;

• Energy;

• Power;

4. Building performance energy simulations.

Materials:

Preliminary results. Yearly simulation using REVIT by Autodesk.

We can reach the following conclusions:

The highest Cooling Load is due to conductivity of windows. To improve the thermal behavior a

lower U value for windows has to be chosen. SHGC is not relevant because direct sun does not

strike in the windows.

A Low infiltration ratio has a high impact on the yearly cooling load over the summer months.

Air tightness has to be reduced.

The constructive solution for walls and roof is correct due to thermal insulation and thermal

mass.

Communication Jury Report

Communications Strategy and Plan.

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) intends to develop the Net-Zero-Energy-Building (NZEB) concept of designing a solar-powered house that responds to the regions social and cultural values. Using traditional architecture elements that were used to overcome the climatic hardships in the past, AURAK’s house Al-Bayt Al-Kamel is targeting GenNext in this region.

The team’s goals are minimizing energy consumption by using natural solar energy and integrating intelligent design and efficient operational systems.

The communications effort has 3 goals:

• Raise awareness about the innovation behind the design and its design/build team

• Make the brand/project simple and easily understood; specifically energy efficiency and benefits to increase community interest and interaction

• Build data/case studies for sustainable buildings/houses to strengthen message Raise awareness about the innovation behind the design and its design/build team STRATEGY 1. Media coverage (print/social/digital) Goal: 100K in media value coverage; achieve 1000 engaged followers online 2. Success in the Solar Decathalon Goal: Medaling 3. Support earned from local municipality on suggested initiatives Goal: relaxed building restrictions, NOCs, fees for such innovative projects 4. Successful build event showcasing the sample home Goal: multi-day event with several hundred attendees 5. Increased community support and sponsorship participation Goal: more sponsors, community recognition Make the Project communications simple and easily understood STRATEGY 1. Reduce green building myths Goal: educate potential developers and buyers 2. Highlight energy efficiency and benefits

Goal: buyers demand same from developers 3. Create simplified messages (elevator speech) Goal: consistent messages from the Team 4. Create a brand identity/positioning for Al-Bayt Al-Kamel Goal: Simple, united look, feel and tone to the Al-Bayt Al-Kamel brand 5. Use community engagement, social media, and activations to drive continued messaging and sustained interest on AURAK-campus across UAE and abroad Goal: drive fans and supporters 6. Create and use customizable marketing tool kit, which can be used for a variety of audiences, including university students, school age kids, and general community Goal: simple messaging that educators and lay people can use to help spread the project messages Build data/case for “green” sustainable buildings/houses to strengthen message STRATEGY 1. Write case studies of sample completed “green” projects that demonstrate its economic impact. Secondary, demonstrate the environmental and social benefits, and how this aligns with the UAE’s overall values and vision 2. Compose and use private sector feedback and testimonials in support of net- zero energy building (ambitious content) 3. Curate and use private sector builder- and tenant validation and testimonials in support of sustainable buildings (ie, existing communities) 3. Team with a “Project Ambassador” to chronicle the importance of the subject.

Storytelling as he/she sees it through his/hers lifecycle, and lend credibility/fame to the project- and expanding the reach of content and message

Target Audience Research has shown that there are two specific audiences that primarily drive the decision to adopt green building principles: developers/owners and tenants. Sustainable/green building is still noticed as a new concept and still not proven in the real estate industry in the Middle East region. This is especially true in the private sector. Developers are not building large numbers of green buildings, and tenants are not actively seeking out green building space. The green buildings that have been built by developers and owners to date have been built by market innovators. These are the people that see green building as the trend of the future and are willing to take risks to become leaders in the marketplace. They are people with a vision that have the influence (and financial means) to make the choice to build green, and are personally driven by their values to make the change. These innovators are blazing the trail and creating the case

studies and success stories that can be used to move the rest of the marketplace towards green building. Therefore, our target audience must be addressed in a more educational and informative role; it will be necessary to engage in a variety of media to achieve a large audience. The secondary target audiences include the AURAK campus, the RAK community and the general public (UAE/GCC/global), but with a specific micro target of community outreach to youth, local RAK and expat residents, and existing green supporters in the UAE. We examined the character traits of the various target audiences. Opportunity audiences are innovators, who embrace risk, visionaries, action leaders, forward thinkers, value driven, early adopters, like prestige, opinion leaders, and brand/image conscious. On the other hand we identified barriers to adaption including less willingness to try something new unless others have done so, change resistance, low risk approach, skeptical and suspicious to change of traditions.

Based on the overall audiences and their various actions/reactions/motivations, the project has determined the following communication tactics, of which each will require a format written to address the opportunity or barrier:

• Press • Press releases documenting project messaging, team, construction phase, etc. • Content driven stories to maintain subject interest, plus photography, snap videos • Q&A’s with student, experts and community • Testimonials and test cases of similar projects to build trustworthiness • Interviews and Q&A’s with team, AURAK, community leaders • VOX POP Q&A at local malls, events which generates press release content • Appearance on Dubai Eye • Interview on local Arabic TV morning and afternoon show(s)

• Online • Website (update, and use weekly blogs to drive relevance) • Keyword use to drive web traffic; hash tags for social media • Social media (posts, video content, contests) Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat/Twitter • Monthly email newsletter • Flood of content; including user generated contend, team generated, and industry shares • Virtual Reality (VR)/Oculus “vision of the future”

• Print

• Roll-ups for around campus and for events

• Flyer or brochure to awake interest (use digital for bulk of information)

• Scientific & industry reports/white papers for continued educational focus in AURAK

• Community Engagement

• Groundbreaking event

• Mid-Construction progress tour with community involvement

• Top-off ceremony

• Permanent house in a test zone to inspire new building codes and community design; this would be marketed to developers and real estate entities

• Students prepare dinner in the house once completed for VIPs

• Offer the house for POP-UP overnight stay contest

• Student engagement activations (house tour, design tour etc.)

• “Celebrity” support

• Activations with school-age children (coloring contest, design a bedroom, etc.) by the team to promote the project & building the grass root of energy saving education

• In mall/shopping center presentation (architectural rendering, contest, video, etc.)

• Donation drive with t-shirts, hats, bracelets etc. to support the project

• AURAK Internals:

• Student presentations- video, seminars, and VOX POPs on the campus

• Content drive and spread the message (on campus & online)

• Workshops for AURAK & RAK community on micro-topics

• Build a “win” culture through messaging, 1-2-1 ambassadors

• Department head support

• SUMMARY By creating content within each of the channels identified, the project will consistently message the passionate goals of raising awareness, easy-to-understand communication and showcase Al-Bayt Al-Kamel as a positive step towards the long-term sustainability goals of the UAE. By positioning AURAK as a pioneer in this field in the northern Emirates excitement and community pride can be built upon. By engaging elementary students and the greater public, the project will gain support, coverage and fans. Ultimately, the goal would be to have the project house built as a permanent structure in RAK, to showcase for the possibilities that the Emirate could benefit from for future generations to come.

BIPV Jury Report

Grid connected PV system for Bait al Kamil

The Photovoltaic system designed for SDME is a grid connected hybrid inverter system with battery

backup, the photovoltaic panels are expected to be mounted on a canopy above the roof of the house,

the Canopy has a clearance of 2m from the roof as this will help the system to reduce the loss effect

from higher panel temperature specially during summer when we consume most of the power, as

ambient temperatures in UAE can easily reach upto 45˚C during summer the panel temperature is

expected to be around 60˚C during that time but only in the case where the air flow under the panel is

sufficient enough to qualify as an open rack mounting system if that is not the case then the panel

temperatures can easily rise above 70˚C resulting in sufficient power loss as lower wind profile of the

region does not help in radiating heat sufficiently increasing the threat of damaging the panel and if the

panel is kept too close to the roof surface the possibility of heat transfer is always present.

Temperature monitored of two identical solar

panels one at 25˚ Tilt with open rack system other

at 15˚ with partially closed rack system.

The available area of canopy is around 74m², the expected generation side consist of 36 PV panels from

Jinko 295W each, four strings with 9 panels each are connected to two Sunny boy inverters each string

ends with two 16 AMP fuse on either poles, these Sunny boy 4.0M inverters are IP65 as per IEC 60529 so

we can install them outside as well.

As per the design the house should withstand the toughest period of peak summer in UAE as air-

conditioning loads are expected to increase during this period.

As our battery side is restricted to 15 KWh we had to increase the PV side of our system so as to

generate more during the peak period of SDME Shams Tariff, so our orientation is south for all the

panels but the tilt is less than the latitude (10-15˚) as we expect the load will drastically increase during

0

2

4

6

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Annual load profile for airconditioners of Bait al Kamil

peak summer time and it will give us more space as less shadow is expected from a 10˚ tilt panel in

comparison with a 25˚ tilt panel.

Main components:

36 solar panels 295W Jinko

2 sunny boy 4.0 PV inverters

3 sunny island 4.4M grid connected Battery inverters

15 kWh tabular battery bank pack

Roof lay out:

The canopy over roof consist of 36 solar panels along with

two Sunny boy 4.0 inverters and an opening for sky light

for the house, the 36 solar panels are connected in four

strings two for each inverter.

The total workable area of canopy is 80m² out of that 6m² is kept for sky lite almost in middle of the

surface, the inverters are planned to be installed in that area of 6m² for easy access.

As we have maximized the

number of panels on roof the

shadowing is expected specially

during winter time early morning

or late afternoon when the

elevation angle of sun is low, to

cater that problem we have

selected sunny boy inverters with

shadow management system to

reduce the losses, as this was the

cost effected solution when

considering the water scarce

nature of this region when

expensive water cleaning is not

feasible twice a month when

considering long term

maintenance cost of the overall project.

The peak load time for a residential building in this region is from the afternoon till night when

maximum number of residents are at home, but the peak of SDME Shams tariff starts at noon till the

afternoon so we have to come up with a long lasting plan for a Zero energy house in comparison with

the SDME Shams tariff, which made us face all our panels to south with 10- 15˚ tilt which will help us in

reducing the spacing between the panels and increasing the production during peak summer time.

Interior Design Jury Report

Interior Concept and Design

Style: Industrial + Loft

Reason: This style maintains a modern look with traditional regional spirit.

Industrial Interior Design style became popular in the late 2000s and remained popular in the

2010s. The Industrial design style is most commonly found in urban areas including cities and

lofts. The main feature of this style is to expose bricks and pipes, concrete flooring and large

open windows. Usually a natural color palette is used, a mix of grays, neutrals and rustic colors.

These plain colors allow for the use of furniture and other accessories to help liven up the room.

Furthermore the neutral color of the walls allows for open areas like lofts to feel bigger and more

connected while giving furniture the opportunity to help create a natural feeling as well. Any light

fixture with metal finishes fits right into this style. We will add to elements of pure industrial style

some elements of coziness to soften the style a bit and make it more attractive for a larger

amount of people as an inspiration to find their own style at the end.

Al-Bayt Al-Kamel offers the opportunity to combine heritage (layout of the Solar house with

Majlis and Courtyard) outside and the modern state-of-the-Art Interior Design inside to keep up

a “magnetic field” of excitement. The team of the American University of Ras Alkaimah wants to

create something new for the UAE that cherishes ancient values which are especially in the

Middle East very prominent and in the same moment - a house that honors the modern world

that gained already in UAE a foothold. Generation Next has different needs than their ancestors,

but still are connected with their religious and cultural roots.

We give them a modular house with a fresh modern look in an industrial style that refers to a

trend in Interior Design that equals with heritage: It takes clues from the old. Back to the basics,

simplicity and authenticity are keywords of this special Interior Design style.

Furthermore the selection of the industrial and loft style for the Interior Design is consistent with

the idea of an affordable house that makes no compromises in providing solar technique for

contributing to the necessity to build different in the future due to the Global Warming aspect

also here in the UAE. To fulfill the requirements of affordability and according to the target group

(young people and developer for starter-homes) this absolute trendy interior design-style

combines all aspects in one house.

Choosing design and materials is guided from a holistic approach that implies not only the

sustainable energy solutions, but also the choice of choosing Art from recyclable materials,

furniture that will be partially self-constructed out of recyclable materials, leaving the walls and

floors mostly in their natural appearance, but also in choosing deliberately the decision for an

easily to remove projector (with portable screen in the courtyard and a white screen-wall in the

living room) instead of a TV.

TV is a killer of time and creativity. That may not be healthy, because it does not make smart.

Excessive television viewing in childhood has been associated with adverse effects on health and

behavior. A common concern is that watching too much television may also have a negative

impact on education. The mean time spent watching television during childhood and adolescence

was significantly associated with leaving school without qualifications and negatively associated

with attaining a university degree. There is increasing concern about the amount of time that

children spend watching television. Excessive TV-watching has been linked to a range of adverse

health and behavioral outcomes. The rapid succession of pictures affects also the brain in a

negative way. In the worst case it can create Epilepsy due to the “TV helps the dumb to stay

dumb.” (Erhard Horst Bellermann) The intelligence quotient seems to turn upside down in

proportion to the TV-consumption.

Taking into account all of the above factors, we decided to replace the TV with a little projector

and a portable screen. For sure it is of value, to have the possibility to watch films with topics

that increase holistic and educational know-ledge, but the residents have to put some effort to

start viewing before. With our decision we like to raise the awareness for the consequences of

unthinking TV-intake through behavioral education on site.

GenNext who want to live an urban modern life must be educated in several topics, in energy

saving as well as in Personal Development to be a worthy member of the society in the future.

We all are in this world to contribute to the society with our abilities and the more we are aware

of what we are doing, whether we distract ourselves from life or contributing to life – it makes a

huge difference in the impact we have with our lives. TV-consumption education raises

awareness for this both topics.

The chosen Interior Design style encourages the residents to live a life with fun and responsibility

– both necessary qualities to live a fulfilled life. We live in a world of polarity, so there is a need

to live both sides, the hedonistic side and the responsible side. Modern industrial interior design

is an honest style, is about exposing all that lies beneath to achieve a raw, edgy style. What other

styles usually (try to) hide, comes here naturally to light. What other styles are at pains to hide,

industrial design boldly puts on display. Structural elements are turned into showpieces,

achieving a look that seems unfinished, yet cohesive and chic.

Increasingly used to style loft apartments, commercial spaces and even some modern homes,

the industrial interior design trend is fast winning converts around the world. Already arrived in

the UAE as a style for the GenNext, we will use this special future- and past oriented towards

both in the same moment to present an energy saving house full of ancient tradition and a young,

flexible and light fit-out. The bridge between our ancestors and GenNext - perfectly presented by

Al-Bayt Al Kamel.

A walk through the fit-out concept of Al-Bayt Al-Kamel:

External shell:

a. Precast panels with heat reflective painting

b. Steel frames with Arish screens providing shade and privacy

c. Glass panels for openings to the courtyard (windows)

d. 2 wooden doors (bath room and bed room)

Internal space:

a. Wall finishes: coated concrete

b. Floor finishes: coated or polished concrete, perhaps wood flooring

c. Roof finishes: ceilings or coated concrete

d. Interior doors: Warm Wood

e. Main door: Warm wood with two glass side elements right and left

f. Bathroom: Wall and flooring coated concrete, ceiling complete LED glass-fiber panel like being

under the stars

Bath Room:

Designed for the use of a wheel chair with a big shower with the possibility to sit down on one

side, an easy to access WC and a comfortable sized vanity with storage underneath.

With the bathroom we create an oasis of wellness and relaxation in a world of everyday hussle

and bussle - one of the most important areas in future homes. The cherry on the cake will be

seen under the ceiling – light with a starry sky effect and low energy consumption due to only

one LED-generator for lots of glass-fiber “stars”. Staying under the stars while taking a shower –

what else can be better to start the day or review the achieved success after a tough day.

Kitchen:

Due to the limited space we decided to deploy a washer/dryer. A washer/dryer is a good idea,

when there is not enough room for two full size machines. This we like to use is able to reduce

the water bills by approximately 7.500 liters per year. They are available with large and small

capacity, so it is suitable for all household sizes.

We want to showcase a kitchen with integrated kitchen appliances. The advantage is that it looks

more tidied up and that dirt can’t fall into the gaps between appliances and kitchen cabinets. The

result is a cleaner kitchen with less consumption in water and cleaning materials.

To tie into the industrial theme, a kitchen island is a gladly used element. This island tend has

parts of wood or other earthy materials. A kitchen island can also contribute in separating a big

room and providing a defined kitchen area. A kitchen island can be paired with barstools that are

made of metal or wood.

The dining area in the kitchen is also out of wood and metal, combined with a pendant light out

of recycled glass bottles.

Furniture:

All furniture items will be a combination of metal and warm wood, topped with some special

effects as notable accents. Some will be crafted with the students out of recycled materials.

Some will have wheels, so they can be used flexible and multitask.

For example, a barstool as a bedside table can be used in the kitchen, when there are more

guests. The desk in the bed room can stand the next day in the courtyard as a dining table.

Flexibility and simplicity are keywords.

Courtyard:

One of the main key areas of the Al-Bayt Al-Kamel is the courtyard – a drawing support from the

experience of the ancestors on the basis of old tradition.

The furniture fit-out will bridge again the gap between tradition and GenNext needs. Loft style

furniture will gather around as seating areas for meeting friends with flexible possibilities to use

all the items. In the middle a UAE growing tree that brings in nature and oxygen to the residents.

Majlis:

Upstairs near the stars residents can relax next to plants that let them inhale oxygen on

comfortable cushions in a traditional way as well as in a modern one. Illumination will emphasize

this in a flexible way of switching on and off different switching circuits. Relaxing and energy

saving on the same hand is possible here as well as inside the house.

Creative Solution Jury Report

Innovative Solutions and Elements.

Al Bayt al Kamel integrates architectonic concepts coming from the Gulf Countries tradition with

the 21st century architectural values.

CONCEPT INNOVATION.

Al Bayt Al Kamel housing concept includes:

Customized modular construction to fit the specific needs.

Tailored and modular furnishing in different modules.

All modules are rapidly deployed and can easily be removed, shipped and reinstalled in

another location.

Innovative, Modular Housing that can grow with the owner's needs.

This unique solution also allows home owners to start small and add as their needs change,

giving them an entry way into home ownership with a very attractive solution moving forward.

The “growing system” creates spaces customized for every family. While it aims to provide new,

more affordable, and more adjustable homes.

ARCHITECTURE INNOVATION.

The courtyard oriented to the north-east is still an ideal architectonic unit for the house to confront climate and environment. Al Bayt al Kamel proposes its reinvention. Just like in the traditional house, the courtyard is also the source of light and ventilation in the house, where all the living modules look at. The three modules that compose the house are opened to the courtyard and closed to the outside. Only small openings for ventilation purpose are used in south façade. The courtyard is the fourth module and it is used as the entrance to the house and the access to the roof. The courtyard provides enjoyable diffuse and “green” lighting, due to the PV panel cells and the green walls around it.

Usable roof. The roof can perform a range of domestic functions. It can be used to hang out

washing and, in the evening, for social gathering. The technological pergola will provide the roof

with shade. Plants will hang from the pergola to cut down solar radiation and make the area more

pleasant at night.

Envelope. Traditional Arish made from the leaves of date palms have provided shelter from the

extreme climate of the Arabian Peninsula for centuries. Arish is a renewable material, working

extensively in the Middle East on projects that have aimed to reconnect historic culture to the

contemporary environment. Water is used to provide the envelope with thermal mass.

Circulating water absorbs heat in south façade.

The domestic space proposed is very novel: it is not the addition of common rooms (living room

plus bedroom plus kitchen and bathroom) but it is composed of groups of compatible uses with

greater dimensions than a regular room (the house as a sum of small “lofts”: living, eating, night,

machinery).

The technological pergola filters the environmental conditions in the house. It is a “buffer” space that establishes a sequence between exterior and interior. The first layer of the pergola produces electricity, heats up domestic hot water and blocks solar radiation due to the water absorption of infrared radiation. The layer of hanging plants provides the courtyard with a nice shade. On

the other hand evaporative free cooling due to watering plants can help reduce the temperature of the air in the courtyard.

INNOVATION IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

More thermal mass, less weight. RADIANT COOLING CEILING embedded in the concrete envelop. A prefabricated building generally has low thermal inertia, being a lightweight structure. In climates with such a hot weather as Dubai, the use of the mass can be very effective to reduce the use of active installations of air conditioning. Willing to take advantage of the relevant contribution of the mass without giving up the economy and environmental benefits deriving from lightness in assembling and transportation, Al Bayt al Kamel strategy consists of the addition to the wall layers, aside from insulation panels, of circulating water. Water has the highest specific heat capacity of any construction material. Specific heat is defined as the amount of heat one gram of a substance must absorb or lose to change its temperature by one degree Celsius. For water, this amount is 4.184 Joules. As a result, it takes water a long time to heat and a long time to cool. In fact, the specific heat capacity of water is about five times more than that of stone, ceramic or concrete. Radiant surface: an exposed building surface including a tube or piping configuration installed within for heat exchange within a conditioned space. Radiant surfaces may be for heating or cooling.

Sensible cooling surface: a surface designed for sensible cooling of an indoor space through heat transfer to the thermally effective surfaces from the occupants and/or indoor space by thermal radiation and natural convection. The network of radiant surface pipes can turn the radiant surface such as floors, walls and ceilings of a conditioned space into cooled surfaces that evenly absorb sensible heat energy such as radiant energy from solar gain, people, lights and computers, in addition to convective heat transfer from the air. This network of pipes can turn the floors, walls and ceilings of a conditioned space into cooled surfaces that evenly absorb heat energy. Radiant cooling works best in a tightly sealed building that integrates radiant with a downsized forced-air system to meet the building’s fresh air requirements. Over 50% of “high-performance” buildings utilize radiant heating and cooling systems.